Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-12-03

yet the stage coach was even more of feature
OF life In England and for much longer. Especially
was it center of public attention at Christmas
time (No. p. And it Is worth while this holiday
season to turn back to Washington Irving's
Sketch Book" (1819) for what he has to say
about the Christmas coach In England He writes
In part
In the course of December tour in Yorkshire
1 rode Tor a long distance in of the public
coaches on the day preceding Christmas. The
coach was crowded, both inside and out with pas
sengers who by their talk, seemed principally
bound to the mansions OF relatives or friends, to
eat the Christmas dinner. 1t loaded, also with
cacies; and hares hung dangling their long ears
about the coachmans box, presents from distant
friends for the impending feast.
The coachman has commonly broad full face
curtously notified with red as If the blood had
been forced by hard feeding into every vessel of
the skin; he is sweled into jolly dimensions by
frequent rotations of malt liquors, and his bulk is
still further increased by multiplicity Of coats
in which he is buried like a caulfower the upper
one reaching to his heels He wears a broad
handkerchief about his neck knowingly knotted
ana tucked In at the bottom and has in
large bouquet Of flowers the present most likely
of enamored country lass. His waistcoat is
commonly of some bright color, striped, and his
small-clothes extend far below the knees to meet
a pair of jockey boots which reach about halfway
up his legs.
All this costume is maintained with much pre-
cision; he has pride in having his clothes of ex-
celent materials, and Notwithstanding the seem
ing grossness of his appearance, there is dis
which is almost inherent in an Englishman He
enjoys great consequence and consideration along
the road; has frequent conferences with
housewives, who look upon his a man of great
trust and dependence; and he to have a good
understanding with every bright-eyed country lass
The moment he arrives where the horses to
be changed, he throws down the reins with some
thing of air, and abandons the cattle to the
care Of the hostler his duty being merely to drive
them from stage to another When off the
box his hands are thrust into the pockets of his
great-coat, and he rolls about the inn-yard with
an air of the most absolute loneliness. Here he
is generally surrounded by admiring throng of
hostlers, stable boys, shoeblacks and those name
less hangers-on that infest inns and taverns and
errands and do all kind odd Jobs for the
privilege of battening on the drippings the
kitchen and the taproom These all look up to
him to oracle; treasure up his cant phrases;
echo his opinions about horses and other topics of
jockey lore; and, above ALL endeavor to initiate
his air and carriage Every ragamuffin that has a
coat to his back thrusts his hands In the pockets,
rolls in his gait. talks slang, and is embryo
Coachey
Perhaps it might be owing to the pleasing Sc
renity that reigned in my mind that fancied
1 saw cheerfulness in every countenanace through
out the journey. stage-coach, however, carries
animation always with 1t, and puts the world In
motion 1t whirls along. The horn sounded at
Some hasten forth to meet friends; with
bundles and banoboxes to secure places. In
the meantime the coachman has q world of small
commissions to execute AS the coach
rattles through the village everyone the
window. At the corners assembled jun
tos of village idlers and wise men, who take their
stations there for the important purpose of seeing
the company pass. The scene brought to
rations: Now capons and hens, besides turkeys,
geese and ducks with beef and mutton-must all
die--for in twelve days multitude of people will
not be fed with little. :.