DRIVING FOR PLEASURE.
with his left hand, he mounts the box. He remains standing only long enough to shift his reins from his right hand to his left. This done, he sits firmly on his cushion, letting the ends of his reins fall to the left of his knees. Assuring himself that he has a proper pressure on each rein, he warns his load that he is about to start, and, with a nod to the men at the horses' heads, he gently feels his leaders' mouths to put them on the alert. This will bring them to their bits vvith their traces hanging easily. The wheelers are then given their office, and, if the team is a handy one, they will go up to their collars, and with a word of. encouragement, together with the slightest dropping of the hand, the whole team will start the coach without any plunging or jibbing.
It is very unworkmanlike (unless absolutely necessary) to let the leaders start the coach with the wheelers not in their collars ; and it is nearly as bad to see the wheelers shoving the bars on the leaders' haunches. Many a young coachman feels that he wants to start out with a flourish and all on the jump. He will learn, however, that the good coachman gets under way as quietly as possible, in order to accustom his horses to working in unison. It is all well enough on the smooth, level road, but let the start be up a steep hill with a heavy load, and we will see our young friend's horses rearing and jibbing, but making no progress, while the
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