A history of Virginia for boys and girls . as well as stage-drivers andstage passengers, would stop for meals and lodging. In many places it was customary for the stage-driver to give a signal as he approached a tavernor a village by tooting on a bugle or a long tinhorn. The driver knew everybody along the way,carried messages and packages, and was generallydepended upon to tell all the news from place toplace. Often the inside of the coach was too small tohold all the passengers. Then somebody had achance to sit up on the high seat outside with thedriver. If there were a few more persons to g
A history of Virginia for boys and girls . as well as stage-drivers andstage passengers, would stop for meals and lodging. In many places it was customary for the stage-driver to give a signal as he approached a tavernor a village by tooting on a bugle or a long tinhorn. The driver knew everybody along the way,carried messages and packages, and was generallydepended upon to tell all the news from place toplace. Often the inside of the coach was too small tohold all the passengers. Then somebody had achance to sit up on the high seat outside with thedriver. If there were a few more persons to gothey were perched on top of the stage, with theextra* trunks and boxes. It was wonderful howmany people and how many packages one of thoseold stages could carry. Inside was the chief placeof comfort, to be sure ; but the drivers seat, thebox under his seat, the top of the coach, encircledwith a low railing, and the boot that extendedout from the rear, all seemed capacious enoughfor the proper persons and things. 244 A HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. NATURAL BRIDGE TURNPIKES AND STAGE COACHES 245 Only a few years ago one of those old-timestage coaches was kept at the Natural Bridgeas a rare curiosity. Once in a while it was broughtout when a large party had to be met at the rail-way station. Then the young folks of the partyhad a chance to see what sort of vehicles theirgrandfathers and grandmothers traveled in inante-bellum days. FACTS TO REMEMBER 1. The period between 1800 and i860 was a time of growthand building. 2. Steamboats, canals, and railroads all became importantwithin that period. 3. But before that time and during all that time wagonroads were a necessity. So they are to-day. 4. Some of the better roads were called turnpikes, andon them stage coaches ran regularly. 5. Much of the travel before the Civil War depended onturnpikes and stage coaches. PUPILS READINGS Pleasants: Old Virginia Days and Ways; pages and Burger: School History of Virginia;pages 223
Size: 1237px × 2021px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorwaylandj, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookyear1920
