OCR Text |
Show 1 The Old French Mail. Even with a railway strike on, the mails can be carried much more quickly between Paris and the coast than in the old days, thanks to the motor car. Before 1843 the time allowance al-lowance for the Indian malls between Calais or Boulogne and Marseilles was 102 hours,' which was nearly always exceeded. Then the French government govern-ment undertook to do it in 72 hours and put on a special light fourgon for the work. Baine's "On the Track ' of the Mail Coach" describes the ad ventures of this vehicle on one journey. jour-ney. At St. Etienne it killed a child running across the road. Then the wheels, insufficiently lubricated, caught fire four times. Linchpins came out and wheels off. There was a collision with a cart, the postilion being flung from his saddle and seriously seri-ously Injured. Going up hill at Neuil-ly Neuil-ly the eight horses revolted and upset the fourgon. Yet only 4S minutes were lost between Calais and Marseilles London Chronicle. |