Horse Drawn Carriages

Click herThis was going to be a serious post.  The more I wrote, the less likely that became.
I have been reading about Marie Curie who with her husband won a Nobel prize in 1903 for their work on radiation.  In 1906 her husband Pierre died as a result of being run over by a horse drawn carriage.
I reckon you would have to be fairly unlucky.  That sort of thing does not seem to happen every day (in my haste “day” was wrong.  It defaulted to “hay.  I’m not paranoid or nothing but how did it know I was talking about horses?  Who’s watching?  It is all the government!)”.  I don’t read a headline in a paper saying “Man Run Over By Horse Drawn Carriage.”  Then turn the page to have another headline screaming at me “Horse Drawn Carriages Collide – Occupants Walk Away.” Only to then read in a small article on the bottom right of the page “Horses Put Down After Horse Drawn Carriage Runs Off Road.”
Maybe the fact that most people drive cars now rather than ride in a horse draw carriage has something to do with it.  I was given a book for my birthday (15th of January if you want to make a note of that) on the history of Brisbane.  There were many pictures of horse drawn carriages.  There were not many modern ones.  Specifically, none.
I am thinking horse drawn carriages related to a set time.  I don’t remember hearing of any Dream Time stories being passed on from generation to generation about horse drawn carriages. 
There is a famous horse drawn carriage that goes around Hyde Park in New York.  When I say famous, I use the term loosely.  It is famous to me because I have seen pictures of it.  Some of them were moving pictures.
To experience a horse drawn carriage these days I would probably be best to infiltrate, I mean go to an Historical Village.  I would stand out as the one not dressed in period costume wearing a top hat and a stiflingly hot suite.  Good chance though if I was wearing a hat I would tip it and say “mam” to the ladies.  I think that is what they did back then.
Carriages would need to be designed.  Someone would sit down with a piece of paper, pencil, ruler, and if they were like me, a rubber would be really useful to.  Their design would become the latest model.  Salesmen in Carriage Lots would extol the virtues of anything in their yard.  “This one here would separate the servants from my Lord.” “Oh you would be carrying valuables.  Then this one is for you.  You can see it has a place on the back for two men to stand carrying rifles.”  He would omit to say that nothing says I’m carrying valuables like two men standing on the back carrying rifles.
It seems horse drawn carriages are a thing of the past.  There are some still in operation but they are mostly tourist things.  I could harken back to a by-gone era and say them were the days.  Except they weren’t.  Well, they were then, but they are not now.  Actually, I think it is better to live now than then.  Back then needles took three strong men to carry.  Well maybe it only seems like it, but needles are better now.
Horse drawn carriages today are a thing of nostalgia.  I would love to ride in one for the novelty value, but I am glad we have moved on. e to edit.