Munsey's Magazine, August 1903

Munsey's Magazine, August 1903

"The Equipage of the Millionaire" by Frank (author's surname cut off) is a detailed non-fiction account of wealthy Americans' horse-drawn carriages. The article covers twentieth-century fashions in vehicles, costs of maintenance, and etiquette of carriage ownership and driving.

Frank discusses proper form in equipages—discussing common mistakes like clashing bridle rosettes with carriage trimmings or inappropriate servant livery. He documents American carriage manufacturing's recent superiority to European builders and materials (ash, hickory, elm). The piece surveys specific vehicle types: the victoria, brougham, mail phaeton, tandem, curricle, tilbury, demi daumont, trotting sulky, skeleton cart, and runabout, featuring photographs of actual vehicles and Newport society figures (Vanderbilts, Belmonts, Kernochan, Eustis).

The article details coaching traditions, particularly the New York-to-Lakewood route on "The Liberty" (costing $12 per seat but $25,000 to operate), and praises American women drivers' skill and poise. It concludes with costs: Frank Work's carriage house alone cost over half a million dollars, with palatial stables featuring brass racks, glass harness closets, and marble fittings.