The name phaeton comes to us from classical mythology. Helios, the sun god, had a son called Phaet(h)on who in attempting to drive the sun chariot through the sky lost control of the horses and lest he burn up the earth, was consequently struck down by a thunderbolt of Zeus. The cut-under construction of this phaeton gave clearance to the wheels when the vehicle turned in a small radius, or where sharp turns into driveways or alleys were required. The skeleton rumble seat in the rear was for the groom and the carriage would have been turned out with a single horse of about fifteen hands, or a cob (a small plump horse). Sometimes it might also have been horsed with a pair. [Illustration] GEORGE IV PHAETON _Green body with cane work, green gear. Trimmed in tan serge._ Although there were other phaetons suitable for ladies’ driving, according to Mr. Underhill, only the Peter’s ladies’ phaeton and the George IV phaeton were considered adequate for park driving. Their graceful outline demanded the smartest possible turning out, but no vehicle was more accommodating in displaying the charming picture of a beautiful well-dressed woman driving a brilliant well-mannered and nicely rounded pair of matched horses, attended by a single groom in immaculate livery. However, Francis Underhill in his book _Driving for Pleasure_ warned “It may be well to state in connection with the George IV phaeton that they are very expensive carriages, and there being comparatively few persons owning stables which would admit of their use, they will be found difficult to dispose of except at a very great sacrifice.” This George IV phaeton belonged to Mrs. W. Seward Webb and was built for her about 1882 by Brewster and Company of New York. _Gift of the Webb family in memory of Dr. and Mrs. W. Seward Webb_ [Illustration] The Peters’ ladies’ phaeton depicted in the old photograph above is turned out à la grande daumont. This equipage took its name from the Duc d’Aumont, a French leader of fashion both before and after the French Revolution who introduced this style during the Restoration. In this country it was presented to formal society at Newport, Rhode Island by Mrs. August Belmont, wife of the Rothschild banker and mother of Newport’s noted brothers, O. H. P. and Perry Belmont. The lady’s driving phaeton (below) is harnessed in the simpler à la demi daumont. The two carriages here illustrated are not in the museum collection, but depict the alternate method of harnessing when the postillion rides the near horse, or if four, the near leader and wheeler. [Illustration] [Illustration] BASKET PHAETON _Black with basket weave seat. Trimmed in blue broadcloth._ The pony basket phaeton was deservedly popular--especially with women--as it required little skill to keep the body in order, was light in weight and of small initial cost.