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There is lots of time for reading. Photo by Arthur Hewitt.

A driver sits in the doorway of his victoria. The tires on the carriage appear to be solid rubber. Note the brick or block of wood placed in front of the rear wheel to prevent the cab from rolling forward.

Source:
Outing magazine, vol. XLIX no. 2, November, 1906, p. 135.

Vance Thompson's Cab Drivers / 35

The New York Cab Driver and his Cab / 7

A driver has to have a license; that mysterious official, the mayor's marshall, grants one upon the payment of twenty-five cents and two written testimonials of honesty. A man may come out of Sing Sing, whither he has been sent for highway robbery or stoning the minister's cat or any other crime; if he presents two greasy letters – one of any Jones and the other of any Smith – stating that he is an honest fellow, he will get a license. No inquiry is made. His references are never looked up. Indeed, if you are a desperate criminal – guilty of mayhem or murder or failure to pay alimony – you can do no better than take out a license and hide on top of a cab. So, into the business drifts all sorts and conditions of rogues. Under the aegis of the law (the aegis being a twenty-five cent badge) they rob you, and me –

(The sun shone goldenly; and, eh, but she was a bonny lass, all golden-brown; she expressed a wish to drink tea at the casino – I beg your pardon; I forgot I had mentioned that already; it is a little like the head of King Charles, which insisted on getting into Mr. Dick's narrative; but a prettier head, believe me.)

These things Mr. Flynn made clear to me as we stood in the doorway of the tenement in First Avenue, while succeeding waves of Italiany children broke and splashed at our feet. And I felt as he did; I thrilled with the same indignation; suppose you were one of the seven hundred good men and true, who own cabs in this city of iron and stone, would you not kindle against the knaves, big and little, who were dirtying your chosen trade? Here's more power to him; so far as I can I will help him out; never again will I ask how much; with an experienced cabber's wisdom I shall pay the fifty cents a mile, putting a quarter atop by way of tip.