Mark Twain’s book Roughing It paints an ugly picture of travel by stagecoach. The ride was bumpy, dusty and claustrophobic. Passengers had no time to relax and enjoy the scenery. They were too busy holding on for dear life. Every bump in the road was a jolt to the kidneys. Riding on the tailgate of a pickup across a plowed field comes to mind. Stagecoach companies made little effort to accommodate passengers.