Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-29

The automobile girl is the new girl of
the season. Each summer brings it's nov
eligible tennis, golf or mountain maid
but none more catching than the prettily
goWned creature who, in bright attire,
sits aloft 0 a whirling dynamo and
guides the destinies of the new steed,
which, though less than a year old, is
driving the poor old horse, once cher
ished, from the field.
1t is simple enough to be an automobile
girl, say you, if the vehicle is provided.
But when you know the truth you will
admit that it takes courage as well as
possession; that it requires nerve and
wisdom to guide the strange, horseless
thing, and when courage, nerve and wis
dom are all provided, with their small
essentials, such as activity, strength and
will, there must be added prettiness, or
the automobile girl will not be a success.
1t is only a little more than a year since
the Countess de C%astellane, an American
girl abroad, appeared upon the Boulevard
in her motor carriage, and, with the lever
in hand and tiny foot upon the brake,
guided the carriage down the street,
through the Bots and home again without
accident, stopping en- route to pick up
the count, her husband, who settled back
in the cushions and watched his wife
~contentedly. The countess wore a gown
Of deep scarlet, with scarlet hat trimmed
with black, thus supplying that touch Of
ebony which makes a Paris costume SO
chic.
THE RED.
Next we heard of the automobile red.
that dark, rich red, which seemed at
tached to the automobile in some subtle
way. Then came the automobile hat, a
turn-back affair, and soon there We're
automobile gloves Of white, with black
stitching. From all this beauty came
forth the automobile girl.
But she did not long remain a French
woman. She appeared in this country,
twice as chic, thrice as capable n four
times the sportswOman. You saw her
mornings near Central park, guiding her
vehicle all alone and lodging the nurse
maids and escaping the baby carriages
in a marvellous way. Afternoons you met
her, not alone this time, but with her
load of summer men,, on her way out to
Grants tomb, to come back in the even
| ing laden with dew and honors. All! the
automobile girl began to be very win
some-mor so than the coaching girl or
the equestrienne.
And what had she to learn, this auto
mobile girl? She mastered the trick of
the levers in a short time, and learned
how to put on the brakes and how to
back" and come forward at short no.
tice. But there was more. She had to
learn to taxi a vehicle with the manners
/ VI % w IIIu lIldhC q DOlllC lldSc
out of it-a lady's carriage.
When on the level the automobile girl
had it easy. With a touch upon the lever,
which she was always inclined to call her
handle bars, she made the connection and
sped away. Here she made her best
speed, but as soon as the country grew
rough then came the test Of sportswo-
manship.
Going up hill, the automobile must be
coaXed like a team. It must be driven
slowly, with only half speed on, and the
smoothest places in the road must be
selected. If too much pressure is put
upon it there will be a quick vicious snap
and the automobile will be disabled, and
must be abandoned for repairs. A good
driver will run a vehicle for seasons with
out a break, as a good bicyclist will ride
I summer after summer without repairs.
A poor rider breaks his wheel. in a day;
IN incapable au~tomobilist must call upon
the horse at an early date.
NEEDS SKILL.
In going down hill the automobile girl
must show wisdom. 1t is only recently
that w. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., at Newport,
overturned his vehicle going down hill.
: While this is not easy to do-the young
millionaire was riding backward, just
for sport-there is nevertheless a nance
for an accident. Both brakes must be
mastered, and the automobile must be
nicely checked all the way.
A great discussion is now going on in
France over the relative qualities OF
craftsmanship between a coach and ar
automobile. Which requires the most
skill, n consequently the best outdoor
work? There are adherents Of both kinds
of sport, but the majority are automo-
bilists. Even SO simple a thing as the
filling of the reservoir in a petroleum ma
chine takes experience. The writer must
learn to gauge the amount in the can OF
he will be g~rievously imposed upon Wher
he stops for a refilling.
The automobile girl must understand
her vehicle. If it breaks she must know
what is broken and how serious is the
damage done. If she is ignorant upor
this subject she will be charged we'll by
the repairer, who will put in a bill fol
time, naming many small matters tina
needed doing. If she can boldly state the
trouble n ask for a certain repair ther
she has the whole matter in her owr
hands. 1t all seems dense at first to the
a~utomobilist, but she soon learns.
The automobile girl can be a city girl
for the carriages are driven on the
thoroughfares. Fifth avenue sees then
every evening, even on the hottest nights
There are more than twenty of the We.
hicles in New York owned by well-knowr
women. And there are dozens of them tt
hire.
Not the least appreciative OF the auto,
mobile girl is the man who sits looking
on. He is being driven, and it rests him
and he does not feel every minute that h,
ought to take the ribbons.
The automobile girl need not be thu
child of wealth. for she can hire cheaply
And they tell us that in another year tn,
new horseless carriage will be within thu
reach of all who stand a chance of own
ing any pleasure vehicle, and then W.
shall. indeed, have the automobile cir
among us.
TOWNSEND e. LEE.