Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-25

small boys get to be nuisances as they
climb on the steps and lean on the fen
dcrs and swarm over the dash. and the
chances are your husband loses his pa
tience. and you tremble for what he may
saw Experience has taught me that an
automobile trip OF this nature fraught
as II Is with cares and sorrows has a
fearful effect upon the masculine vocabu-
larry, and words are not always chosen
with lust regard 10 the demands of
hnglsh and usages Of polite society. But
the universal interest which Is manifest
In YOU, and the habitual good nature Of
nearly every one you meet atones for
much that Is annoying
The effect Of the automobile upon peo-
pie is scarcely less interesting than its
effect upon animals Nine horses out Of
ten are afraid OF II, and half OF the
drivers are afraid OF their horses. They
let out about a yard Of slack line and half
rise from their seats saving nervously
at the mouths of their prancing steeds,
While their eyes are flxed upon our car
rlage. Or else as they see us coming
along. they jump out. catch hold OF one
rein. and run up on the highway III
way which threatens instant apandonss
ment. II the horse shows any signs OF
acting bad" Mr. Davis. enthusiastic
autOmobilist that he is, Is even more
enthusiastic hOrseman. Hence, MS carr
In frightening horses is great. ana MS
efforts at calming them unique =.
On meeting a team outside cry ny
thrOttles his engine, puts on Tow sPsTSu
and calls 10 the horses reassuringiE;
whoa, boy: whoa; it's all right, anu
by that time we are past ana iuidNos
has been averted. The sound or a hufna Az
voice from the depths Of an auloihODne
seems TO restore confidence 10 mos
horses Horses at large I'm pasture lots
usually come close to the fence ana warren
us then gallOp to a safer distance anu
gaze after us. When feeding along me
highway as we frequently find them, they
either make straight toward as, or, WIN
a H. - IL. 80 90. Y
Cows and sheep pay us niue heyu,
scarcely lifting their heads as We whizZ
by In many lots and by the roadside we
find droves Of pigs. large and small, VINO
run scamperng away, squealing and
grunting. only 20 turn quickly and run
back again, rs If only pretending fear
Dogs bark. but at a safe distance. Few
venture into the street, and most Of them
send their greetings from the vantage
ground Of their owners steps. Occasion
ally they are so taken by surprise they
quite forget TO even grOwl and one small
foN-terrier puppy who flew through
gate with great show Of bravery, turned
back. tail between his legs and ears PIN
ned 10 his head and crawled under the
piazza. Cats are invariably to be seen
running 10 a safe retreat and chickens,
geese, ducks. ana turkeys Ay squawking
I'm all directions. The first Indians 10
have seen the rans-cOntinental autOmO-
bile We're some members Of the Cattarau-
gus tribe, Of Western New York; but as
tor carriages. they evidenced little curl
osty. At several stopping places ! have
been approached by mothers bearing IN
their arms all sorts and conditions OF
babies and asked If | wouldn't hold the
baby minute. as when he grew up he'd
Ike TO say he had been in the first horse
less carriage that ever crossed the conti-
nent." ! obligingly hold each and every
one. though few Of them seem 20 appre-
cate my good nature. for they usually
rebel with voice, fists. and feet. / am also
besieged with requests for souvenirs. and
have even been asked 10 carry articles
from one town to another and mail them
back (at my own expense by the way.
that people may say their possessions had
ridden in the first trans-contnental auto
mobile, even II that privilege was denied
them 1t all seems very funny to me. for
whatever people may say about pluck and
Srit. I'm only doing what any other
woman would do. had the opportunity
presented itself-enjoying 10 the full all
the pleasures Of the trip making the best
Of it's drawbacks. and never forgetting
tor q moment that San Francisco Is my
objective point and I intend to reach 81.
LOUISE HITCHCOCK DAVIS.