The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-22
THEODORA'S H0RSELESS
CARRIAGE.
BY n. r. ROOD.

Most OF the neignbors say they are
unable 10 understand why Theodore pur-
chased horseless carriage in the first
place. But. of course, ones neighbofs
are not supposed to know all of ones
domestic affairs-a.though I am free 10
confess that in a rural community, such
as that wherein we reside, there is very,
very little to escape the neighbors knowl-
edge. However. that is neither here nor
there. The reason Theodore bought Il
! horseless carriage is because a grand I'M
! Gle of Theo's died and was considerate
enough to bequeath unto her the sum of
/ 81 400 If the old gentleman had left her
| 1900 or $3.50. l have no doubt but that
the money would now be drawing per
cent on mortgage. But Theodore saw an
! advertisement of a horseless carriage
81 400, delivered free; and she decided at
once TO invest in it.
Just think!' she exclaimed. NOW
We won't have to worry and bother our
selves about safe investment for dear
! Uncle Johns money. If we let it remain
in bank the cashier is sure to run away.
! ana If we put il in real estate | am GER
!
sides, the highest interest we could rea-
| sonably expect, you say, would only
| amount to $40 year. and l know we
will get more than $40 worth of enjoy
ment out of it riding around our own
| lovely mountain roads and the fresh air
Will do US and the children lots of good"
| But, my dear" 1 responded, I'VE get
ali the fresh air we need now We so
! driving every day with Don and the sur
! rey-'
Dom she cried scornfully. 'Why.
do you know that poor old horse was a
wedding present? And we have been
married twelve years? And he was Z
years old then"
Yes, you're right but he seems to be
a pretty good horse yet"
Good for use on a small farm" re-
| sponded Theodore. II am afraid to trust
him going down hill, he's so old and fee
bic; and ! feel morally certain he can
never pull US 90 the top every time we
| start up a mountain
l said nothing further. The money was
Theodera's and she had a right TO do
with it as she desired. Besides, in my
inmost heart, did cherish imaginary
| dreams of sailing over the roads, uphill
and down dale in an automobile; pass
! ing the slow-going horses of acquaintances
VINO had been in the habit, of jeering some
| what at old Don. But / confess that il
|
| to a farmer named Wortsel, especially as
| had determined not to let him go for less
| than $50, and the farmer finally led him
| away in triumph after paying just SAT. SIS.
| The hOrselesS carriage arrived the fol-
| lowing week, accompanied by young and
| active man sent on by the manufacturers
to explain the working of the machinery
| At Theodora's request I went to the sta
ton and saw her purchase unloaded from
platform car. Then the young agent in
spected the motor casually, announced
that it was all right, and invited me to
| step into the vehicle. l did so, sitting be-
side him, and he pulled lever which
| started the wheels We went slowly at
first, until we reached the broad main
| street of the village, and then he gradu-
! ally "let her out" as he expressed it, and
we were whirling over the ground like
| an express train. Fortunately, we met no
| team, and reached home in fine style.
! Theodore and the children were waiting
| at the gate, and all three cheered as we
| arrived. Then the agent said he would
exhibit her fine points," and he made
the carriage go forward and backward
and describe circles to the right and left
and perform other feats equally interest
| ing with equal ease. Finally he opened
the box containing the machinery and
carefully explained every part Then he
| glanced at his watch, and found that by
hurrying he could just about catch a train
| for the city.
Better take me down to the station in
the carriage" he suggested. Then you
can run it alone and 1 can keep an eye
on you"
OF course, hailed the plan with JOY
! and off we started, my hand on bar and
brake, he sitting beside me. 1t was no
trouble at all to manage the thing, and
when we met a bicycle 1 steered by with
| ease.
youth do" the agent said, approvingfy,
as he jumped out at the station. Gust be
careful, and as a matter of common pre-
| caution glance at the motor before you
start out every time as good horseman
glances over the harness before taking
drive
He waved his hand in farewell, and ran
across the platform, and jumped aboard
the train.
] glanced at the motor, as he had sug-
gested, and ii certainly looked all right,
| especially to a quiet professional man who
hardly knows the difference between a
| cogwheel and a bowsprit BY the time 1
| had entered the vehicle again 1t was sur
! rounded by ten boys, the station agent
three expressmen and a group of loung-
ers. They spoke audibly and not at all in
| complimentary terms concerning the new
| purchase, and one of the ioungers said
he was willing 10 bet two front teeth
| against a cabbage that 1t would run away
and kill somebody before the week is out
| / think that lounger is the man to whom
| Theodore gave my oYercoat a few weeks
ago under the mistaken idea that it was
worn out. 1 shall see that he. obtains no
! more clothing a our house.
had just made a mental note of this
resolution when pulled the bar, and the
carriage began to roll forward With a
certain degree of nervous foreboding I
md tbo
street. and then increased the speed grad
ually as the agent had done 1t worked TO
a charm, 1 found that l could make it go
/ faster or more slowly by exerting a little
| pressure, and that it would swerve TO the
| right or left with ease. once I'put on the
break hard and reversed the motor to see
how quickly the carriage could be stopped
| in case OF sudden emergency. And it
| stopped SO suddenly that l was almost
hurled over the dashboard The expert
ment was satisfactory, and none other was
| tried. When l reached home safely. and