Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-01
FASHION
TURNS TO AUTOMOBILE.

After the fuss and futter and fine
feathers Of the equine show comes the
horse show without horses, which has
just opened in New York. Madison
Square Garden is the scene of this
remarkable exhibition. 1t is an in
~novation that must charm Mother
Shipton, can she view from Elysium
the fulillment of her prophecy that
carriages would run without horses.
In her day the only auto vehicle was
the midnight bromstick, on which
aged danes of eccentric reputation
were supposedly accustomed to take
midnight rides. In this year of grace
1900 the witch's method of t%ranspor-
tation, while similar in principle to
that now the fact, is somewhat differ
ent in form. The autocar boasts a
charming passenger in the fair damsel
who lounges upon its cushions, and
she exercises a no less potent iniu-
ence, although a more genial one, than
| did the sorceress who rode the aerial
broomstick.
The show is a fashionable affair
that goes without saying when n
| considers that the American Auto
mobile Club includes some Of the
wealthiest and smartest people in the
larger cities of the country. Nine
hundred dollars is the cost of a SIM
pie carriage, a price that is practically
prohibitive except for a certain for
| tunate class. There are more auto
mobiles in use in New York than any
where else, although Chicago, Boston,
| San Francisco and the intermediate
large cities have their share. For the
reason that there are more automo-
biles in the east than in the west the
national automobile show is held in
New York.
The boxes and other seats will be
| filled every day with the beauty and
fashion of Manhattan as well as with
interested visitors from other places.
Among the well-known folks interest
ed in automobile riding are Mrs.
Stuyvesant Fish, the first society wo-
man to make use Of it, and who help
ed to introduce the automobile at
| Newport; Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont, who
gave a unique automobile party at her
Newport home during the summer;
Mrs. Harry Paine Whitney, who was
Miss Gertrude Vanderbilt; Mrs. Her
man Oelrichs. Miss Gerry, Miss Daisy
Post and Mrs. John Drexel. These
| are a few among the New York So
ciety women who have been ardent
automobiles.
Mrs. o. H. P. Belmont and Mrs.
| Fish were the first women to attempt
automobile riding in America. In the
fall of 1899 Mrs. Belmont organized
| the famous automobile parade at New
| port. In this all tie cottagers own
ing automatic vehicles appeared in
| flower decorated carriages and con-
| tested for the prize to be awarded for
| the most expert driving and the hand
| soonest decorations. The prize for the
| former was awarded to Mr.. Stuyvesant
lie Roy, for the latter to Mrs. Herman
| Oelrichs. Some of the same carriages
| seen in tile Newport parade are to be
exhihitad at the automobile show dec
| Grated very much as they were on that
| ~eventful occasion. Mrs. Belmont, who
| owns one oil the handsomest and best
appointed automobiles in the country,
| had she been other than hostess on
parade day, would probably have car
| ried of the prize for the best decora-
| lions. Her carriage was covered with
! flowers AID -Ipplied with a long pole
| to which were harnessed giant butter
| flies.
The number Of young men Of So
| ciety interested in the show indicates
that automobile driving is the most
fashionable sport for the time being.
MI. Alfred Vanderbilt and his cousin.
MI. W. K. Vanderbilt, Jr., are among
the most ardent chaffeurs. In ac-
quiring complete control of their ve-
hicles they encountered no end Of mar
row escapes, as both ara inclined - -
= daring = though their lives Ncrs