The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-28
MOTOR CAR TRAVELLING
Delights Far in Excess of Railroad
Train Riding.
Charms of Freedom Experienced by
the Drivers of HOrscIcss Carriages
-Glories of Driving Long Distances
Through Forests, Valleys, and VIII
lnges-Hclper to Good Ronds Plans.

1nScs-HcIper to Good Ronds Plans
The motor car unquestionably exercises
an extraordinary charm upon those who
come within its sphere of influence II
is worth while, then. to say a word or two
in explanation of that charm, and to make
the public realize that the motor-car en-
thusiast is not mere crank swayed merely
by fashion and novelty. but has reasons
for the faith that is in him.
The essential and controlling charm OF
the horseless carriage is that It increases
ones freedom of action and reduces the
friction of life. A metaphysician might
describe it as forming part OF reaction
toward indiyiduaiism and simplicity of &C
ton engendered by the temporary triumph
of collectivism as applied to transport.
The railway train is necessarily collect
lvist. passenger train starts and reaches
its destination owing to the combined vo-
lition of large number OF people who
want to travel frcm, let US say. Bath to
London, or between places along the Great
Western Railway. But in order to satisfy
those volitions and make them executive
they have TO be marshaied and organized
and so in a sense shackied. a railway
train, with its guards and drivers, and
fixed places Of stoppage, is a creature OF
strict rules. and those who travel in II
must temporarily surrender their private
wishes, or a part of them. in order to CO.
operate with others. The man who takes
out his motor car and drives 1t along the
road is. as it were, freebooter. with all
the freeholders freedom-thOugh. doubt
less, also with some of the freeholders
limitations and weakness and isolation
Still, the charm of freedom remains. and
allows him to start when he likes, stop
when he likes, and be independent of his
fellows. This charm, of course, belongs
also in theory to any carriage from
donkey cart to landau. but in practice
ii does not operate in such cases except
over very short distances. The lust OF
time saving is too powerful and gives the
advantage to the train. No horse can go
at the rate of twelve miles an hour for
three consecutive hours. and at the end
of the three hours be ready and able 10
go on for another three or eight or ten
hours. 1t is its tirelessness which makes
thu motor car quite a different mode OF
transport from a horse and gives 1t its
In the case of e MOTOR car
you have a method of moving from place
to place as treless as train, one which
for short journeys and cross journeys ID
as quick as the train and yet one which is
and Independent.
Cross-eountry Journeys.
In the abstract this explanation OF
the charm of the motor car may sound
fantastic and unreal, but put concrete
case of person living either in the town
or in the country and 1t can easily be
proved. Let US suppose A to live in the
and be anxious to make cross
country journey to place some thirty
miles off, Unless he is very exceptionally
placed he will, to accomplish that jour
ney, have first to drive to his local sta
ton, and then TO take his ticket and go
a Journey which will very likely take him
an hour and half's travelling, and half
an hours waiting at functions, and then
another drive from the railway station OF
arrival to the house he wants to visit.
In all probability the whole cross journey
1y train will take him at least three hours,
and will require to be taken at one time,
and one time only. in the day, and must,
therefore. cause him good deal OF trou-
ole friction, and annoyance. He could
not possibly avoid this worry by using a
lorse carriage, for no horse could go sixty
miles in a day without injury. II. how
sVer' NE mas iio'of "a, ne oah uo 'no
journey IN Two hours anu haii' anu ue
ioie 10 start "ieI ne pieasss anu a,i
Nhe1 ne pieases' nno ."E ~ 10y ma. Su 1
reeuoih mas ehai "a e
MS eHafn, itas We eApi'-inu e. - ".
q way. ihoush lno 40
'y network Oh railways we no MT un
ess we are s].tioi,ihas'ers' ii'e On me
,ali"ays me ROAD Is, as IL were the
II Of "i.o y. ni...., "ttN o.
,oyar disc,r5ad tho fret and che has in
.eality always remained nea,est to him
md has always held his home Nothing
an take that away from her- we hVe
~ .ne - n,,, d n hre,s W. ioo,, do,rn
bo ,o.d for tho hone-coner or the new
omer. Cur gates open on the road. The |
Dad is always with us. But the motor |
ar belongs to the road and makes us free |
# il and able to use it for our pleasure, |
" our convenience, or our profit in way !
which We could not attain before. Or to |
e more correct. the motor car has restored |
he road to us. While railway travelling |
vas so immeasurab!y quicker and easier |
han road travelling, we were forced to !
i've up the pleasure our fathers had taken |
n the road, for mankind in general can
lot or will not lose time. Now, however,
he road has been revived. To go back |
0 our metaphor. the meteor car has given
he road a crown of price that has once
gain made her find favor in the eyes of |
er lord and master. The second wife
as come to look old fashioned and dull.
nd the first wife, never really rejected,
enews her charms. Especially is this
he case in country like England, where
he roads are veritable storehouses of
force.
x,;.,.r;nr xro,J no.,