New-York tribune., 1901-12-22
PARIS AUTOMOBILE SHOW
THE SALIENT FEATURE OF THE EX-
HIRITION is THAT FRENCH CON
STRUCTORS CONCENTRATE THEIR
EFFORTS TO SECURE COMFORT
RATHER THAN SPEED.
Paris, December 10.

Paris December III.
The fourth annual international automobile
exhibition, which opened this morning in the
Grand Palace OF the Champs -Elysees, surpasses
anything Of the sort hitherto attempted here
There are over seven hundred exhibitors on the
list and these are all French firms. with the ex-
ception Of a score of Germans. Americans. Eng
lish and BeIgians. In fact, the exhibition seems
10 be a testimonial the superiority Of France
IN the art OF automobile manufacture.
A salient feature of the exhibition is the sim
ilarity or unity OF the latest types Of motor
carriages Take a thousand automobiles at ran
DOM and It viii be found shat eight hundred
closely resemble each other. The frames are
long and low. the front and hind wheels are al
most of the same size, and the favorfte motor
seems to be that of the vertical type, with cleo
trio lighting apparatus perfected by the firm
OF De Dion & Bouton ~ light weights and by
the firm of Mors for heavy weights 1t is graft
flying to note that all the French constructors
have concentrated their efforts to turn out d
motor carriage Of the most comfortable type
possible. Indeed. comfort is everywhere else
sacrificed 10 mere speed. The racing machine Of
1902 remains about the same that of 1901.
except that the frame is simpler. lighter, made
of fewer pieces. and is nearer the ground The
great characteristic of the automobile industry
for 1902 is unquestionably the passengers COM
Belgians, who, before ordering his new auto
mobile called together the leading Partisan
makers and explained to them that they were
all on the wrong tack in sacrificing everything
for speed, as they have done for the last four
years. The King said:
OF course. you get great deal Of publicity by
turning OUT these racing machines, in which
YOUR Charrons or Fourniers or other champions
make records. which are telegraphed all over
Europe and America. But you Will find that at
least seven out of ten who want an auto
mobile prefer comfort TO high speed. A man
wishes be able to take out his family or
friends for a day two in the country. and as
long as q speed Of from fifteen to twenty miles
an hour is attained. that is all that is required.
It is no amusement whatever to go d2shlng over
the road at a breakneck velocity of fifty or sixty
miles an hour. 1 for one insist upon comfort
for myself and for my friends, and when am
in such q hurry a to want 10 spin along at a
rate Of sixty or seventy miles an hour why, l
simply take an express train
This little sermon was taken to heart by the
French makers and the result is that the auto
mobile Just built by the Panhard company for
the King of the Belgians is q model of ease and
luxurious comfort. II is like delightful, rest
ful cruising yacht as compared with disagree
able, vibrating, record breaking torpedo boat
The speed epidemic has been subsiding IN
France since the series of terrible accidents that
occurred during last summer. and the once awe
inspiring engine pilot, with shaggy, bristhng