The St. Louis Republic., 1904-02-21
is WOMAN TOBE TRUSTEDAT
AUTOMOBILE STEERING WHEEL? !?
Some Expert Chaueurs Say She Isl Others That
Lose Nerve Without Warning Ladies Who Have
Proved Their Skill Discuss the Question.

Then the sharp curve in the road. a farm
means by which she can avoid collision
her sne sse searX Wn sna a5 I
her foot on the brake and cover her eyes
and await the shock of impact. Now. a
mans brain may not be more alert. but
he has that power Of becoming more cool
and calculating in the face of danger.
where woman's nerve will be upset. He
knows that there Is a rail fence to his
with safety and he takes the chance
NO. decidedly no: woman will never
be as capable as man in running an auto
mobile Of extreme speed with the same
degree Of nerve force as a man"
In spite of this emphatic statement
there are several women who have nego-
sisesf BILE " eMsS eesMffsSnEy SSGa ss
Nine. du Cast, one of the most expert
drivers of automobiles in France, who took
part IN the Paris Madrid race. where sew
eral lives were lost, Is an example of a
DARING woman operator. She has long been
a conspicuous figure in the French capital
and Ndr. notsa for gsi her courage on, and SKIN.
who runs her car 100 miles in five hours.
is a noted figure in the Middle West, while
Mrs. c. Arthur Benjamin of Syracuse,
Central New York, illustrates the temeri-
ty OF some women automobile drivers and
the degree of skill they have developed.
Woman can take sewing machine to
II,
to master the intricate points in the ma
chinery Of an automobile? Women can
repair minor breaks in machines on the
road, and they are becoming more pro-
Ions:
MRS. NIxoNs VIEW.
Mrs. Lewis Nixon-While my husband
and myself spend our summer months on
the water. there are. Of course. many oc-
casions when We use our automobiles In
referring to courage in women, am quite
n a loss to express other sentiments than
my own. You see, all women possess
age Of them do. And il it isn't Unborn it
can be developed. Constant application to
the duties of operating an automobile
the hope Of attaining the temerity to drive
motor car at fairly good pace. had
the utmost patience and vigilance, and
thereby learned the rules Of the road.
This, to my mind, Is most essential
When 1t became time for me to seat my
self beside the chauffeur and be instructed
in the use of the appliances. am free to
confess that I was somewhat alarmed at
the extent of the education had decided
to absorb. Well. it did seem hard at first,
but having overcome timidity with Mr..
Nixon In many rides. I came to under
stand star a., that 1t vas more simple than had
beside one who knows how to drive a car
and handling the steering wheel myself
we're vastly dinerent, / assure you. But
1t Just came naturally after few lessons.
You ask what would do in an emer-
gency. ! have often thought Of that. do
not hesitate to say that, should an OBJ
struction appear before mel am speaking
for most women now-the impulse to put
the brakes on would come fnstinctively.
There Is no reason to become alarmed
when a sharp turn Of the wheel Will send
the car from its course. It is constructed
SO thoroughly to-day. and the brakes work
so perfectly. that there Is no reason to
become alarmed. II a woman can operate
a steam or electric car she should have no
dimculty in driving one OF almost any
horse power.
/ do not know from personal experience
II great deal Of courage is required to
run an automobile at racing speed be-
cause I am content to let the car run at a
moderate pace 2nd that is surely fast
enough 8G
SAFE FOR WOMEN. SAYS POPE.
Colonel Albert A. Pope-There has been
considerable said Of late about women on