The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-07
Society.
A SCHOOL FOR
 cHAFFEURS.

While the owners of motor cars in Bir- mingham are their own chaneurs. if the automobile craze continues it will be dlf- fieult probably for those who do not care ohaffeurs. In other cities It Is said that it Is frequently impossible to employ com petent men and the experiences of those who have tried to do so have prompted the suggestion that a school for chaf- feurs should be provided It argued that other necessary accomplishments as the utility of "automobilism'' Is more and more recognized
 writer in the New York Times says:
 The trials and tribulations of the man who purchases a big motor car requiring skilled attention before he gets the right man to look after it are many and va rious. The new act-for which the pro- fessional chaffeur has been to a large extent responsible-will no doubt have a considerable restraining effect, as now driving over the legal limit brings more important consequences than the impo-
  ly to be paid by the unfortunate owner. With the endorsement Of his license and the prison gates as his ultimate destina- tion, even the most furlously inclined chaffeur is restrained to proceed within the legal limit.
 Previously, of course. it was grand sport from his point of view to career through the country disregarding all the common decencies of the road, and caus- Ing more havoc in a hundred miles run than twenty sensible and right minded drivers would cause in the course of year. I am not endeavoring to discredlt the professional driver. There are large number who are serious, consld- crate, and careful in their attention to their cars, and in their behavior to their employees. Nevertheless, it is always the black sheep who bring punishment on the great majority and many are the tribulations of the owner who has engag ed an unreliable man.
 Every year an increasing number of mo- tor cars is sold in this country, and there Is corresponding increase in the num- Der of chaffeurs required to look after them. As time goes on and the pleasure and utility of automobillsm become rec ognized more and more. the requirements for the chaffeur become more and more exaciIng. and only those men who are capable of carrying out their work In an intelligent and satisfactory manner will be able to find postionsA
 With this demand in sight 1t has always been matter of surprise to me that no fasllties have been afforded at the various educational institutions and no classes started at the polytechnics, etc., where young men can obtain knowledge aud experience sufficiently comprehensive to fit them for chaffeurs I believe just recently that at one well-know polytech- nc in London some such classes have been started with the greatest success but there is a very open field, and for really good men plenty of good positions. CT course, one of the drawbacks is the Gii. culty of providing suitable cars on which the necessary education in manipu- lauon adjustment. regulation attention and construction can be given; but l be- lieve that if the matter was taken up se- rioisy there are many wealthy enthu- siasts who would sacrifice a car-not per Taps. quite up to date, but sufficiently so Ter the purpose-with the idea of benefit ing two classes of the community, those who want to be "chaffeurs" and those who want ''chaffeurs."
 Ploper examinations could be made and certificates of capability granted and I am certain that there are hundreds of users of cars who would prefer to en- gage man who had been through such a course and had obtained proper certlf- itate rather than employ the irresponsible ir.ii,ieuals at whose mercy they are at present.