The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
MUCH TOO STRENUOUS.
An Automobile Ride That Was a Hair
Raiser and u Nerve-De~
stroyer,

The owner of the automobile turned
IN his sea- and said to his guests:
Now, I'm going TO take you clear
around the lake and show you some Of
The prettlest bits of scenery in Amer
ca. We are in sight Of the water near
ly the whole way, and the road runs
right along through the woods. / wish
1t was a month later, SO you could see
The autumn foliage, but | think you'll
say it's pretty fine now"
He footed d couple Of warning blasts
on his horn, and the machine began to
move, Just rs II gathered speed one Of
the guests screamed and the other
shouted. A baby cab was almost direct
ly In their track, and the woman who
was pushing 1t seemed paralyzed with
terror. 1t seemed impossible at the
rate the automobile was going to avoid
a catastrophe. but a sharp lurch to the
left did 1t, missing the cab BY a hairs
breadth, The occupants of the auto
mobile gasped with relief-that Is, the
two guests did. The host turned to them
with another blast on his horn.
There wasn't any danger" he said,
re%assuringly. q can always"
oh, take care" screamed the woman
guest. 1t was an express wagon this
time, but the skillful chauffeur avoid
I'd it by running upon the sidewalk, to
the CONSERVATION of the pedestrians.
The streets are pretty narrow here"
observed the owner of the autoI .oblle,
as he regained the roadway with a
thump. Saturday afternoons, too, the
teams are pretty thick. Well have a
clear track now"
lie turned out of the village street Al
he spoke and speeded along a some-
what dusty highway between an ave-
nue of trees. The woman guest said
1t was lovely, but she spoke in rather
tremulous tones, and added: Mind the
ditch, please"
The next instant her hat struck the
canopy. Her head was In it. The hat
and head Of the man beside her re-
ceived a sharp CONCLUSION In the same
manner, at the same'time. Their host
did not rise more than a foot from hIs
seat, because he was holding on to the
steering wheel.
III blame that on to you" he said
with slightly forced gaiety. az was try
ing to get away from the ditch and |
didn't see that bowlder."
"A fellow wants to have a quick eve
to steer one OF these things" observed
the male guest. you haven't run 1t
long, have you, old mani"
Take a spin every day" replied the
host in slightly nettled tones. To-day
| seem to be-"
There's another big stone in the
road" warned the woman and the ma
chine lodged off to one side.
81 can't hit 'em all, " laughed the host.
I'D like to oblige you, but it's too hard
on the tires"
Within the next 100 yards, however,
he did hit another, The male CUES re-
m~arkedlthat after all there was plenty
Of time and suggested Stacking up In
order to encounter obstacles gradually.
At this the owner Of the automobile
laughed and put OF full speed ahead and
Tor the next two miles the guests cling
to each other In silent agony. oeca-
the vehicle would make a wide
sweep Inward toward the ditch. Once a
telegraph pole was grazed and once a
sent them careening along IN two
at an angle of about 40 degrees
or quite a distance. Several additional
powders were successfully negotiated
and on climbing a hill something went
wrong with the machinery and the auto
mobile backed down into rail fence.
But the prayers Of the guests were an
They met no teams and eventn.
illy the machine came to a psntirc
'tandstill before the veranda Of It's own
summer house.
We'll" said the host, wasn't that
smart run and did you ever sea
my prettier scenery"
The guests looked at each other. az,
vas a smart run, all right" said the
Don't You think that woodland seem
ry is superb?"
We'll" answered the male guest.
fter a moments hesitation. well take
walk some time before we go and look
It, Then we can let you know"