New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-27
TRAINING CH1UFFEURS.
Worhf of automobile School Of the
Vest Side Y. VI. &. II.

Ihat many young men far above the average
Of drivers in this city are DESTROYS of becoming
experienced chauffeurs has been demonstrated
by the interest in the work of the automobile
school. recently opened under the auspices of
the West Side Young Mems Christian Associa-
hon in West Fifty That there is a
need for such as the school proposes
TO produce is daily demonstrated in the streets
Of this and other large cities throughout the
country.
Harrison s. Colburn. educational director of
the West Side Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton, says of the departure: I'VE aim to
train young here who will have not only a
thorough knowledge of the mechanism of auto
mobiles but who viii have a respect for them
selves. for one another, for their duties and
their employers. and who will be not only
capable. but trustworthy"
The work of the new school is divided into
three courses-an operative course. term of
three months: lecture course. term of six
months; draughting and designing course. term
Of six months. The operative course is now
being followed by 100 pupils; there are about
one hundred and fifty in the lecture class and
about twenty-five in the designing class. The
next term opens February /, and already there
Is 3 large waiting list.
In the lecture course lectures on the three
types OF machines-steam, gasolene and cleo
tric-are delivered by Charles Edward Lucke
Ph. d., director of experimental engineering. Co.
lumbia University
The designing and draughting course is taught
by Professor Amasa TrOwbridge also of the
mechanical engineering department, Columbia.
The operative class is divided into two sec
lions one for owners and prospective owners
and the other for chauffeurs, both under the su
pervision of Clarence Bovine Brokaw.
1t is in the operative class that the trials of
the novice become most painfully apparent. Ma
chimes which theoretically have been set up in
the most approved fashion have mean habit
of refusing to work when needed. Sometimes
the ignition spark won't spark" and at other
times the starting crank falls into the exasperat
ing habit of jumping backward instead of going
ahead. When this happens the chauffeur in
embryo usually gets it in the chest and is
tumbled over backward in the dirt
Even when the difficulties of getting the en-
CINE working properly have been surmounted,
the beginner learns that sometimes at that
stage a really wicked motor car will refuse to
mote" properly. 1t displays a fondness for
curbstones fences and posts, and is not entirely
averse to attacking unsuspecting pedestrians.
The chauffeur to be learns that at times such
as these the steering wheels and brakes have
a way of mixing themselves up and running to-
gether that is aggrayating in the extreme.
Some of the students say that at times really
on full head to prevent his becoming wicked
as the devil wagon he is driving. There is, too,
a sense of relief conveyed at such times by
sight of the flat-capped, leather coated profess
sonal, who goes along with each class of be-
ginners- Though he is not, perhaps, q graduate
of automobile school. his hand on the right
lever at the right moment is looked upon
essential part OF the course by the timid be-
ginDer.
For outdoor demonstration the class is d.
vided into squads of four, and each person re
ceives individual instruction At the garage in
West Fffty-f1fth-st the men are carefully in
structed in the parts Of the car before going
on the road for actual operation.
Tie school has attracted much general at
tention, and already there are applications on
nle at the Young Mems Christian Association
for number Of the first graduates to act
chauffeurs. The school differs from automobile
schools in other cities in that operative work Is
taught at the beginning instead Of as a supple
mentary part of the course There are now