The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11

with grimy hands, and Of sitting in con-
strained positions at the steering wheel.
1t is but natural that this large percentage
should be willing to surrender the ardors
OF operating to a hired man and conspire
for roomisr seats with .thicker cushions
and more protection from the elements
for the women folks-and themselves,
II Is in natural sequence also that they shall
be content to race by proxy and let salaried
chsufeurs eat their way through the dust
clouds Of competitors and take the risks
Of being manned or killed.
Early last year the tendency toward
preferences by the public for touring cars,
as the larger vehicles with tonneaus on are
known, was perceived by the automobile
makers, and 1t was predicted that the bulk
OF the demand would this year be for this
type and that 1904 would be touring
car year" This has been wholly justified,
and it is being now forecast that 1905 will
see a still further demand for the touring
car, the four cylinder engine and more
comfortable bodies all around This Is
not all, however.
The demand for comfort an. ease has
grown with what it fed upoa d there are
other demands making toward the pro-
duction Of a far higher type OF vehicle.
These demands are being heard and the
move Of the makers toward meeting them
Ia working the most notew orthy changes
yet in the general character Of the m otor
vehicle. First among these demands has
been that for thes abolition Of the back
door entrance to the tonneau and the SUBJ
stitution Of side door, in order that the
automobile may come up to the curb and the
carriage stone for its women passengers
like respectable family vehicle, insteadof
backing up FOR them. as does a hearse
or a police patrol, or having them step
into the filth OF the roadway In order to enter
| through that back door which now prevails
in touring cars. The demand for a side
| entrance has grown with a bound within
the year since some assertive patrons
| Of the motor car demanded 1t and some
clever body builders showed how 1t could
| be done. The introduction OF a side entrance
| to a touring car involves a longer wheel
base and this works together with the first
demand in bringing greater comfort for
! with the longer wheel base the car Is made
| easier riding and the room within the ton
| neau is increased.
Most interesting Of all the changes being
presently wrought are those seeking the
dust and rain, because in this is found the
most marked step away from the idea Of
| automobiling as sport, something that
| involves exposure and some fortitude.
| First came the canopy top, plain roof on
slender uprights centred over the body of
the car in a way that renders 1t device
| that would be Of greatest service at MONDAY
| in the tropics, when the rays Of the sun are
| absolutely vertical. To the canopy top
were added the adjustable window In front
| and tho rolling curtains at the side. but as
| every one knows who has ridden in clash
| top buggy OF an open trolley car, these
| things leak-they leak wind and dust and
rain, or whichever may be most pressing
| from without In competition with the
| canopy top there was introduced this season
| the Cape top. named because OF It's adoption
| from the vehicles used at Cape Colony, a
huge clash top. with back and sides In one
niece, which does not leak, but frankly
! makes no pretenoe OF sheltering those
t, beneath It from wind OF rain that drives
| from in front. Furthermore, it is a literal
drawback because OF the way 1t catches
| the wind.
! In pleasant weather dust Is the one great
| bane OF automobilists. 1t detracts 80 heav-
| NV from the pleasure of this mode Of
| travel that a number Of those with wide
experience have decided that there are
about only four months in the year when
| automobiling can be thoroughly enjoya-
| Bile, and those the comparatively dustlees
months Of spring and fall-April and May,
| October and November.
None OF the popular appurtances yet
devised affords satisfactory protection from
| dust which filters In through minutest
| crevices. The dust panoply, spread out
| at forty-hve degrees from the rear upper
| edge OF the tonneau, the canopy top, glass
| front and curtains and the great hood Of the
| cape top havs all had their uses and yield
their modicun Of Improvement In the direc-
ton Of oo m 9r. yet have all 5 pso %sm. in
| for greater comfort. for eake, for positive
luxury, which is subtly pphntiD' -