The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-11
AMONG The AUTOMOBILISTS.
HOW 4 MAN PLAYED CHAUFFEUR
IN HIS OWN CAR.
Treasurer Of n Retail Concern InNeIEled
Into Lending His Machine and Services
10 q Prospective woman Customer
Value OF Touring Contests 10 the Public.

II happened in Boston, where a man Of
wealth and social standing is the hacker
and treasurer Of a retail automobile concern.
that a charming and wealthy widow wanted
a new car and wanted il at once. Also. she
wanted one with a black body, and the dealer
had none OF the sort. He had an idea, how
ever, and told her he would take the order
and place the black car of one of his other
customers at her disposal until her own ar
rived from the factory. When Mr.. b., the
treasurer of the firm. came in. he was told
OF the arrangement and informed that it was
his black car that was to be devoted t. the
customers use in order to clinch the sale.
The treasurer agreed to the pact readily.
The next morning there was an imperirl Q
call from the new customer for the car that
was at her service and she wanted a chauffeur
with 1t.
The call caused CONSERVATION in the garage.
for while the car was In readiness there was
not a chauffeur IL be- had. Finally. asi meart
bU siuess, Mr.. Il. agreed to play chauffeur
with his own car for the woman whom he
did not in the least know. thou Oh he later
discovered thai they had mutual acQuaint-
ances.
The widow had planned for a busy day
She made an extensive shopping tour with
her gentleman chauffeur, who WAS obliged
10 play the part of hired driver in the most
Conspicuous pdIlb Oh lut lONH. Inc Saving
grace for him was that he was in his own car
and could make some show Of being at ease
when acQuaintances stopped 10 speak 10 him
while he was waiting for his passenger in
front of the big shops. The woman must
have msrVelled at the range ard class OF her
Chauffeur's acquaintance. though he avoided
recognitions whenever possible.
After the shopping expedition there We're
several calls In neighborhoods where Mr..
n xT,a xnn1 sAI aud 80 1.rN h.. 81
the new customer took another woman into
the cur and had the chauffeur drive them for
luncheon to a club OF which he was a member.
While he was playing hireling at the curb
in front OF the club a couple of his clu
spied him and tried to get him TO join them
inside. His ability to prevarioate was severely
taxed, and upon an empty stomach al that.
After the women had lunched It was late
In the day and he drove them home. As
his p~resumable employer was leaving him
she suddenly exclaimed: You poor fellow,
] don't believe you have had anything to
eat yet. have you?" Then she thrust n quarter
upon him and told him to call for her at the
same time the next morning. Another
chauffeur waited upon the widow the next
day and though she inquired she never learned
the reason for the change,
Among the recent patents granted is one
tod. w. Mcclure Of toilette. n. D., for q motor
plough and one for a motor sleigh to C.. III
Sisk OF Hopkinsville. Ky.
For the amount Of valuable and practica
to the public and intendin q
buyers. long distance touring contests are
probably Of greater service than even the big
races, and the growing recognition Of the
fact Is found in the number Of touring COM
petitions on the schedule for this season.
The Grand PriS In France and the Wander
bilt cup race here will at best show only
which racing cars are best and. because so
much depends upon the driver, perhaps not
that. The tour for the Herkomer trophy.
the Circuit European and the Glidden trophy
contest. within certain limits, show which
are best among the touring cars made reg
ularly for sale to the general public. An
interesting feature of these touring contests
this year omis to be the opportunity
they will offer for a comparison bet ween
the merits OF every day touring cars OF for
eigh and American makes. A couple of entries
OF famous foreign cars are said TO be assured
for the Glidden tour and one Of the best Ameri-
can cars made is a competitor in both the
big tours. abroad. The chief interest nos
sibly will be in the comparison bet ween for-
elgh ana american cars or American roads.
but as this Is the first time that any American
car has ventured TO compete with the forejrn
makes on their WI roads. a very keen in
terest here natur ally is held BY The events
abroad. 1t IL regrette ed that there ia oniy.
one American ear in the foreign compa,f-
tons, for the odds against IL are too rr.a,
and IN the event OF its haN ing a mishap and
iallng to he well up ut the finish, n conf-
parlsoh OF the result on a percentage basis
would he distressingly unfair. In case the
lone eprescntat!ye OF this country tails it
can be said that 100 per cent. OF the American
cars. failed, whereas il there were several
entries OF the same car in the tour. as there
are OF the various European makes, IL might
well be that one could meet with misfort1ne
and one Of the others carry of the victory.
For similar reasons. those who desire that
these contests should be as instructive as
possible are hoping that there will be a num-
trophy.
1t 70 10 BE- inferred that Hamlet. who spoke