Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-28

The development Of the automobile
in the luxury Of its equipment has kept
pace with the progress in the matter
OF speed. The perfecaion to which the
modern cars have been brought In
their interior furnishings Is less fa-
miliar than their possibilities for speed.
The racing car is naturally a familiar
object On the other hand the most
luxurious cars are as yet limited I'm
number and their most remarkable
features are not arranged for display.
The modern automobile of the more
expensive type makes the most lux
urious railroad car seem barren by
comparison. It Is difficult to imagine
how luxury within such narrow boun-
darles could be carried further The
up-to-date automoblist. II he be will
ing to pay the price. may dine in his
private car, write, read, make an ell
aborate toilet, control his machine by
telephone or electric signals without
interrupting a pace of a mile q minute.
In the tests of high speed in long
runs the American cars have been
beaten by foreign rivals But in point
of comfort and luxury the newer Amer.
lean models. II Is safe to say, stand
alone. Considered as a boudoir. for
instance, the cabs of an automobile
may be somewhat cramped. but it can
compare very favorably i'm point of
equipment with any similar interior.
Here my lady" will find mirrors very
conveniently placed even hand mir
rors, as on her dressing table. There
are electric lights so distributed that
any illumination desired may be
thrown upon any object, There are
spacious leather bags with compart-
ments into which fit elegant cut glass
bottles, with silver tops. for carrying
a variety of toilet preparations. In
one of these cars there is even q dinin-
utive wash stand, with running water
concealed beneath the leather uphol-
stery.
AS in 4 Smoking Room
A man will find another class of
comforts. He can make himself quite
as much at home in this luxurious
interior as his wife. There win be
locker for his cigars, so placed that no
heat may reach the tobacco. SWING
ing within easy reach OF his hand
there will be an electric cigar lighter
with an ornate clip for cutting the ends
of his cigars. A touch of button
and a flame instantly leaps from the
lighter to be eXtinguished by another
touch. There will be a writing desk
folded up ingeniously beneath the up
and blotters and every brand of sta
tionery especially prepared for the oc-
casion This automobile paper is
stamped with the number of the car
with the expressive phrase engraved be-
meath it zen route There will be
pockets arranged for carrying books |
and magazines.
1t is but a few years at most since |
the attention of the driver of a closed |
a. 1sfd NNn1H 1NN lNtn nfNNO 1NxVI
hammering on the windows or in the |
most luxurious equipages, by pulling |
a cord. Such a cord at best could |
impart no very definite information.
Today in the driving of an automo-
bile equipped with the latest improve
ments there is instant communication
with the interior of the cab, so that |
anyone riding inside may control every |
Leaning back luxuriously |
on the heavily upholstered cushions one |
may by the pressure of a finger stop |
or start the car turn to one side or |
the other and accelerate or retard the |
speed. |
Electric Communication
There are two means of communi-
cation between the interior of the cab
and the chaffeurs. The driver may
be reached by telephone or by electric
signals. The actual distance between
the driver ana the one driven is, IN
cidentally, probably less than three
feet. In winter however, the distance
between the two positions may be
equivalent to that which separates
Maine from Florida. The temperature
may be zero or below, with an icy
wind while in the car a lady may be
riding with bare neck and shoulders
with the temperature at 80.
The. telephone between these two
zones is a flexible tube hanging on the
interior of the cab. The other end of
the telephone is equipped with a small
megaphone-like attachment within a
few inches of the drivers ear. 1t is
always possible to ring up the chat
fuer in this case and be sure of get
ting him on the line. The receiver in
the cab is, besides, supplied with a
small bellows, so that by merely press
ing this a low whistle will be sounded