New-York tribune., 1906-11-18
THE FUTURE OF THE AUTOMOBILE

sentiment apart. they do not regret the change.
Distance is nothing TO them. Friends forty CT
fifty miles off be called upon in the course
of day, even Of long afternoon; the car
can be left at the hall door in the stable yard
without attention. until il is needed again; IL
can stand in the cold in the sun. with i'm
punity; it does away with the terror OF cross
country Journeys By rail
Less questionable. perhaps is the value of the
motor car to the medical man. both in town and
in the country. No carriage drawing horse has
less enviable existence than that of the town
doctor, who must be about in all weathers and at
all seasons. attending patients who may be bet
ter or may be worse uncertain until he has
tered the sickroom how long his visit must
last. OF country practitioner the experiences
We're narrated not long ago in The Times" A
motor car cost him. including depreciation,
about $500 year II did the work of six horses
and IL enabled him TO do work than he
could have done with sixty horses With it he
could. and did. travel some 10000 miles in each
year, and he could arrange his appointments on
tho foundation of confidence that he could travel
from one to another at the rate of eighteen miles
to the hour. This. of course. would be impossible
of achievement by multiplication of horses: it is
the perfectly simple result from multiplication
of horsepower.
and more in the land. not less and less How
are they to be treated by the law and by the
public which, in the long run. makes the law?
Owners Of motor cars will unless the fOunda
tions of society he changed. always be in a
minority: that is 70 say although cars will be-
come less expensive than they are the multitude
will not be able 70 afford to buy TO hire them,
and foot passengers will outnunber them
thc, have always outnumbered carriage folk"
How. it is repeated. shall they be treated?
There is perhaps. no social problem Of modern
times upon which II is difficult to look with
that detached and impartial mind which is es-
sential to just Judgment; but happy chance. I
venture to think has placed me in a position of
exceptional advantage in this respect. I live in
art of rural England that is much haunted by
motors there six at least in the nearest VIII
lage. and a great trunk road runs close to my
house. 1 have suffered most of the experiences
that go TO the making of a confirmed anti
motorist and am by no means anxious TO
suffer the rest of them. That is to say. motors
lave made my horse run away. and have left
ME temporarily blind and pillar of dust on the
load many time but they have not yet killed
me, nor any of my family. nor OF my dogs. That
IS Cne side of my experience. on the other hand
without owning a car. l have taken some OF the
most delightful drives. long and short. in small
heart of to desire. and 1 know from expert
erce that travelling in a motor car apart from
the rapid impressions which it conveys of this
amazing England" to quote Mr.. Kipline is one
Of the purest and most urdiluted of human
pleasures. The giant engine power, inclosed
within so ride ulously small a space huns with
infs ctioIs melody; the air seems to wash the
face that IS driven through tt. as II it We're
one cool and eNhilarating liquid the BRAIN
conn eled To register observations quickly
works with abnormal brightness and rapidity.
So riding, l have learned certain facts which
tIose who have not used the motor ear extern
ively are naturally slow 20 raalizC. The first Of
course is thai generation df horses is growing
''' which is not more alarmed ty motors than
, a@y ordicary object ~ the read Indeed ac-
CURED pony recently which having been
reared In the New Forest. SHE'D far worse AZ
houses and AT sratinss. which last most horses
'iSnhe' imam at motor cars, So much. perhaps
IS beginning To he understood: but the next and
'he paramount virtue of a motor car. its ahso-
iote obedience to control Is not easily be-
reNeu. My first lesson gained when s +
EuSe' renowned expert was driving ma
oown Chslehurst Hill AT a pace moderaIe for
q q motor car. which would have been frightful
tor uoscart Less than six yards in front OF
as US iooIsh child, playing perhaps at the suicidal
same, VINO VIII cross last - daTted out into the
road ana. terror stricken, no doubt stood frn
III the way. Ii we had been in horse drawn
enicie' gong ever so slowly, the child must in
eVutaplv nave been knocked down. perhaps
hisieu As II was. without saying word IN
Stihc'iNeiy as II seemed. Mr. Edge stopped tho
& oar, aho, before there was time TO think we
,n ene lacking up the hill. There have been many
..Ss ATOMS since, but none so forcihle this
Controiability." to coin word. has its dan