Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-21

machine for a run out on the country roads
or through the crowd OF the downtown
streets. There is always the risk. too, of a
puncture or an accident of more serious
nature and all must admit that to remedy
one Of these mlshaps is a job more suited
to the muscles and nerves as we'll as the
dignity Of a man than a woman. The pos
slbility OF having TO reach into the vitals
OF one of these intricate machines is APP
palllng to almost anyone not of a mechan-
ical turn. and the probability of having t
to do at some time or other is recognized
as inevitable by those of even limited ex-
perience.
Several who AVE deserted the gasoline
car for the electric this winter say that
the warm weather will find them going
back to the big machines, but the spring
alone can bring the proof of this. The
clean little car so handsomely upholstered
and protected, from the wind and the dust
and the weather has a tight hold on the
women. In it they are independent of the
chauffeur. and whether it be a shopping
trip or the dressiest sort of occasion it is
comfortable and the handsomest or most
delicate gown is safe from harm in It.
Five Years at the sport.
1t has been about five years since Omaha
women began driving their own automo-
biles. At the start the gasoline cars were
used almost entirely. For two or three
years It was no common sight to meet a
big car on the road with a woman at the
wheel. her hair flying, her face glowing
and every muscle set alert to the guidance
OF the machine. Even after the weather
got cold these devotees stuck to the sport,
although, they were not always recogniza-
n .-.1 1T N4aN
with a scarf, their listers and their high
gauntlets. but after the third or fourth
season this enthusiasm began to wane, I'M
til this winter 1t is only on the brightest,
warmest days one sees a woman in an au-
tomobile. except 1t be in one of the little
enclosed e~lectrics or through the windows
or behind the curtains of 4 limousine.
1t must be confessed that Omaha women
have ever been inclined to take their recre-
alton in a "lady-like" sort of way, and
the weather is usually well settled before
they even venture out onto the golf links.
Even there they are conservative as a
rule. so 1t could hardly be expected that
the extremes in motoring would appeal to
them very strongly. In the matter OF cos
tune they have been so conservative that
the leather coats and even the cheviot and
serge listers have gone begging among
them, until last autumn, when cross -coun-
try runs became popular. and the woman
who was unprOvided with adequate wraps
was likely to be put to the embarrassing
necessity OF borrowing so many. equipped
themselves for an emergency.
But they are the exceptions, the enthu-
siastic few. and the wonder is that their
enthusiasm has not converted more TO the
delights OF motoring even If the weather is
cold and the wind blowing.
Mrs. WestbrOOk a Leader.
Mrs. r. s. Westbrook is one OF these
and she drives her car for sheer love OF the
sport. She not only drives IL. but she
knows II. She has recently disposed OF
her second car, a twenty horsepower
Franklin, ard gotten a new one of the
same make but of a higher power. Mrs.
Westbrook has been motoring about three