The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-09
PATHF INDERS LAND
TROUBLE A-PLENTY
Scouts Now in Class With
Daniel Boone and Davy
Crockett.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

ALBANY, N. Y, Aug. 9-Please ex-
tend our sympathy to Daniel Boone,
Davy Crockett, Lewis and Clark. and
all the other original scouts. We would
extend it to Buffalo Bill, but don't want
TO advertise him.
They were pretty hard citizens, those
old scouts. but never went on q path
finding trip for an. automobile tour, and
thus they hogged a lot glory that should
come to a later generation.
If they had been with the bunch that
is mapping out the route of the Munssy
run, Washington to Boston and return,
September q TO %. they would have
learned few things that would have
given additional thrilling chapters to
their biographers. Wonder if they
would have stuck to the fnish?
Test Of Endurance
We thought all the hard knocks In the
world were between Westminster, Md,
and Hanover, Pc, because we went
through there once in the dead of night
with one bum light and bucolic con-
stable in pursuit of the man who was
driving the car. But that run has moth
ing on the iaunt from Maiden, n. Z, to
Of New York has ceased its labors on
the new State road. We were accus-
toned to the waterbreaks that lie IN
wait and bob in when you are not look
ing, but there is a kind on that stretch
that reaches around a corner and soaks
you in the springs and spine and teeth
and then laughs in ghoulish giee when
the ambulance carries you away.
Somehow, the impression got abroad
that the Munsey run was TO be q sort
Of Joy ride, In which j car would not
receive real test. - you stilT think
that, Dear Brother, try to make the run
from Milford, Pa, to Albany in one
day when your machine is not In good
condition. It can be done, all right, as
the Gliddenites proved last year, but
when II is over you viii know you have
been autoing and Will be glad you have
not suffered from anything serious.
Bumps and Then Some.
There are bumps on that road for the
careless driver that would shake the
faith Of q suffragette in votes as
panacea for all human Ills. This is not
said to discourage you, for il is per-
fectly reasonable one-dsy drive, but to
show that you will be having action for
your money II YOU start in the Munsey
run and get that far.
All along the road-,the neighbors have
taken a most kindly and inquisitive in
terest in the welfare Of the scouts and
the history Of the Chalmers-Detroit
Pathfinder.
They have labored earnestly to per-
suade US to take shorter route. When
il is explained that we are simply
following the Glidden route OF 1903 from
Philadelphia to Boston as part of our
travels. they need it not. but button
hole US in a far corner and insist that
we take their fsvorite by-paths TO the
next town
Sometimes the casual and unsought
advice would be helpful, bit at such
moments the countryside Is asleep or
at dinner, as was the case Saturday
night. when Il took us many precious
minutes TO find that the postoffice at
Port Huron had changed hands and
that the postal cards were being read
elsewhere. We have also suffered from
the rural conception that straight road
Is one that has many forks and Cross
roads in II.
Length of Mile.
Another little detail that mas caused
grief and loss Of time has been the
varying length Of an English mile in
the American mind. The books gen
orally are approximately right. accord
ing TO the speedometers, while the
guide posts are generally wrong, &C.
cording to said instruments. and right
according 10 the leading citizens. Up
around Esopus way they have miles as
long as a Puritan sermon. while around
Albany, where everybody is anxious to
get the money and get away quick. the
miles are so close together that you
freouently run over two OF them at
once.
This morning the Pathfinder headed
for SDr5ngfeld. Mass. where the scouts
probably will camp for the night.