Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-30

dislikes machinery-who is afraid OF
soiling her hands or gloves or gown
with a bit of oil or grease, and who
considers herself of far greater i'm
portance and far more elegant when
seated like an automaton in the ton
neau of the car dressed as elaborately
as the pastime will possibly permit,
with miniature powder puff always
ready to dab her nose occasionally for
fear a little dust may settle thereon.
But the time has come when the
ambition of the woman autoiSt is to
be able intelligently to understand the
mechanical features of her car and to
learn to drive well that she may go
about when and where she wishes
without being bothered with a profess
sional chauffeur. There are very many
women who might enjoy the pleasures
and benefits of autoing were 1t not
that they doubt their ability to learn
how to drive and how to overcome OBJ
stacles. The majority of these same
women would be perfectly able to mas
ter the modern car after some prac-
tical instructions from an expert.
A great many women who could cas-
lily manage their car hesitate to do so
through mistaken ideas of the difficult
ties to be overcome. The very first
thing necessary for the woman who has
decided to become an owner and driver
is to select her car. If she is wise she
will pick one which is simple in con-
struction, for this is an important fac
tor when she is to drive the car herself
of course, a car of standard manufac-
ture is always preferable to one little
known, and a moderately powered car
will answer her requirements perfectly.
The first duty after purchasing the car
is to become perfectly familiar with it,
for the greatest pleasure of autoing is
| to be able to do all things about the car
that eXigency may demand.
The first time the woman operates
her car alone she will have very little
confidence in her own ability. 1t is
always wise to practice turning-back-
ing about and turning around-plenty
of room as free from obstruction as
possible should be found to experiment
in.
One should learn to control the speed
of the car with spark and throttle as
much as possible, and only release the
clutcher when absolutely necessary.
The low gear should only be resorted
to in extreme cases. The spark should
be used for speed and the throttle for
power. Gradually familiarizing oneself
with the operation of the car. the dis
engaging of a clutch or applying OF a
brake will become practically auto
matte.
Save Road Troubles
Before leaving home for trip the
car should be carefully looked over
this will occupy but a few minutes and
save much annoyance from troubles on
the road. The batteries and coil should
be tested. the spark plugs clean, the
gasoline and water tanks we'll filled
and there should be a plentiful supply
of lubricating oil An abundance of
oil should always be kept in the crank
case of the engine, the change gear
box and the rear axle of the ditferen-
tial. Each and every wearing part
the axle joints steering gear, change
gear levers, brake mechanism, etc,
should be literally oiled.
1t is always important that the gas
oline should be strained before putting
1t into the tank; it only REQUIRES the
tiniest bit of grit or dirt to clog up the
carbureter The two most important
factors to look after in connection with
a gasoline engine are the flow of gas
oline and the electric spark. The igni-
ton system should be watched and
gone over carefully from the batteries
to spark plug If an engine slows up
the trouble is very likely in the mixture
of gas supply or to the batteries run
ming down. When the engine comes
suddenly to a stop it is practically cer-
tain that the cause is some defect with
the ignition system. If an engine slows
up and stops, and then after a moment
starts up again and runs mile or two
it is a sure sign that the batteries are
run down. An engine seldom stops
abruptly without preliminary warnings.
Sometimes a mixture of gas is eX-
ploded in the muffler by the heat of the
exhaust. This is called back firing
and is caused by too great supply Of
gas being fed to the engine. AS this
cannot be fired or exploded it is forced
into the muffler with the exhaust gases.
A sure sign of too much fabrication is
blue smoke coming from the exhaust,
and when too much gasoline is being