The sun., 1910-01-02
HOLIDAYCROWDATAUTOSHOW
PLENTY. OF VISITORS AFTER
NOON AND EVENING.

From squadron and Department Of the
y East-CrItical ObserN ers In the Morn
- hE-COmfOrt seekers Later In the Day
Even II yesterday was holiday Il did
not seem to have the to be expected
eject OF keeDing down the attendance at
the annual show OF the American Motor
Car Manufacturers Association in the
Grand Central Palace. as there was a
good crowd of visitors in the building
both afternoon and evening.
Itwas army and navy night last evening,
which was something OF a novelty, as
the show managers in former winters
have been forced to content themselves
with having military nights only. as
generally there are none Of Uncle Sans
good gray ships near enough to this city
30 that the naval branch of the service
can be counted in.
The presence Of the ships OF the north
Atlantic squadron in the river led the show
committee to name last evening as
special occasion for the sailors as well as
the soldiers who work for Uncle Sam.
Admiral Schroeder promised the COM
mittee he would attend with his escort,
and all the commissioned officers in the
feet were invited to inspect the American
and imported cars that are being dis
played.
The captains and other officers from the
following ships were invited TO visit the
show: New Hampshire, Vermont. New
Jersey, Kansas. Connecticut. Missouri.
Wisconsin. Minnesota, Nebraska, Rhode
Island, Panther and Solace.
Major-Cien. leonard A. Wood, COM
mander OF the Department OF the East,
was invited to attend. as were all OF the
commissioned officers from the various
forts situated near this city.
The absorbing interest that is being
taken by thousands Of persons in automo-
biles was proved very convinoingly all
day yesterday as well as last night. As a
matter Of fact. it was observed yesterday
morning that great many OF the young
men attached to some OF the car exhibits
found prospective buyers busily engaged
IN examining their cars when they made
their first appearance in the building.
Numbers OF the visitors who went to the
Palace in the morning did so because they
wished TO look at the cars without the in
tefruptions that are always to be met with
IN the evenings.
The afternoon crowd was not Iuite as
intensely interested in spark plugs, trans
missions. clutches and other mechanical
details as were the visitors OF the morning
= but several OF the exhibitors, especially
those who showed imported or high priced
American cars. said the men and women
WHO Came III the AFTERNOON were more IN
clined 20 give orders for cars than the
earlier visitors.
Several of the men and women who
visited the show during the afternoon ex-
pressed their approval OF openinG the
annual affair on New Years eve. as they
could tell their friends they had been at
the automobile show and thus avoid the
traditional New Years Day calling. Some
OF the older men declared IL was too bad
that automobiles and automobile shows
had ~ hnara inv tod lDno hoF
came INTO being, as a reform in the matter
OF New Years calls had been wanted long
before 10 was realized.
The afternoon and evening visitors
devoted most of their time to cars and
paid particular attention to the various
new styles Of boside e that have been pro-
duced by some OF the best known coach
makers in this city. he inuuirers did
not seem nearly as much interested in the
prices OF the hndauleE. gunboat aud
limousine bodies as they we're in the
4 thorou9hness that had been shown by the
s builder in providing numerous and con-
venient little fittings for the closed bodies =.
There are fewer bright colors among
the pleasure cars displayed this winter
than has been the case at former shows.
The makers say that owners have found
the fancy colors need constant care and
frequent new coats OF paint in order TO
keep them looking bright. and for that
reason the greater majority OF cars pro-
duced in these days arc finished in some
sober and seryiceabie color inst cad OF
the many startling tints used in former
years.
One OF the most noticeable features
about the cars displayed Is the prevalence Q
. OF bodies that have high sides built so
as to afford the maximum amount OF
shelter and comfort for not only the
passengers in the tonneau but also for
the occupants OF the front seats. Where
leather OF canvas sides were used as
side doors for the front seats in former
shows, many Of the cars now being shown
at the Pelace are fitted with permanent
side doors for the front seat
There also appears to be more study
given to the problem OF making some pro-
vision for the comfort Of the drivers Of
the landaulet and town car types OF
machines. In stormy weather the drivers
OF these kinds Of cars have a hard enough
time, no matter how much provision In
made for keeping the cold, snow and rain
away from them, as they are so often
forced to wait for hours at a stretch
when storms are raging. p.
Aside from the army and navy officers.
most OF whom appeared In civilian dress
% the great disappointment Of the many
young women and girls who wondered
number Of well known persons at the show
yesterday. Among the visitors were
Henry Clews, George Ehret. Thomas b.
De Lancey Nicoil, Mr.. and Mrs. J. H.
Hahan, Percy Pyne. Jr.. Mr.. and Mrs,
jackson Gourand, Peter Gerry, Mr.. and
Mrs. Frederick Pierson. Merle Smith,
Robert Livingston, K. r. Thomas, John
Gilbert Ward, Appleton Robbins, Mr.. and
Mrs. Henry Bourne and William j. Ander-
son.