The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-08-04

An Enthusiastic Automobiles, Motto
Ing the Journals Remarks on Care
fui Driving, Contributes the Fol-
lowing, With Il Request That We
Print Then.
"To-o-ot, Toot!" foot and be
darned" The familiar picture of
farmer blocking the way of an auto
mobilist, under which this legend is
inscribed, is evidence in justification
Iof the assertion that there are as many
horse drivers who keep the middle of
the road as automobilists
AT sea the steamer, being under bet
ter control and more readily handled.
must give way to the sailing vessel.
There is no law of ten road similar
to marine law, which requires an au-
tomobile to give way to a horse driv-
en- vehicle, but common sense and
common politeness would dictate the
adoption of such course, just as the
driver of light vehicle will give way
to one heavily loaded
There is something more than the
if automobilists are to use the roads
in harmony with horse owners and
drivers. Because one horseman or a
dozen hold the road is no reason why
one automobilist should. A little
courtesy costs nothing and may bring
good results.
Among many horse owners there
was at first prejudice against the
automobile. Much of it still exists,
but most Of it has been eradicated and
what remains, with the exception Of
few cases of bigotry, may be de-
stroyed by automobilists themselves.
| Horses have become accustomed to
the automobile much more rapidly
than they did to the bicycle, and there
that are afraid of machine. There
! is so slight occasion for fear that the
automobiles is disposed to laugh at
! it. But it exists and it must be hui
mored, just as we humor the boy who
is afraid to go to bed in the dark.
There is nothing to be afraid OF, but
there are times when you can't make
him believe it and then you must do
the next best thing. If man looks
on machine as hideous monster
tearing about the country carrying
death and disaster in it's career the
fact must be recognized. This is not
for the sake of gaining reputation
for politeness, but to keep the other
man from becoming selfish with the
road.
The jaundiced view some people
take is evidenced by this instance: A
driver seeing an auto coming drew far
Iout to one side in good place and
lstopped. The road was all clear and
the machine went by without swerv-
ling from the track. Then the horse
driver wanted to know what the auto
driver meant by taking up all the road.
That every driver ought to be thor
loughly capable of handling his mach
line goes without saying and that he
should handle it in manner not TO
annoy others Is not oaiy good man
sers but coed policy.
In the first place, obey the laws of
the road There are many times
when it would be more convenient to
ignore them and when they might be
ignored with safety to all parties. But
if you do that some people will look
lon you as one who holds himself
above the laws. WAC thinks he OWNS
all the road No fOtJt the lass viii
be changed before long, to recognize
the greater speed and ease o. handling
of an automobile. but unit that is
done strict regard for the laws will
prove sood policy.
There has been SO mach careless
ness about turning tns corr@r OF
IpIinCral streets in Mo"tl ,lier. and
sc lhaLy drivers have "esularly tax
On ne corner on the wrong side Of
;.a street, that it be; nc necessary
to station pOilceman at the cOFue'
to compel drivers to travel as they
should There had been no accidents,
hut several narrow escapes Careless
ness, disregard for law and for the
rights OF others and developed into
general habit. Such course is dis
pleasing to the authorities, to drivers
of horses and to the general public
the autoist loses more than he gains
| by it.
Don't blow the horn unnecessarily.
1t is annoying and disturbing to ner-
lvous people. The horn must be used
for warning, but unnecessary repeti-
ton gives offense.
! Don't drive fast in the midst of 9TH
er vehicles 1t is safe enough. but
those accustomed to a speed Of seven
or eight miles an hour don't always
understand that the moderate speed
of fifteen miles is entirely safe,
The question of speed is altogether
one of conditions, judgment and dis
erection, 40 or so miles an hour would
be perfectly safe in some places while