The Detroit times., 1910-06-25
.GL|DOEN|TES spin {
BY COTTON FIELD
They Hit Toll Gates, Log Roads.
Sand and Have Great Time Down
In Dixie Land.
Rx n. h. MALONE.

DALLAS, Tex, June 25.-(Enroute)
humping the bumps through Ken
lucky was a strenuous pastime, climb
ing hills In Tennessee didn't tend 10
give us ennui-whatever that is-rid-
ing the swamps in Alabama and Mis-
sissippi was fairly exciting sport.
but, believe me, the run from Texar-
kama to this place with the merry
Gliddenites was RICH, up 10 scratch
when IL comes 10 being difficult.
Not tina; the roads were bad Oh,
no. Scientists tell US that man cah
accustom himself 10 almost anything.
and the merry Gliddenites do not fear
bad roads after their experiences east
of the Mississippi river. But the hea.
was right on the job, and when you
mix heat with sand you get results
which are fairly disseminating to the
innocent stranger who lad II all ng-
ured out that a Glidden tour was one
long, pleasant Joy ride.
We missed one thing In Texas or
which W. had a plenty on the other
side OF tho river, and that Is toll gates.
On one run In Kentucky and Tennes-
see We hit Il gales. TIE keepers very
kindly raised the passage price for the
benefit OF the tourists-that Is, all but
ono old man down near the Alabama
border line In Tennessee,
This old fellow was a confederate
veteran and he was rugged out In the
old gray suit which the vets OF the
Stars and Bars wear. He also had
bunch Of badges pinned onto his coat
front, end he kept his gate raised for
the benefit of the drivers. We went
through the gate at something like 40
miles an hour, and the old tollkeeper
and the members OF his family lined
up on the porch Of their little home
and saluted US with a rebel yell which
Was robust TO say the least. | wanted
To stop and thank the old chap. but
the Infeeling driver II our car. Clar-
ence, pointed out that we had somc
miles to go before We hit the night
control and supper, and he was In
hurry &c get there.
Crossing over Arkansas was q pic
mic, II you don't care what you say.
Read building in Arkansas is a lost
art In the communities through which
Dali Lewis, official path finder, routed
his unfortunate subjects. They are
strong on log roads down in the old
south, and the roads stood the test
better than the automobiles.
From Texarkana to Dallas was the
longest run the Glidtenires will make.
and the roads were all right But be-
tween the sun and the sand every
man In the tour was ready to hit the
feathers when we pulled into this
town, our night control. All the way
from Cincinnati down to Memphis
some of the boys had been talking
about the cotton fields Of Texas True,
they wouldn't know cotton from to-
bacco. but they once heard q song
about the beautiful cotton fields, and
they are strong on the beauty thing.
We saw more cotton coming into
this town than would be needed TO
keep the Manchester mills busy for
year, but the beauty part wasn't there.
Cotton In it's undressed state on the
stalk or bush, or whatever II is II
grows on. Is a dirty brown, anything
but beautiful, and then, anyway. when
you are engaging in mad dash across
country you don't have much time
TO pull up by the roadside and admire
nature.
It's case OF get out and hustle.
taking time out only for repairs: and
the gentle sport Of fording stream
or plugging through q swamp is about
the best yon get Fording streams is
circus for the men on the front seat
Of the car, as they don't get the bene-
At OF the splash. But the lads In the
back seat get it-they don't miss any
thing, believe me. and I know, havine
been riding in the rear seat.
Next year the Glidden tour path
finder will start about one month be
fore the date Of the tour. This Is
practically certain. The roads encoun
tered on this years trip have beer
terrible, but Dai Lewis, when he came
through months ago. took a chance
believing the roads would be better
in the summer time. They are not
II anything, they are worse, but We
haven't had any high water to bottle