St. Tammany farmer., 1910-03-19

cendo from Sophia, as she realized
each moment Ito forget the next that
the direction Of our course depended
on the movement of her left hand.
She would have it that, by this time,
was an expert engineer. so whenever
the chain creaked or the exhaust
steam popped, or any other unseemly
sound was heard, what makes that
noise?" she asked.
"Oh, that" replied, exhibiting
more confidence than possessed, ''is
nothing. 1t always does that"
We learned all about reversing the
engine when the time came to return.
Sophia had again changed places with
me and l essayed to turn. The road
was not quite wide enough.
"Now, one of these things" said I.
''is the reversing lever. I think this
is the one," and l pushed the lever
over and put On steam.
Sure enough it was-I was quite
right-and next moment we found
ourselves charging up a steep bank
on the opposite side of the road. back
very Steep. or think we should have
gone on forever, for, finding the brake
did not hold when running backwards,
was too much taken aback to- think
OF putting the engine to ahead
again. Happily the steepness of the
pitch slowed us enough to afford time
for reflection, and presently with
sigh of relief we found ourselves in
the road again and facing the way we
would go.
l don't mind confessing that have
not yet got over a dislike to using
the reversing gear. II we want to
turn in the road I prefer to get out
and pull the car back. We did re-
verse once, and got off quite cheaply
in only smashing up a bicycle that
stood by the curb.
The steam car steals noiselessiy
along the road. The rabbits nibbling
by the roadside nibble on unconscious
of danger till the car has passed them.
The green woodpecker, with yell OF
derisive laughter, swings across the
road in front of us as we drive
through the woods, and the squirrel
on his way home with beech nut for
winter meal sits up on his bushy
tail to scrutinize us and not till long
after we are gone by remembers to
run and hide behind the nearest tree.
1t is surprising that on steamer 1t
is possible to get nearer to animals
and birds without frightening them
than one can even on bicycle.
think it is because there is no move
ment of the feet. Stand at a field gate
remain perfectly still, moving neither
hand nor foot, in a few minutes the
life that your arrival has interrupted
begins again. The rabbits emerge
cautiously from the burrows they
see you standing there, but as long as
you don't move they see no harm in
you. The crouching pheasant in the
stubble begins feeding again. A prowl.
ing rat will pass close by your feet.
But move foot or lift an arm and
instantly all is CONSERVATION and
flight. In steam car, beyond the al
most imperceptible movement of the
hand on the steering lever, the only
action visible is the advancing mass
Of the car, and that seems to have no
disturbing significance for animals.
Day after day in the glorious au-
tumn weather we drove the little car
down to the sea coast, hitherto a long
and wearisome drive or stuffy jour-
ney by train, but now pleasant
hours run over healthy moors. Hard
ly day all through the winter have
we found the weather too bad for a
drive.
But Sophia claims that the climax
of enjoyment is to be found in driving
the car at night.
During the winter we have had
many opportunities of experiencing
this, to me, admit, somewhat fearful
joy The darkness adds enormously
to the sensation of speed, and one
seems to be rushing at a desperate
pace into the unknown Certainly
Sophia's courage is greater than mine,
for she can sit calmly straining her
eyes at the darkness, and what the
darkness may hold, with no power of
stopping the car should disaster sud-
denly loom ahead. It is bad enough
when one has hand on the throttle
lever and foot on the brake.
And at night more than at any
other time the silence of the steam
car is merit. It is distressing
enough, even in broad daylight, to
people with any lingering remains of
the questionable quality of modesty,
to go Gathering along disturbing man
and beast with the persistent self-as.
sertion of an explosion engine; but
he must be hoolfgan indeed who can
bear to make all that noise under the
moonlight, in quiet lanes, soaring the
owls and bats, surprising even the
night-jar, and disturbing the cottagers'
early rest, without feeling himself
grow uncomfortably hot with very
shame.
What Becomes of Grain Crop.
In the year 1908, when the total