The Washington herald., 1910-01-25

Thirty exhibitors of everything
that is new and luxurious in motor
car construction last evening DEM
onstrated the fallacy' of the pessi-
mistic aphorism There is nothing
new under the sun" at the opening
of the National Automobile and
Aeronautical Show at Convention
Hall.
Throughout the evening hundreds
OF acknowledgement women and
well-dressed men weaved a con-
stantly moving web about the dis
plays, elegant in their simplicity,
where simple eloquence goes hand
in-hand with comfort and utility,
and turned Convention Hall into a
miniature fairyland that seems al
most a fantasy in its spectacular
effects.
ARBOR OF NATIONAL CoLoRS.
Thousands and thousands of yards OF
national colors have transformed the in
terror Of the building into a huge arbor
that almost rivals nature in its beautiful
pictorial effects Golden-colored signs
ana shields at the corner Of each booth
display the names Of the cars shown.
Throughout the former barren effect of
the large hall has been entirely done
away with. and there is nothing to de-
tract from the effect OF the synphsavl
of harmonic color,
Yesterday afternoon Oii-begTimed work
men labored with necessary haste to pre-
pare for last night. and perfect order
greeted the eyes Of the weH-dressed men.
Where yesterday afternoon a hundred
oharwomen scrubbed and cleaned the
floors and booths, last night women
strolled leisurely. gowned with all the
perfection that Parisians modistes could
design.
With few exceptions-and there were
few-everything was in readiness for the
show, and there were not those incom-
pleted details that usually detract from
the opening Of an auto show.
Committee Deserves Credit.
Throughout the exhibition is a perfect
embodiment OF everything that is new
in motor car construction. and the show
committee deserves much credit, not only
for the elaborate exhibit it has given
Washington but for the setting which
IL has given the cars.
\ pleasing feature Of the opening was
the rendition of a programme Of classical
and popular selections by Haley's Band.
A first glance over tho interior OF the
hai! shows just how far motor car con-
struction has progressed. Each separate
exhibit has its little refinement of detail
in body building. or its Improvement in
some component part Of the motor It
SELF. In, general way, however. each
car resembles every other car OF its
own class. Elegance In all its simplicity
Is persOnifed throughout the display.
With this luxuriousness go hand in hand
htility and comfort
Even down to the colorings this sim.
plicity extends. Nine-tenths Of the cars
displayed have black bodies: a few are
the popular gray, while here and there a
serviceable red is seen. A coupIe Of
blues and canary creations add a dash
OF brilliancy to the scene.
GIaring COIors Missing
And just as freak bodies and motors
are missing, SO are the glaring color
schemes that have come to be looked
for because of designs shown at other
shows. Throughout the manufacturers
have constructed their new models hear
ing in mind the fact that the purcbaser
wants car that can stand the strain
of constant and varied usage. Thev have
made an effort 10 build a car that VIII
fulfill these demands of the BUYERS. and
evidently they have succeeded. Costly
experiments Of other years have borne
fruit in a semblance Of simplicity Of con-
struction. and in a concentrated move To-
ward Standardization.
While many makers have Incorporated
new ideas in the main the cars differ
in general style and workmanship in
minor details only. Among the acces-
sories is where the novelties are found
A year ago the limit Of ingenuity IN
providing safety and comfort for the
car user il seemed had been reached
This years display shows more than
a dozen new devices, which have been
evolved during the past year.
In no other particular is there such
a wide range Of difference as ;n the
weights Of the cars shown. If ANYTHING
there Is a tendency toward the Tightening
of the cars. but there are still many
models Weighing IN the neighborhood of /
two tons, although some of the lighter
buggies weigh but 500 and $50 pounds.
Lighter Cars Reduced.
This wide diversity Of poundage IS made
necessary owing to the wide difference in
size and power Of the vehicles. The /
lighter cars have been reduced TO the
lowest notch compatible with safety and
durability. Lighter and neater in con- /
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