New-York tribune., 1911-01-08
Biq Crowd FIoCkS to Show in
Madison SQUARE Garden.
BIG AMPHITHEATRE ABlAZE
Ponderous Touring Cars and
Tiny Runabouts Dressed In
Alluring Garb.

promenade ever fed the vortex or no"eu
up the stairways inl0 the balconies as IL
with its own nome 1tum.
Cars seemed strandl1 everywhere, though
on the main floor. unless one we're giant
or liked bucking human surf for exercise
only the corner of a hood, the elbow Oh an
axle or the top of wheel could be mace
out through the forest Of heads. The CAIN
student had a better chance for compre-
hensive fnspection in the balconies where
the automobiles stood aside in pens to let
their admirers pass.
Cars OF every hue, Of every make OF all
shapes and sizes. and built for every use
that a pleasure vehicle can be put TO de-
manded attention The low lying racer,
crouching on it's aXles like an animate pro-
iectiIe: the lmousines, fairly shouting oil
luxury and ease; the runabouts, with rum
BILE seats and the touring cars win
tonneaus. all gave forth faint clean
,meu Of leather, Of frosty rubber and OF
vanished metal. which created subtle
c-aving. that covetousneSs a baby must feel
in hugging its doll.
Every year an automobile. Looks more Ike
an automobile and less like a carriage with
out the shafts Still. the evolution could
be easily traced hack last night to the days
of the "horseless carriage" particularly In
the case Of the limousines and the hooded
touring cars with these the hood did not
loom large enough TO ill the gap left by the
horse some fifteen years ago From an
architectural point of view his absence stlll
seemed only partly accounted for
But In the racers and runabouts the
world seemed TO possess new species
They seemed almost as far removed from
the light carriage as is the Pullman car
from it's ancestor, the stage coach. the
long hoods, long in proportion TO the rest
of the car, filled the vacancies IN front anu
locked bis enough TO dominate the seats be-
hind The younger members OF the cro"o
,orId he seen hanging about them with
awe, peering into the tubes and waves re-
vealed within, showing such vehlcles spe-
oial favor
In every other tonneau and limousine
however, Il seemed a fair and portly lazy
in furs lolled while her escort examined
the wheels and machinery. She sat as II
she intended staying-as If, TO clinch the
purchase. she would refuse to bulge from
the Garden except in that seat. Most OF
these invaders wore dreamy smiles. for to
their prophetic vision the Garden floor had
turned into Fifth avenue, the crowd 10 pc
destrians at a crossing and the cars TO
their own private chariots in the after
Moons procession.
OF course the completed cars we're the
magnets for the majority, but an appre-
ciable minority paused in wonder and IN
terest before the booths on the outside OF
the elliptical promenades on floor and bal
comics. where were pieces, parts, pumps
and pulleys' enough TO people the night
mare of "a mechanical genius.
Even oils were separately advertised. dis
PLAYED in dainty little glass vessels which
made them look as appetizing as wine
Heavy, that is, dark; medium, pale medium
and light were the descriptions 10 MT the
pretty shades of brown and yellow Of these
gas engine lubricants. Never before has oil
been so becomingly displayed,
"Ah. twas wise virgin who filed those
cruises" remarked a burly visitor, evidently
compimenting the exhibitor on his sales
manship.
The cars are most prominent, and not the
decorations OF the Garden. The decoration
is elaborate and brilliant, but it is coptribu
tory and not primary. The cars are hand
somer, more vivid in coloring, and, in the
average, larger than formerly, while the
decorative scheme is somewhat less garish
in color and more free from staff work
A mammoth terraced garden is the dec.
orative idea intended TO be expressed At
the entrance OF the interior is a pergola
end fountain in the form of a low abut-
ment of gray stone, in front Of which is a
curved seat for visitors. 1t has a trough
Ike basin, and al each end water sprays
from the mouths Of grotesque heads. The
water is made iridescent by cunnInsly hid
den electric lights.
The colors that dominate in the decora-
tive scheme are white and gold dashed here
and there with green and crimson. Elec-
trlc lighted sign posts mark the car ex-
hihits and direct visitors about the Garden.
Big lattice and stee, columns support the
elevated platform and The balconies. which
this year have been extended toward the
centre Of the arena, thereby giving more
exhibiting space than ever before. Be
tween each column and below the elevated
platforms are located boxes wherein the
weary may sit. Surmounting all this is a
canopy Of azure blue beneath which num-
ber Of latticed lamps and thousands of cleo
tric lights shed a glowing light over the
amphitheatre and show the displays to
best advantage
In the general view Of the interior Of the
Garden there are three balconies in the
rear and in the front, and only two on
either side. The cars are shown on the
main floor, elevated platform. and in the
exhibition hall while accessories are dis
PLAYED in the basement, balconies and other
parts Of the Garden. All the exhibition
spaces are covered with carpet of light
green hue which adds TO the out-of-ioor
effect
There is a general Impression os spa
ciousness that has been lacking at some
former shows. The exhibition spaces are
rocmy, and not uncomfortably filled or
crowded There is nothing tawdry or
cheap in the decorative scheme, the pio-
neers OF the industry evidently having
reached that stage where they believe in
thoroughness. not only in the construction
Of their goods. but also in the display Of
them Everything I'm tho decorations is in
keeping With the dignity Of the industry.
One pf the decorative features Of the
show is TO be found in the exhibition hall,
which Is transformed into a Roman gar
den. Here the cars are displayed under
Zig pergols. twenty feet wide, which ex-
tends cH-.:; TIC interior Of the room. The
pergola is supported by big Dortc columns,
end the beams overhead are covered with
vines Of trailing wistaria In the centre
Of the room are number Of latticed pill
lars each topped with a slantine roof and
illuminated by electric lights The centre
OF the hail is open and uncovered, except
for a blue sky" which tops the entire
room bis painting depicting scenes OF
the Riviera runs the entire length of the