The Washington times., 1913-02-08
Invention Does Away With
cranking, DisIiked BY Weak
er Sex.
FEMININE FOLK LIKE
TO DRIVE MACHINES
Many Small Pairs of Hands to
Grip Steering Wheels This
Season.

fhis year has seen a number of au-
-tomobile innovations which make
them more than ever available for the
woman who drives her own car. Chief
among these may be named the self
starter that really starts the motor.
The electric self-starter, seen on the
majority of cars this year, even those
At a conservative price, is efficient
and dependable, although somewhat
complicated in mechanism 1t can be
counted on to do the work required of
1t under almost any condition. 1t is
net hard to see that this means much
to the motorist of the gentler sex.
Cranking has not been the pleasant
est Of operations even for q man and
under the best conditions. 1t means
a stoop and a pull more or less vigor-
Gus in proportion to the power of the
motor and its mood on the particular
occasion. It often means minutes of
Nspinning' that require no little
strength as well as knack. And at
II has become a back-breaking oper-
alton. This was one OF the principal
reasons why high-powered cars and
women drivers were not formerly apt
to come into close association. al
though there have been such enthusi-
astic woman drivers that they would
take out the roadster or big six be-
1onging to the head Of the house or
the big brother even when they knew
that II the engine should stop run
ming they would be powerless to turn
IL over.
How Starter Works.
AL worries of this nature have been
done away with by the effective self
starter. however. and a field Of real
motoring Joy has thereby been opened
70 women with G suddenness that re-
- lal sv.sa IL
makes no difference how powerful the
motor may be or how hard TO turn
ever, the woman driver Of today can
feel confident that she will be able to
start by the simple pressure Of but
ton, q foot pedal or other controlling
Device She may be counted on to
Jump at the opportunity and come into
Aer own. as II were, In getting behind
the steering wheels Of cars that not
many months ago were beyond the
range OF her safe or convenient opera
ton.
Many a woman, as every motorist
knows, is a first-class driver: cool In
spsssspe,ss asIlss.e Il her sonirol Of Of
considerate on the road. II she ex-
hibits conjunction about killing
chickens and dogs, that can only be
set down as an excellent fault. Ger
tain II Is that he who drives a motor
car may expect TO meet her who does
81 Fair Sex Likes Cars.
Another factor. somewhat allied to
the seif-starter. which makes for the
enooursssuept Of the woman motorist
In the 1sf9 cars. is the electric lighting
system. No moro fussing with tanks
san hand. from from oily head and tail lamps
II IL lust q questie,n of turning the
switch nowadays. and your cars Is
ready for the shadows, and you may
have nght by which 70 read the road
other Of those necessary things that
make for the comfort OF travel along
the highway.
simple one. Women have taken to
eiecfrics like ducks TO water for years,
and with the refinement of body build
ing and control they are likely TO make
stIli wider use Of these handy little cars
The change that this season holds ap-
plies more specifically to gasolene cars,
which women have also been driving In
their lighter and more simple types to
tweivernonth is up. Il Is safe TO say
that many a small pair of hands VIII
be gripping steering wheel for the
first time.
Eye For Comfort.
Nearly every maker OF automobiles.
especially of inclosed cars, has an eye
for the comfort OF women who are
either to drive or ride In his cars. Fit
tings Of every conceivable sort with
this end In view are TO be found. There
are vanity cases and flower vases, little
folding tables for card playing or read
ing, book pockets, google and veil poek-
cts, pincuehions, card cases. mirrors
hand and otneIwise-powder boxes and
4 score of other "hxings' all fitted as
part of the equipment of various cars.
not to mention the host Of accessories
which are to be obtained elsewhere ut
the owners convenience. In addition
10 all these thires there are special
cushions, adjustable seats, foot rails
and other body notifications. all aimed
al the fair purchaser. and to judge by
APPEARANCES, aimed true.