The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-20

talk making law III lHlS
city TO govern the actions Of pedes-
TRANS and define the points at
which they could cross the streets, but
This discussion has all faded into the
orho now with the education OF the New
York public to the habits and tendencies
Of the automobile. New York has be-
come motor WISE" that is the survivors
have.
Several years ago when the automo.
bile was a scarce species, which is To
saw before Mr.. Ford discovered that a
car could be produced and sold at 4
nr,ce attainahlc to the crowd. scamper-
ing pedestrians were constantly inter-
faring with the pleasures Of automo-
bling and giving joy to the proprietors
~ private sanitariums for the nerves.
which filled up rapidly 1t seemed as IL
the future generations would be born
wearing scared look and displaying
nm inclination to initiate the actions OF
n Kangaroo. But New York caught on.
Recently | was fortunate or unfor-
turatc enough to induce the manufac-
,urers ~ certain breed Of car To trade
m. new one for my rather worn one
and piece of the bank balance. This
company couips its cars with whisper
ing horns. the sort that YOU have to
stop and listen for. \ good fun voiced
carary bird could probably drown out
this horn. and it would be an excellent
means Of demonstrating the sensitive
qualities of the whispering gallery" in
Washington.
Rut that horn Is on the job and does
g. The reason is that the present day
New York pedestrian is always on the
lookout for automobiles when he puts
his foot of the curb and has learned ~
obey the mandate of that well known
and popular sign for which its author
4. said to have received S300-sl00 per
Workshop Look, Listen" II Is no
longer necessary to carry a horn on the
car which sounds like "A flock of ferry
boats tuning up for fog. OF Cours"
some Of them yet Use horns of this
character. but they are employed almost
exclusively by those college boy drivers
who rest on the backs of their necks
when they are in the car and like to see
how near they can come 10 undressing
harmless folks as they pass them just
70 make il close.
About two or three years ago several
motorists favored a law which placed
the responsibility for accidents on the
pedestrian If he We're caught crossing
the street at any point except at the
corner. But all such talk has long since
been dropped. The pedestrian has
learned his duty thoroughly in his effort
20 preserve his health and general well
ARE, and walking in New York can
now be taken out Of the category of
hazardous professions. 1t is no longer
a profession. hut a science. with many
students enrolled. What is the eXplana-
lion 81 this education of the New
Yorker? Why does wise man keep
away when ne sees red flag?
Also the drivers OF automobiles are
becoming motor wise" and no longer
do YOU wake M in the morning wonder
ing whether or not YOU will receive your
milk because a careless chauffeur has
crashed into the wagon and flooded
come area Of the street. which benefits
nobody except stray cats. II is a tough
thing Oh cats, this increasing efficiency
perhup~. but n dig boost for the cereal
market The fact that three or four
u h.l h., ia
through milk wagon ana tried 20
demonstrate their theory found them
selves dsntegrating stone on a certain
well advertised island has had its effect,
The drivers are attaining Intelligence
Zoo but n course the question as 10
whether the drivers or the walkers are
more Intelligent depends almost entirely
IN IN" point of view. When YOU are
dr'vng ono day you will feel sure that
Won should receive several medals as "A
lie saver because If your cleverness
IN handling car and onsetting the
stupidity OF pedestrians. Perhaps you
NJ" walking on the following day and
are positive thai the only fact WHICH
prevents certain "hauneurs from being
accused Of your murder is your intel
ieenre added to a little agility in avoid
ing them.
lIeu there is another contr!butory
cause 20 the sudden burst of motor
wisdom which il no small factor. and
'n!' Is the sudden development of what
nigh; be termed the watch charm type
81 car The drivers of these have to Ice
very careful not 70 run into a baby car
rage or something and smash them
all up,
Among the dealers there appears to
'' COM id"rablr competition just at
prescott 'o discover which manufacturer
W Nl"Ne vest pocket brands can con-
NIu'' me smallest car. An owner of
wei known breed 1see advertising
''"'"hSl II miniature machine was
'. ''S an even smaller one recently.
h'' Thought you had a Phord" en-
'''''H IA" salesman. Why do you
wan Midget"
'r replied tho prospective Gus
'."''' am thinking of laying the bis
'' i'r tho winter"