Evening star., 1916-12-31
Let Me See You Drive and IW Tell
You What You Are

A LONG time has passed since the ownership of a
~ mOtor-car evidence OF wealth.
a We all drive now
Not merely bankers head walters, and master plumb
but the lower classes also Even editors of magazines
The number of automobiles is being added to at the
rate of more than million year: million
mean two million drivers.
Ii driving is to continue to be safe and enjoyable for
all OF u.s. it must be made by tremendous exercise of
courtesy on the part of every
Let me set down here observations founded, not
on police law, but on common plus courtesy
FIRST However unAatterng it may be to the rest of
humanity know of no better rule than always t,
that the other fellow is bigger fool than you
Assume that he is going to turn the next with
out giving any signal.
Assume that his wife, who is with him, may at any
moment take fancy to wild at the edge of the
road, and have the car brought to an abrupt stop
Assume, when you turn that he will be coming
around from the other way too fast and on the side
of the road
In word, keep sufficient distance between his car
and yours, SO that nothing he possibly do involve
Second. horn be either the voice of salvation or
an instrument of torture, according to the way in which
it is used.
The courteous driver make his horn say either
Please be careful or "Curse Charles Montagu get
off the road" His horn says when it should
say the other.
Incidentally the best drirers bo,o the horn least
Third The courteous driver stays just close to the
edge of his side of the road it is possible for him get
lie never feels called upon to assert his dignity main
tain his rights by edgng far out as he
He knOacs that the middle of the road belongs man.
Fourth The courteous driver never uses his binding
headlights except road entirely unghted: and he
turns them down at the first sight of approaching car
Fifth The courteous driver recognizes that pedes-
rans and horse vehicles have rights well he He
remembers-however irritating they may occasionally
bethat, after ALL the road belonged to them for years
before it belonged to the motor-car.
1t is the law OF the that the sail-boa must give way
to the rowboat The power-boat must look out for the
sail Always the stronger must give way to the weak
What IS laac for the sea ought to be the se-impos and
cheerfully accepted etiquette Of the road.
Finally The courteous drver-and his wife-make
up their minds at what rate they like to travel BEST and
they jog along happily at that rate, enjoying the view
untroubled and untroubling.
If the occupants of another desire to travel faster
they let them pass They never put on full
speed when they hear horn sounded behind them
Never, under any circumstances, do they push
ahead of in 'front.' by invoking burst of speed and
then, having passed. slow that their dust spreads
the car behind.
In all the category Of meanness, there meaner trick
than passing and then slowing doon
Let me you drive and I'll tell you what you are
can stand by the side of the road and pick out the
ebeaters and the fellows who cheating the govern
ment their income tax the fellows that talk loud in
theaters-
and, thank God, the great overwhelming majority
OF good husbands and fathers decent citizens and cor-
teous gentlemen-the wholesome folk who observe the
etiquette of the road.
Bruce Barton Editor