South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-20
The Automobile VS..
Those Who Walk
BY Woods Hutchinson. VI. ID.

We can get used to anything pro-
vided it happens slowly enough. In
deed, if the change comes sufficient
~ gradual. we may never notice or
recognize il at all. until suddenly
one day il dawns on us. and We
think "A revolution has taken place
over night. Just such dawn Of
recognition has broken over us in
the past few months in regard 10 the
automobile
The conviction has gradually and
most unwillingly been forced upon
us by the stern logic of events that
IL is not "A carriage, but a locomo-
tive. not a vehicle, out a railroad en-
CINE, and should be provided for
and treated as such. We have grad
ually and without in the least real
ling what we are doing. turned our
peaceful streets and drowsy roads
into twO-track trunk line railroads.
with a constant stream of fast ex-
press trains roaring down them
every three TO ten minutes. day and
night Nor is there the slightest
sign of any change or relief in the
situation: on the contrary, every
thing points TO its becoming more
pronounced: smoother, tougher road
ways, faster cars. higher-pOwered
engines; these are the order of the
day.
Brought Many Benefits.
Nobody is particularly 10 blame
for the situation, and it h2s many re-
deeming features and " tn a little
intelligent adjustment il can be
made tolerable and even beneficial
&c the So per cent who have to walk
as well as the fifteen per cent who
ride IL has ALREADY enormously
improved our roadways. from hugh
est metropolis 20 tiniest "deestrict. &"
in a way which nothing ever did be-
fore in history since the time of the
Romans.
IL has brought the city to the
country and the country to the CITY.
to the huge and incalculable benefit
Of both. II has substituted whole
some and harmless-save 10 stray
chickens and incautious pedestrians
-open-air amusements for indoor
and unwholesome ones. II has made
travel a joy a tonic and a refresh
ment. instead of a purgatory.
But upon the other side OF the
ledger must be entered in all fair
ness the heavy counterbalancing
item that il has barred Oft with NOV
ing chains of living steel all our
principal streets and main country
roads as places OF either pleasure,
business or healthful exercise for
foot passengers. Because we have
seen the motor car grow under our
eyes from a little. sputtering. snort
ing freak of a gasoline buggy. which
spent more time in stopping than in
running. and whose smell was
stronger than its horse power, we
still think IL can be safely per
mitted 10 roar its cannon ball flight
up and down all our highways and
byways without restriction or limit.
From Kitten To Tiger
The little wabbly-legged. wide
eyed kitten has grown into a Bengal
tiger. which we still think real nice
TO have running about as "A house
hold pet Because II has wonderful
powers OF stopping in its own length.
Of swerving like a cow-pony. and
OF guidance 20 a hairs breadth, and
anyone of average intelligence can
learn 10 drive and control it after a
fashion. the community is still blind
20 the fact that II is really an en-
CINE in party clothes. a locomotive
I in evening dress, a plush-coverel
tornado.
( We permit il 10 dart and whiz
hack and turn. not only up and
down and across all our streets and
roads. but over our sidewalks. down
our alleys and byways and in and
cut Of stores and barns and stables
] and garages. as freely and casually