New-York tribune., 1918-05-08
Auton7obihng
Number Of Women Drivers
Shows Big Increase in
Last Few Months
By c. E. T. Scharps

Although the Secretary of States
automobile bureau does not keep count
separately Of the women drivers to
whom operators licenses have been
granted in the metropolitan district, it
Is clear without statistics that the num-
Der of women driving motor cars has
very considerably increased in the last
lew months. In the suburbs, of course,
women have been piloting automobiles
Tor long time and there have also
been a good many in the city proper.
But of late it seems as if one out
OF every ten cars on the street has a
woman at the wheel. This is far
larger percentage than used to be the
case
Many women have out-of-town chauf-
teurs' licenses, which entite them to
drive any car for hire. They have not
taken the examinations, however, with
an eye to profit, but to show their fit
ness to drive ambulanccs abroad and
also for the service in this country that
they have been giving by handling cars
in connection with Red Cross, Liberty
Loan and Y. M. C. A. work and for Of
hcers IN the army and navy of this and
other countries when the foreigners
come visiting.
OiAAC AoFC SOH0 even IuTCnGr ne
other morning a limousine was being
piloted downtown by a girl in khaki.
Seated alongside her was another girl,
apparently her sister. Inside the car
was the owner, reading his morning
paper. 1t looked as if the chauffeur
had been drafted and the daughters of
the family were help;r out so that it
wouldn't be necessary to take away
from possible military service any man
with mechanical knowledge.
Naturally, as so many men have gone
to war, men who were car owners, it
IS up to the women folk in most cases
TO DO their own driving, if they want
to make use OF the automobiles. Wom-
en- are careful drivers as rule. They
may not all be 100 per cent on me-
clhanical details, although many of
them are quite competent to do ordi-
nary upkeeping; but they do observe
traffic rules and are consderate of
other users of the roads. And most
of them are quite at case in crowded
streets, contrary to the idea that some
persons have that woman cannot
handle motor car in traffic
The championship of Automobile
motor trade golfers at the Great Neck
Country Club. The entry fee charged
in the tournament goes to the Red
Cross, and considerable sum was
realized. From the quality of golf dis
played the automobile people have not
been neglecting business for the links
Nineteen players qualified for the title,
there being nine matches and a bye.
The ten who survive will continue play
next Tuesday at the Dunwoodie Coun-
try Club.
The best score made yesterday was
81, by J. M. Clark Only couple of
other players broke 100. The match
play was on a handicap basis, the
player qualifying lower allowing as
many holes up at the start of the
match as were represented by two
thirds Of the difference in their re-
spective medal scores. The results
of the first round of match play we're:
c.. A. Stewart defeated G. S. Nc
Cutcheon, and l; j. E. R. Hall de-
feated S. Cornell, 2 and l; J. M. Clark
defeated w. C. Poertner, 2 up; Frank
G. Hill defeated A. l.. Walker, 2 and /;
c. H. Larson defeated T. B. Van Ais
tyne, up; j. Bawden defeated G. F.
Bailey, and 1; c. E. T. Scharps de-
feated A. C. Harrington, l up (19
holes); Fred Williamson defeated G.
II. Lowell, up; w. A. Allen defeated
l.. r. Smith, and l. j. Skelly bye.