The Carlisle independent., 1921-03-03
THE PARADE
That New Machine

We have been enjoying the new ma chine recently purchased by one of Carlsle's most interesting families. This auto has been annexed to home in which there are grown daughters and we are happy in their happiness over the new possession. We like to see our friends get pleasures out of life and nothing is more exhilarat- ing, for the time being, than a new automobile. How anxious we are that it does not get scratched, how zealous- ly we rub and dust each time we take it out of the garage. How carefully we watch the water in the radiator, the oil and the gasoline And the thrills of those first drives when we take the new car out all by ourselves. What matter if it does jump like a rabbit when we first start up and the gears crash as we move from low to intermediate. And then the first time you met team on narrow country road Will you ever forget | it? Surely there wasn't going to be room to pass and the stubborn farmer didn't seem to be giving an inch. And that first hill you climbed! It was a terribly steep hill. You started up on high and soon you heard the engine pounding and the thing began to lose momentum. Was it possible to go from higher to a lower gear without stopping? what had the instructor told you about that? If you used the emergency brake and stopped the car halfway up the hill would you be able to start again? Suddenly you remem- bered and pulled out the primer and retarded the spark. What relief! The pounding stopped and the car be- gan to pick up. You were going to make it off high, Oh, the joy of slid ing over the top of the hill and coast ing down on the other side. And then one day you felt sufficiently exper- fenced to drive to the city. Remember the wave of buck fever that swept over you as you saw your first traffic cop and entered the maze of street cars and trucks and other machines. You we're afraid of running into the car ahead of you and you were afraid l-of stalling your engine if you went | slower. Was there no place to park An, there is. an opening just ahead and you swing around to nose in you see a fire hydrant and sign, do not park here.' You back out and go on around the corner. Finally you find a place and Heaven will not be more welcome You slip up to the curb, shut off your engine and throw in the brake. Here we are" you say gaily, and a supreme satisfaction covers you until you begin to worry about getting out and home again. And the joy of the first pune ture on hot, dusty road. The free advice of your guests who scatter the tools over the road and discuss the merits of various makes of tires as you perspire and tug and cuss. But those first days are great days just the same-to look back to. After awhile you will drive mechanically, without thought of what you are doing your hands and your feet and your head will guide the car over the road and through the city streets. A little mud on the lenders, crack in the wind shield, broken light in the back cur tain, even .ceaseless spring squeak will not annoy you. You will just spin along at 25 miles an hour thankful the old thing moves and wonder where the money is going to come from for a new car when this one hits the scrap heap.
 
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