The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-17


 6T1 HE man who buys motor car
 today and insists that every
 ~ thing be included in the pur- chase price from 8 smoking set to a self-acting clothes press is far cry from the chap who started buy ing his first cars back in 'ss.
 The motor car of 1898 would bring raucous jeers from the ultra ultra young person of this present gen. eration, but ask his daddy if 1t was not the pride and joy of the family when on Sunday morning they started off for the day. planning to go the enormous distance of 12 miles and back before sundown.
 The first car that dad had was a comical little affair about 16 hands high and propelled by steam. Pop paid about $900 for the contraption, then bought everything else extra, including kerosene lamps, tools and, if he were wealthy. a top. The first loud and positive cussing of the Sunday morning trip was when dad would go out to get up steam, which required half an hour. Then there were all the little handles on the side of the red bus, which Willie and Mamie were told not to touch, for q little twist to the left or right decided whether or not the car stayed in it's place on the ground or blew thousand pieces.
 Pop would drive out of the barn with a loud footing of the rubber horn. assist Ma into the back seat beside him and let the front seat down for Mamie and Willie to clam Der in. After loading on umbrellas water and a couple of lunch baskets, the car would majesticaliy sail off, with Dad clutching the long steer ing lever with one hand and his brand new plaid cap with the oth- er Everything would go well until a particularly high hill would loon, ahead. Half way up the steam would begin to go down with an ominous fury and all passengers would alight hurri edly, while Pop backed down the hill and worked madly With pilot light and steam to keep the little demon from blowing up.
 When the car came along that &C., tuaIly had an engine in it and ran by gasoline power Dad said he had lived his life as g. Sunday school superintendent should have lived, but dashed if he didn't like to take q chance once in a while sold the lit tie red bus, and bought one of the new ones, which had two little steps and door in the back. The driv- ing wheel was at the right-hand side of the front seat, and there were actually gears, and big crank that went in hole at the side of the car to make the ponderous engine turn over.
 That lasted until the next year, when 8 car came out that had doors at the sides for passengers to open seat. It was on this car that the gas lamp made it's first appearance and proud were Pa and Ma and the kids when they could shine their big brass headlights. turn on the gas and go forth for a drive in the eve ming, much to the neighbors' disgust and envy. It did not seem such a wonderful invention, however, when the gang would be riding along a lonely country road, and the gas would give out Pa would swear and slow down to five miles an hour, and would usually drive into at least two graveyards before the family made the home port.
 The next car came not with a "foredoor," and it was quite wonder full to sit securely enscounced behind the four doors that all new cars then supported.
 Pa compares with a wry smile these days of punctures and those. Now. all that is necessary in case of punc- ture Is a wrench or two and about five minutes time. In those days it was a weary process of taking off the coat, donning an old cotton duster and getting to work for a l couple of hours, with the same tire i that came off the wheel. Ii was a Ions. tedious process with glue and patches. and Ma uusually finished up l by wondering how Tn time she ever married such bear with such a miserable temper and disposition l That was in the year when to be