The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-25
AHSped Up andMo Place To Go
just Personal View of Motor Car Owner Who Is
Trying to Get Safety and Pleasure Out of the
Mad Rush on Topekas Streets.
BY AJC

25-mile rate a big sedan filled with
members, apparently, of his adn1iring
family. OF course little Willie, the
dear, could NOT have been at fault in
case he threw his car into another
or pedestrian.
Fond Father and Merciful Mother
would not have allowed Willie to
handle the reins of a span of thirty
wild horses but they take no hesitancy
in allowing him to control a powerful
motor car down a crowded street.
These Wee Willies and Daring Dor
othys are altogether too intimate with
gasoline.
A police whistle should be their
curfew.
Cabaret performances on wheels
also add to the hair raising expe-
riences of conservative motorists. On
any street almost at any time you'll
see drivers, one hand graspilg a
cigaret and the other a. 2-girl party
in the front seat, galloping a gasoline
gale down the avenue. If it was con-
venient to hang both feet on the wind
shield they'd probably do it. Flirting
with girls and death in the same
breath is not a matter OF pubic con-
Germ unless the innocent bystanders
are endangered. Then it becomes
public property and a complaint is
justifiable.
Far be it from me to become prud-
ish about car Cupids but when 1 find
it my duty to scamper out or their
way in order to preserve my own hair
and hide I arise in vigorous protest
| Love is a grand institution but my
youthful experience rather taught me
| that it was more successful When
practiced in more retired and restful
places. Pollyfoxing over flowing
gasoline tank is a dangerous outdoor
sport.
|
I used to hold a great admiration
for the locomotive engineer. Perched
up on his seat in a bouncing, sputter-
| ing cab and diving into the night al
ways was an enchantnent to me.
held him up as a man of iron nerve,
of fearless constitution, of heroic
| blood. Now when I stop and think
i that he is guided by block signals,
| that his locomotive is glued to mas
sive steel rails and that watchful dis
| patchers, operators and flagmen con-
i troll his course to safety. while the
| city is full of speed madmen who rush
| on uncertain pavements and roads
with the Infatuated speed of gas on
pneumatic tires, I hold up my friend,
/ the engineer, as simply an ordinary
citizen earning his daily bread. If
heroism is to be designated by danger.
| my enemy, the speed maniac, is to be
l worshipped.
The real hero, after all, is the man
VINO ODeyS the laws, pays his DlllS,
| donates his taxes, cares for his fam
lily. and lives and dies without public
glamor or thrill.
| God bless him!
| I don't mean to be vitriolic in my
| condemnations I still have red blood
in my veins. I still enjoy a thrill and
a sensation. I am not a crab. I'm
too bloonnin' liberal in many, of my
| views, I dare say. But do wish to
cling to the edge OF this earth as long
as health and happiness permit.
| When 1 do SoasI1don.ti4 wish : to be
| picked out from beneath motor car
as a dancing taillight disappears in
the distance. I want a fighting
! chance at life SO long as. nay heart
| pumps. So.
I'll admit that my car has no place
in my business. I'll admit that it is
simply luxury-an expensive means
of pleasure, if you choose to classify.
/ I'll admit that my car is not so good
! bonds or stock or building and loan.
I'll admit that the wave of motor car
| infatuation engulfed me aud I sank
| without a struggle. All I ertSist upon
is the sane right of living and the
| protection against idiotic fatalists
who don't believe they'll die until
their time comes.
i don't suppose this means of re-
llieving my feelings will have any effect
but can tell SO many more persons
what think of them this way-and
1 avoid the danger of personal combat.
| At least, I am sincere in thinking
that 1 am right in my views.