Evening star., 1921-09-25
HY A WASHINGTON FLIVVERIST."

These are some recent road eXpe-
riences of a tired old man. who cele-
brated his vacation by jumping INTO
an automobile and hasting away 10
the open places.
The glad news of release came at
quitting time Forthwith preparations
were made for Il trip de luxe from
Washington to the wilds of northern
New York, where the better half ana
youngster were spending the summer
and where luSty bass and dainty trout
roamed at large in crystal lakes ana
little rivers. hungering for food.
The car is back-number of that
notorious breed born at the rate of
three or four thousand day, and OF
which none has been known to die of
old age. 1t is the road evangelist OF
its day and generation, having shaken
the devil out of more people than all
the uplift. forward and other move
ments combined. This specimen is
secondhand, has four or five wheels
and lots of nuts, including the driver,
who loves it as a friend and calls II
by name-the Fierce Sparrow
That night the Sparrow's lunch Kit
spare shoes strapped on, and we were
ready for the road. One beauty OF
the Fierce is the wide distribution or
its parts. An observant person can
nick up enough loose ones on the
highway for ordinary purposes; the
ten-cent store and tinSrnith can do the
rest. Hence elaborate preparations
are not so necessary as in the case OF
q real car.
At dawn the suit case was thrown
aboard, the armstrong starter manlp-
ulated. q familiar rattle and Wheeze
for the benefit of sleeping nelShborS,
and we were off.
Freedom at last. No one knew our
whereabouts. No letters, kilograms,
telephone calls. Nothing to do but
ride.
With lamps lit. the somnolent city
-, was crossed. and, well on our way.
bowling north. came the first wink
from sleepy sun. The road was
practically our own, save for few
nighttime trucks. bound south. Bal
timore was soon aStern. and from
ahead the winding road to the Sus-
uuehanna came Looping to meet us over
the hills and out of foggy dells.
Then the river, a turn to the right
over the composite bridge and up the
curving grade. Soon. d stretch of
fresh tar. in the midst of which an
ancient tire brea thed its last. De-
mountables help a lot. particularly
when it comes to spreading liquid
road metal on your pants. After the
job we looked tougher and felt safer:
also there was tar In our halr that
helped hold on a disreputable old hat t.
Later an acquaintance asked II we
were not apprehensive travelling alone.
We replied our appearance was pro-
lection. If a road agent should flash
IL light on us in the dark he would
say. Pardon my mistake. old timer:
Il ,af he a
d new car
At the next village a fresh casing
and tube were supplied and mounted
in a jiffy by the local agency. Two
good spares give feeling of comfort
also. when Salted down on the Spar
rows tail. they help held its hind feet
on the ground-and excellent thing
for Ightweights.
\ friend whom we wished to see
was summering at a little village be-
yond the Delaware Water Gap. The
A. a. \. had routed US through Beth
lehem and Easton. SO we left the mai n
road at Kenneth Square. bearing
north. through Westminster. Paoli,
King of Prussia and Norristown.
Beyond Norristown number of
small detourS were encountered. The
roads were good, but misleading un-
less constant watch was kept. On this
doubling and twisting stretch big
touring car overlook and passed us
three times, and where three roads
met. all adorned with detour signs, it
drew up behind as we studied maps
and signboards. IF you are going to
Bethlehem l think this is the right
way we called to the driver, who
replied, I'VE thought of going there
but have about made up my mind to
go home if 1 can find the way back.
The two young men and two pretty
young ladies were talking it over as
we left.
If was now getting we'll on into the
afternoon, and the road seemed never
ending Bethlehem, the next big town,
appeared to have wandered off on a
visit to relatives in the orient. We
rearranged the pillow behind our an
cient back and gave thanks for a
foot accelerator and an eaZy wheel
which permitted driving with one
hand and foot and lolling back in
comparative ease.
But gradually the landscape changed.
kDistant mountains blurred the horl-
yzon ahead, undulating grades gave
way to galloping hills, and then, in a
distant valley. flashed the waters of
the Lehigh. and to the right, around
a bend, the city. Nesting on the slopes.
But Awoke in Nazareth.
On the highlands beyond came a
/. sweet road and countryside. and with
reyes bewitched by sunlight on the
hills and shadows stealing over quiet
valleys, we missed SignpoSt in thi 8
land of Emmaus, and, instead of
Easton. where we should have been,
woke up in Nazareth.
But a road kept on. and as the me-