The Washington herald., 1922-07-23
MOTORISTS VISIT
COLONIAL BEACH
ON DAYS OUTING
zHo1
Washington Party Finds
Summer Resort Well
s-- Patronized.
MAKE RECORD TRIP
Virginia Roads Are Well Kept
And Tour Proves Pleas
ant Journey.
MAKE RECORD TRIP
By CHARLES M. O'NEILL,
Automobile Editor


Motoring. during the summer
months, particularly in such an ex-
cellent medium priced automobile
as the bort, is indeed a pleasure.
This was amply demonstrated to a
partysof Washington motorists who,
on Tuesday last, journeyed to CO.
lonial Beach, Va, in the Dort Sedan.
with Doug Matthews. local sales
manager. piloting-the sturdy little
vehicle.
Surprising, In a sense, was the
ease with which the motor func-
toned on the roads that stretched
for more than one hundred miles
along the Virginia bank of the his
toric and beautiful Potomac.
Though a new vehicle, not yet
"loosed up" to the full power of
which 1t is capable. the motor car
negotiated the lengthy trip with
amazing efficiency of performance.
The route of the trip, coursing the
winding stream that divides the
states of Maryland and Virginia,
gave every opportunity for ascer-
tanning whatever were the weak
points in the bort product, but II
can be truthfully and emphatically
stated that not even one, the slight
est, evidenced itself.
start Is Made.
The start, made early in the
morning from the showrooms of
the bort Agency, 1912 Fourteenth
street, found the part~ comfortably
ensconced in the cushioned Sedan
with all members anticipating a
pleasurable trip and it may well be
said that none was disappointed.
Virginia, which has been called
the State of Presidents, furnishes
an appropriate setting for a word
picture. but whose pen is so graphic
that it can adequately describe the
beauties of landscape that course
the hundred miles of riverway,
Long rolling hills. up and down
which the sturdy little motor climbed
or coasted. as the case NAV have
been, were essayed by the bort
with nothing more startling than
a more certain stroke. Comfort
and speed. coupled with an air of
goodfellowship, featured the trip.
Doug" Matthews. genial and
capable at the wheel, drove the
car to the accomplishment of tasks
that might well be described as
difficult" but these. to the bort,
in the words of the redoubtable
Doug" were merely ordinary
feats to the Dort." Concrete
roads. stretching for miles along
the route, gave opportunity for the
bort sales manager o show them
something" and as he stepped on
er," one did see something, but
not for long, for the little car re-
sponded to acceleration in astound-
ing fashion so that the surround
ing country seemed to move with
much rapidity and little grace.
At one juncture it was decided
to ascertain just what could be
realized in the way of speed and
it soon was seen. for hardly had
the gas been "given her" when the
DoEt was travelling at a rate of
speed not far removed from the
mile-a-minute gait. Yet. despite
this. there was not the slightest dis
comfort experienced by any MEM
her of the party unless it was the
mental tension that silently mani
feSts itself when such a speed is
atsained The springs of the car
ana the general lines took up
every bit of the shock that came
from road depressions.
Witness Wreck.
At Fredericksburg. where a stop
was, made for gasoline. the party
availed itself of the opportunity TO
stretch" and after the tank had
hesn well filled with motor fuel
the journey was resumed. Again.
after having left Fredericksburr.
heels" for the sun was now high
in the heavens and all were
anxious to reach the beach for a
cooling plunge.
Between Fredericksburg and Oak
Grove the party came upon an
overturned Ford delivery truck Just
as the two coIored occupants
emerged from beneath the wreck.
Neither was hurt. though 1t seemed
mfRaculous that they had escaped
death so complete was the week.
II Fas. ascertained from the stories
that came from quivering lips that
a load of ice cream. packed in
tubs. had shifted just as a sharp
turn was made and the sudden
weght. together with the sway at
the turn, capsized the vehicle. The
colored boys. for they were not
mofe than youngsters, were fer
vent in thei gatituIe that Fate
had been kind to them. However.
when either would glance at the
wreckage under which they had so
lately been each would look at the
other. roll his eyes in an amazing
ly sWoeful manner that bespoke
eloquently OF their fears of what
might have been. Vast understands
ing. equiing no explaining wod >,
was in each gesture and facial
play. When the older of the two
had recovered sufficiently his CON-