San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-18
FIRST 'LEFTHANDED' DRIVE
IN CAR GIVES TOM THRILL
By TOM MIX

1t was two hours and half to Lon
don through the most delightful ant
pleasant scenery / had ever seen. Il
was not at all grandiose or sweeping
such as in the mountains and over the
plains and grea: farms CT the United
States. Rather, every foot of ground
appeared to have been put to some
use. Instead Of detached farmhouses,
we passed little groups of prosperous
looking homes. The fields were being
intensely cultivated. The fenced off
areas in which horses and cattle
grazed were as carefully kept as many
of our lawns at home.
In all. it was an exhiliarating and
rich study. if little monotonouS in
its pcrfectness. Then, suddenly, as i
watched, / thought intently, a pleas
ant droYsineSS swept over me. We
were almost in London when | awak-
ened>
Our train drew swiftly into Water
100 station in the dusk of rainy even
ing. The smell of London-there is
smell characteristic Of all great cities
-crept in under the window. i liked
it.
1t seemed American. And then the
train stopped. Another surprise for
on the platform was assembled more
crowds. They must have been wait
ing for some hours, for it had been our
plan TO catch the boat train to Lon
don, instead of the special. which had
been made necessary by the luncheon
in Southampton. The boat train had
arrived a considerable time previous.
Later on I would become accus-
toned TO such crowds, but just then
the novelty of being welcomed so
heartily in a foreign land was still
with me.
TONY PLEASED
The first thing did on leaving the
train was to take n look at Tony. We
lowered the doors of his stall and out
he walked. as nonchalant and pleased
as any horse you ever saw. He looked
splendid in his new blanket and head.
piece. and when he again found land
under his hoofs he was plainly over,
loved. He paved. and scraped and
tossed his head and began TO nozzle
me about in his most playful manner
The camera boys were calling 10
Thomasina and Mrs. Nix to join Ton,
and me for a number of pictures.
tossed Thomasina up on Tony's bac'
and Mrs. Mix took her place with M
at Tony's head. That was all very wei
for a moment. But the smell Of lan'
and the presence of so many people
was too much for my horse to win
stand.
He began to rear and prance an
make the most Of his first taste o
freedom. Thomasina on his bacI
seemed to add to his exhilaration. an
while she laughed at him he jigge,
about, despite my best efforts to mol
him fast.
Pretty soon Thomasina had enough
| and Tony. too. appeared satisfied wit
his taste of earth, even though asphalt
covered and we put him back in HI
\ stall to await the arrival of the speclf
truck which was &c convey him to n
| famous stables of ttersall's.
CROWDS GREET PARTY
Then. with the crowd again surgin
around US. we walked TO the gates an
| climbed into our waiting autOmobil,
Igiat driver was certainly in rush,
ever one was. anil We scared out
the station as if We were on wings. .
moment later ] got such a thrill as
hadn't experienced since my first ba
tie with two-gun bandit, back in th
carly Texas days.
Our car. its wheels seeming
spurn the road beneath, swung sharl
ly into the street, the name of whlC
/ have forgotten. where the traff
roared about us, and leaped forwai
to an open place at the head OF
speeding line of ElOtors.
Another sharp turn and we ract
upon a pretty steep grade toward
bridge. Through al this ! had a pee
liar feeling our driver was somewht
Of an idiot. He kept well to the lie
side of the road. and passed other ca
TO the right or left. regardless. The
rushing up toward TIE bridge and