Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22
BY H. CLIFFORD BROKAW,
Automobile Technical Adviser.

Whatever other effect the automobile
may have had on folklore and fairy
tales, it appears evident that most of
the population of the United States has
substituted the automobile for the REIN
deers and sled as the vehicle for Santa
Claus. The youngsters of today can
hardly picture Kris Kringle bringing
toys to them in anything else but an
automobile, since automobiles are the
medium for such a large part of the
preSent-day transportation.
There is another aspect of the holiday
season which rather closely identified
the automobile with Christmas. This
is the popularity of the motor car as
the ideal Christmas present. While au-
tomobiles are not especially adapted to
being placed in stockings hung on the
fireplace or attached to Christmas trees,
this limitation has been happily over
come by satisfactory arrangement.
Method of Delivery Given.
The acceptable arrangement consists
in having the car delivered to the home
of the prospective owner either on
Christmas eve or Christmas morning,
where 1t is left standing either in front
of the house or perhaps in the garage
Into an appropriate envelope are placed
the keys to the automobile, which will
readily go into the smallest stocking or
can be easily attached TO any sized
Christmas tree. Since the automobile is
of no practical value to any one unless
the owner is in possession of the keys
which unlock it and enable one to use
it, these keys very adequately personify
the automobile itself.
Another close relationship between
the automobile and the holiday season
lies in the adaptability of the auto
mobile in transporting the Christmas
presents from the place of purchase to
the homes where they are to be dis
tributed. OF course, many of the de-
partment stores and other business
houses doing a large volume of Christ
mas business deliver most OF their Or
ders by motor vehicles. However, the
people has to do with getting pur-
chases from retail stores into the house
without being seeing by the members
of the family for whom they are in
tended. It is at this point that the au-
tomobile proves itself an important aid.
Packages can be concealed in various
parts Of the car, taken home and left
in the car until they can be safely hid
den in some part OF the mouse.
Auto Useful Christmas.
Perhaps the greatest advantage OF
living in an age of motor vehicles as
far as Christmas is concerned lies in
the facility with which, on account OF
the automobile, families can be re-
united and can enjoy the holiday sea-
son together. There are always count
less family reunions every Christmas
and New Year which would be tmpos-
sible If 1t we're not for the automobile.
Nor is the fact that these holidays
come at the cold season of the year
any special deterrent to the use Of au-
tomobiles. A few years ago many car
owners Just naturally lacked their au-
tos up for a period of Information dur
ing the freezing weather. Now all that
Is passe. Cars are run IL months OF
the year and highways are kept open
so that they can run. To travel
hundred miles for the privilege of en-
1aying Christmas dinner with relations
or friends is no stunt at all. To travel
exceptional.
The automobile Is used to transport
the chicken, turkey and other essen