Evening star., 1932-01-10

Usually the driver who does the most
stepping does the most sidestepping II
something happens.
To my mind one of the most unfor-
tunate individuals in notordum Is the
woman who has gone half way along
the road to driving ability and then
quit. She has become legion.
Talk to the average woman today
and you discover that she has at least
made an effort to learn to drive. "I
was doing fairly well when" Is the
usual story. Too often the interference
is sort of inferiority complex When
you have never tried to do a thing you
nurse belief that you might somehow
or other become proficient II you tried
When you actually try, and discover
that you have been slightly mistaken,
every one who drives suddenly seems
so proficient
Thousands of women owe their
ability to drive to the force of neces-
sity Particularly noteworthy are the
cases where illness has robbed the fam
lily car Of its customary pilot. A young
woman owes her skill at the wheel to
pinch-hitting for her gouty dad. I
know timid middle-aged woman who,
with only one long forgotten lesson to
her credit, found it necessary to take
the wheel when her father suffered a
heart attack while on trip. She drove
to the nearest doctor, and all the way
home.
have a letter from a reader of
these weekly remarks, asking why ker-
osene isn't approved as an anti-freeze.
She has been using this petroleum
product for several years, and, as moth
ing happened, naturally wonders why
authorities disapprove The answer is
simple enough when you stop to real
ize that by heating kerosene it can be
used in place of gasoline for running
tractor engine. Aside from the other
objection, kerosene Is liable to explode
when overheated and vaporized in the
cooling system. This can easily have
disastrous results.
Keep this in mind as the safety
thought of busy week: If you are
driving with chains on, observe the
same precautions as you would if with
out this protection. The tendency is
to place too much reliance on the
chains and to drive too fast for con-
ditions.
While all of us feel like tearing up
parking tags, it isn't good business to
yield to the temptation. A woman who
tried it found herself forcibly hauled
into court and paid all the law imposed.
If there Is any tearing up to be done,
better intrust the job to the officer
himself. A courteous approach; an
honest explanation of why the car was
parked in violation of the regulations;
smile and plain evidence Of willing
ness to do better next time-these are
the proper approach to freedom.
Speaking of getting out of difficulties
reminds me to add the suggestion that
If the engine stalls in traffic and won't
start, you can pull over to the curb on
the power of the battery. This is done
by placing the car in its lowest gear and
by holding your, foot firmly on the
starter button while the clutch pedal
Is up. This is not healthy for starter
or battery, but in an emergency is en-
tirely justified
When is spring not spring may
seem like one of those brain teasers,
but not If you know your automobile,
as every woman should In a number
of makes of cars the springs play vital
role in starting and in stopping
1t is hard to visualize this when you
behold the complicated car itself
Switch your interest to baby carriage,
however, and things become simple
enough. Note as you push a carriage
that the forward thrust is transferred
through the springs to the wheels be-
fore the latter actually start rolling.
This thrust is known as the drive"
You would say that the carriage Is
driven" through the springs
The situation is slightly different In |
nSs xf& Ta De
internal, but movement Is inbarted to |