Evening star., 1933-05-28

HE poor man. who went to his club
(the corner saloon) Is years ago for
relaxation, is different fellow today,
with his radio his fivver and his
movies and never again will he be
the serious drinker he was before
prohibition put the corner saloon out of busi-
ness.
"Oh yeah?" you say
OF course, nobody tell. But it is notion
seriously entertained well as earnestly hoped
for by such persons as Senators David Reed of
Pennsylvania, George w. Norris of Nebraska
and Millard Tydings of Maryland.
Two of these national legislators are definitely
classed vets. Senator Norris was long dry,
although he lately admitted the failure of pro-
hibition while stating that he wished we would
try simple modification with legalized light
wines well as beers and ales, to see if this
would not solve the problem.
The development of the inexpensive automo-
mobile has been the most vital factor in bring
ing about new and changed conditions when
1888 is compared to 1920 This is true, despite
the changes which have come since the depres-
sion began in 1929.
Four tipes as many motor cars are owned in
this country today as were registered in 1913
Doubtless many cars have been scrapped in the
last four years; production has assuredy drop
ped; but cars are still being driven in tremen-
dous numbers
THE motor picture of America today Is
- dissimilar to the photograph of 1918, as your
childhood likeness in the family album differs
from you In your 1893 clothes and haircut.
Profs. Malcolm M. Wiley and Stuart Rice
have neatly summed up the situation in their
portion Of the study on Recent Social Trends"
I'm the decade between 1890 and 1900," they
write. "the more fortunate upper class family in
to the ownership Of horse and carriage. They
were symbol Of social distinction as well
convenience
THE horse was important but not an
anpervasive part Of village and urban culture
In Middletown,' with its 1890 population Of
IL, 900, about 125 families owned horse and
buggy
Perhaps an even larger number were repre-
sented among the 100000 American riders Of
bicycles. But the great mass walked. The Sun
day afternoon stroll was the rule
I'm September, 1890, q steam wagon was
placed upon a street in 'Middletown' for first
trial. In 1894 the first American road race
was won by gasoline buggy at average
speed Of 10 miles per hour 1t has been esti-
mated that in the year 1900 there ZOO
motor autos in operation in the United States.
still America went bicycling and buggy
riding over city streets and country lanes little
realizing that in a generation the new Amer
lea would be dashing hither and thither and
yon with incredible speed in the automobile"
In 1918, very nearly a million passenger cars
were produced in this country We reached our
peak of manufactures in 1929, with 4794898
which was overoptimistic. as we soon learned
and since that time production has dropped
tremendously.
But even SO, registration figures show that
22,347 300 persons were operating some kind
OF a car in 1881. Compare that figure with
the passenger car registration totals for 1913
5,62l ,617-and you will see that we haven't
gone back to walking or horses to any extent
even yet. About four times as many cars are