Two thousand miles on an automobile; being a desultory narrative of a trip through New England, New York, Canada, and the West . with thecharity and chastened humility which spring fromadversity. The charm of automobiling lies less in the sportitself than in the unusual contact with people andthings, hence any description of a tour would be in-complete without reflections by the way; the imagina-tion once in will not out; it even seeks to usurp thehumbler function of observation. However, the ar- 7 8 Foreword rangement of chapters and headings—like finger-postsor danger signs—is such that the
Two thousand miles on an automobile; being a desultory narrative of a trip through New England, New York, Canada, and the West . with thecharity and chastened humility which spring fromadversity. The charm of automobiling lies less in the sportitself than in the unusual contact with people andthings, hence any description of a tour would be in-complete without reflections by the way; the imagina-tion once in will not out; it even seeks to usurp thehumbler function of observation. However, the ar- 7 8 Foreword rangement of chapters and headings—like finger-postsor danger signs—is such that the wary reader mayavoid the bad places and go through from cover tocover, choosing his own route. To facilitate the find-ing of what few morsels of practical value the bookmay contain, an index has been prepared which willenable the casual reader to select his pages with dis-crimination. These confessions and warnings are printed in thisconspicuous manner so that the uncertain seeker after something to read may see at a glance the poor sortof entertainment offered herein, and replace the bookupon the shelf without THE CHAPTER ONE SOME PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS Any woman can drive an electric automobile, anyman can drive a steam, but neither man nor womancan drive a gasoline; it follows its own odorous will,and goes or goes not as it feels disposed. For this very wilfulness the gasoline motor is themost fascinating machine of all. It possesses thesubtle attraction of caprice; it constantly offers some-thing to overcome; as in golf, you start out each timeto beat your own record. The machine is your trickyand resourceful opponent. When you think it con-quered and well-broken to harness, submissive and re- 9 A capriciousbeast lo On an Automobile signed to your will, behold it is as obstinate as a mule,—balks, kicks, snorts, puffs, blows, or, what is worse,refuses to kick, snort, puff, and blow, but stands instubborn silence, an obdurate beast which no amountof coaxing,
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