MOTORING 



359 



caused by the great velocity of the express 

 trains. 



A large proportion of the very serious au- 

 tomobile accidents have resulted from the 

 use of high powered machines, which al- 

 though having a higher critical speed than 

 lower powered cars, cannot be driven fast 

 with safety — grade crossings are not yet en- 

 tirely eliminated, and some of the worst ac- 

 cidents have been collisions with railway 

 trains, and of course, there is always a possi- 

 bility of an unseen vehicle emerging from a 

 cross road at the same time a car is driven 

 rapidly along the main highway. 



Automobile accidents are deplorable, but 

 they will continue to be featured in the news- 

 papers just as long as owners drive their 

 cars recklessly and at dangerous rates of 

 speed on our highways. 



TRACK RACING IS DOOMED. 



Barney Oldfield. the famous professional 

 nutomobile racer, has crashed into the race 

 track fence no less than seven times, and 

 owes his escape from death to marvelous 

 good luck. Only recently Earl Kiser, famous 

 in the bicycle days, lost a leg as the result of 

 an accident while driving the old Winton 

 Bullet in a track competition, and other simi- 

 lar accidents has made the season of 1905 

 memorable in the annals of automobile track 

 racing. 



The last severe accident seems to have 

 brought matters to a head, for the shocking 

 injuries sustained by Webb Jay at a recent 

 race meet near Buffalo made it clear that 



track racing must cease until such a time as 

 track owners will permit the tracks to be prop- 

 ly oiled, thus preventing the raising of huge 

 dust clouds which make it impossible for 

 drivers to see where they are going. 



Track racing has never been valuable as a 

 means of improving automobiles, and it is 

 declared by several manufacturers this sea- 

 son that the game is not worth the candle 

 Following the accident to Webb Jay, most of 

 tlie big manufacturers have announced their 

 intention of withdrawing all racing cars of 

 their make from track competitions. Promi- 

 nent among these are the Peerless and Pope 

 Company, and the Winton Company, whose 

 cars have been successful in track racing in 

 the past year, and who withdrew entirely 

 from this branch of the sport early this last 

 season. 



The big road races held abroad have been 

 of much value to the manufacturers, and 

 there is no doubt that automobiles have been 

 greatly bettered by these road competitions. 

 The day is coming now when road racing can- 

 not be considered to have any other value 

 than that of a strictly sporting proposition. 

 At the present time there seems to be a good 

 deal of commotion in Nassau County, N. Y., 

 among property owners, and tTiere is a great- 

 possibility that the big Vanderbilt contest will 

 not be held this year. It is trusted the race 

 may be held, as it will be a fine event from 

 the spectacular point of view, and as far as 

 the Nassau County farmers are concerned, it 

 need only be said that if they make as much 

 money this year as they did last, they will 

 have no cause for complaint. 



NATURE'S PLAYGROUND 



By LOUIS J. STELLMANN. 



In the hills — in the little toy mountains— 

 'Midst miniature valley and plain, 



One may play in the nursery of Nature, 

 Like a child — free and happy again. 



The high peaks loom, somber and distant 

 An awesome, impregnable screen, 



Like Life's limitations, obscuring 

 The mysteries of the Unseen. 



But, here, in the hills, all is gladness ; 



The air's full of comfort and rest ; 

 The flowers give us of their fragrance: 



The bird of the song in his breast. 



Peace reigns in this fairyland country, 

 For all with God's music is filled, 



And, feeling the rhythm of Nature, 

 Men's passions and turmoils are stilled. 



