The old way and the new 
vicinity, they quietly let it be known that little picnic basket 
tours would be conducted by them. Of course, the number 
of persons was limited to two or three, and the initiators of 
this interesting plan would drive their car, with their guests, 
out before luncheon to some woodland spot where the out- 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
November, 1911 
door feast would be unpacked from the hamper, and after 
the repast the car would be driven from place to place, 
returning at half-past four o’clock to the starting point for 
tea. This “seeing the countryside” plan was such a success 
that it will probably be repeated another season. 
One must not overlook the motor-truck type of auto- 
mobile, which is meeting great favor everywhere. It is 
almost indispensable to the large country place and is put 
to a variety of uses, some of which are the transportation of 
various articles from one part of an estate to another, car- 
rying trunks to and from distant railway stations, and often 
serving as accompaniments to picnic parties. Indeed, the 
automobile has made modern picnicking a thorough delight, 
for it has enabled one to enjoy the coming and going as well 
as the woodland spread itself. 
A discerning writer who has gone deeply into psychology 
claims that one is kept youthful in appearance as well as in 
spirit by a variety of interests; that the wear and drain 
which modern life creates is repaired or remedied and over- 
come by the pleasure which may come from external at- 
tractions—which is only another way of saying that a hobby 
is a tremendous help to a busy man and that its due grati- 
fication will help him in many ways. The dictionary defines 
a hobby as ‘‘a favorite pastime,’ not necessarily either a 
folly or merely a pastime. What would become of child- 
hood were there no hobbies to ride, and, translated to later 
years and other scenes, our hobbies are the interests which 
keep us young and interested when plans go wrong and 
cares come toppling down about our ears. Nothing, per- 
haps, adds more to the pleasure of country living than the 
careful cultivation and diligent riding of a hobby, and I 
often wonder if one could find a hobby more fascinating 
and yet more practical than the use of the automobile. Its 
services minister to the entire family, it responds alike to the 
call of business or pleasure, it closely unites city work with 
country living, and one rural community with another. The 
automobile can, of course, be abused like anything else, but 
its wise and intelligent use is practical and economical, and 
it is doing more than any other one factor to-day to promote 
enjoyable country life, to make it practicable and possible. 
The half-timber type of garage architecture always suggests country living and is an admirable feature in the home setting of the country landscape 
