October, 1907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



391 



By Harry B. Haines 



DEAS differ widely, of course, as to the most 

 suitable type of car for touring. Many en- 

 thusiastic motorists who have toured thou- 

 sands of miles prefer to drive in a light high- 

 powered runabout of the style that has leaped 

 into sudden popularity within a year. A 

 strictly limited amount of baggage can be 

 stowed away on the rear deck in a leather waterproof bag or 

 in a steamer trunk strapped on the deck, and a rubber poncho 

 can be carried for protection against rain. With powerful 

 headlights for night driving, and a good blanket for sleep- 

 ing out at night, if necessary, one can drive for days through 

 the roughest country in remote mountain regions. He will, 

 however, enjoy a sort of 

 selfish pleasure, for at 

 most he can carry only 

 one f riend and a mechan- 

 ic, as the car has only 

 one regular double seat, 

 which Is supplemented 

 by a folding rumble seat 

 behind that offers noth- 

 ing in the way of com- 

 fort on a hard day's 

 jaunt. The majority of 

 tourists prefer the reg- 

 ular touring car, with 

 side entrance body, hav- 

 ing comfortable seating 

 accommodations for 

 five or seven persons. In 

 such a car, properly fit- 

 ted out for the purpose, 

 a whole family may 

 travel for weeks almost 

 as luxuriously as in a 

 Pullman railroad car, 

 regardless of weather. 

 The question of suitable 



equipment for touring is one that requires considerable thought. It Is 

 possible to spend many hundreds of dollars for all sorts of fittings. Some 

 of these are almost indispensable to comfort and satisfaction on the road, 

 while others only serve to encumber the machine unnecessarily. Although 



each device may really serve a useful purpose, it should be 

 remembered that, as in traveling by other means or when 

 camping, the less paraphernalia one has to bother with the 

 greater is his ease of mind and his consequent enjoyment. 

 Too often we pack along on a trip or vacation a bothersome 

 quantity of stuff, much of which Is never used. On the other 

 hand. If we confine ourselves to the things that are really 

 essential, we are likely to be surprised by the small amount 

 of baggage that we have to take. 



Conceding that the automobile tourist desires simply to fit 

 up his car with the attachments and devices that will add to 

 the utility of the machine and to the comfort and safety of 

 the passengers, there are certain things which it will be abso- 



In Such a Cai a Whole Family May Travel for Weeks as 

 Luxuriously as in a Pullman Railway Coach 



