Page 111

A KIND WORD FOR THE AUTOMOBILE
A KIND WORD FOR THE
AUTOMOBILE BY A COUNTRY
WOMAN
I   HAD read that the only way to be rid
     of an enemy was to turn him into a
     friend. He could not be safely killed,
     he would not politely cease to annoy be-
 cause he was requested to, he would not
 change his plan of life that he might remain
 out of sight and so keep his hated face from
 turning a bright day into a sour gloomy one.
 The only safe, sure plan was to hunt for
 some one trait of his that could be admired,
 and from that point perhaps other admir-
 able, perhaps lovable traits might be found.
   Such alchemical skill seemed as difficult
 as to turn iron into gold, at first sight,
 but on the whole it is really a charmingly
 interesting experiment.
   Being a country woman, loving the quiet
 seclusion beyond reason almost, I was in-
 censed at the intrusion of city people who
 pushed noisily into dells that were sacred
 as cloisters to me, pulled up the delicate
 flowers and left papers, bottles, wreckage
 and ruin behind them. The wicked dragon
 that enabled the town folk to invade these
 sanctuaries was the automobile who snorted,
 roared and bellowed his way to the gates
 of my temple and deposited his passengers
 who ruthlessly, thoughtlessly desecrated its
 beauty.
 I could see no good in them, thought
 they were enemies to the country generally.
 They cut up the roads, flung dust in the faces
 of the ones who loved to loiter in its shade,
 usurped our hallowed domain, laughed as
 our horses, chickens, even ourselves plunged
 madly down banks to escape death at their
 hands.
 But he who laughs last laughs best, as we
 of the country have found to be true. One
 evening a dusty, hhmble little trio walked
 wearily into our yard beseeching food and
 shelter. Their motor had broken down
 some distance up the road, they could not
 fix it that night, would we kindly take them
 in until morning?
 It is impossible to hate people who meek-
 ly ask us for aid, and the wicked laugh of
 glee because the dragon wouldn't or couldn't
carry them back to their unknown castles
soon turned into a patronizing smile of hos-
pitality, and the very best that I possessed
of everything (even my new clothes line
to tow them back to town) was soon laid
at their feet.
   I found them most lovable, entertaining
 people. They were like a traveling opera
 or vaudeville troupe-told us merry tales,
 sang rollicking songs and with my choler
 well annihilated by this time, I admitted to
 myself that the whole episode had done me
 endless good. They had awakened me from
 the lethargy of monotonous living and
 thinking-the tonic of fresh outlook quick-
 ened me as spring quickens sleepy trees.
   When they had departed the next morn-
 ing I found myself looking forward to the
 next time I could see them, which they had
 promised should be soon. And before the
 summer was over I had flung the white ban-
 ner of peace, had capitulated utterly, had
 learned to love instead of hate, could see a
 thousand virtues where formerly there was
 none.
   The automobile has brought together the
 very best of the country and the city. The
 city people have widened their lives by just
 so much as they understand, love, sympa-
 thize with the country. The country folk
 have been quickened and bettered just as
 much as they have allowed old walls of
 prejudice to be broken down.
   When the city and country pull together,
 wonderful things will happen. There has
 too long existed an imaginary line of sep-
 arateness between the two. The violent
 see-saw of inharmony between us is being
 quieted as we each get closer together,
 nearer the center.
   What the world needs is unity-unity of
interests, of understanding. The city man
does not look down on the farmer because
he wears overalls and has horny hands and
intimate acquaintance with the dust. For
the man who drives his own car quite fre-
quently prefers his flannel shirt and khaki
trousers to all the rest of 'his wardrobe, and
he has gained a personal respect for dust,
for he has so often been laid low in it while
fixing his car!
  Trivial differences disappear upon near
acquaintance, enemies  prove  charming
friends and even benefactors when you get
close enough to them to feel the warmth of
their hearts. The city folks are growing more
thoughtful about leaving a trail of papers,
boxes, destruction behind them, for they
now love the country. The country no
longer scorns the city people who own auto-
mobiles for they have plowed deeper and
sowed more wisely that they might get
enough money to buy a beloved one for
themselves!
IIT