Motoring as Recreation.

Progress, Volume III, Issue 6, 1 April 1908, Page 198

Motoring as Recreation.

The Commercial Motor in a recent issue makes some judicious and pleasant references to the growing motor habit, which are interesting enough to reproduce, seeing that it includes at least one of the public men of the Dominion in its list of those who place motoring high in the list of their respective work. Here is the article :—: — " The difference between play and work is often a question of temperament. Mr. G. 1, Gomme, the clerk to the London County Council, regards a change of work as recreation, others might see in the effort to get from one pastime to another a species of work at once irksome and troublesome. We were led to this reflection on glancing through some of the 2000 pages that constitute " Who's Who." Although a standard work of reference, this familiar red volume is not without its entertaining side, and in the intervals of technicalities and business cares its pages may be agreeably consulted with regard to the play-times of prominent public men and women. That is the journalists' recreation. To be included in the famous volume issued by Messrs. A. and C. Black is something ; for those whose biographies have thus attained authoritative publication must have become famous in some particular work of life Their recreations are as varied as their pursuits. Mr. George Bernard Shaw, who, by the way, became a motorist at the

end of 1907, and has doubtless included a determination not to be caught in a police trap among his good resolutions for 1908, declares his recreation to be" anything but work." " Others take leisure more seriously. Professor Herkomer plumps for automobilism, and Sir J. H. A. Macdonald, whose lettered distinctions occupy several lines, includes motoring in a wide range of enjoyment, ranging between volunteering and arbitrating in international football disputes — the latter almost as hazardous as the mountaineering which Sir Martin Conway combines with motor cycling Signor Marconi associates hunting, cycling, and motoring as his most alluring recreations ; and Major Langrishe, who will be remembered by motoring pioneers as one of the venturesome participants in the famous 1000-mile trial, delights in hunting foxes, yachting, and motoring Mr. Charles Cordingley, who was also a member of the 1900 pilgrimage, is described as taking his pleastires in travelling and motoring — a combination of tastes that has carried him to Algeria for the winter. Sir C. Cameron, Sir T. Dewar, and Mr. B. H. Carlile, M.P., place motoring among their recreations, the latter also confessing to farming as equally delightful. The Rev. R. J. Campbell has twin recreations in horse-riding and motoring. One of the curious omissions with regard to Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, who, if we look upon the absence of motoring for recreation as any indication, takes automobilism so seriously, that it is scarcely a pastime. The motor cycle has some strong adherents, Mrs. Kennard, the novelist, and Mr. Harold Gorst, the son of Sir John Gorst, among them. The favourite summer amusement of the lady novelist is to ' go on tour and ride forty of fifty miles a day seeing the country, natives, etc ' We may also claim the Hon Stephen Coleridge as a friend of motorism, for he takes pleasure in "all manly sports that do not involve cruelty to animals. " Several teachers at colleges and polytechnics describe motoring as among their favourite ways of spending leisure hours, notably Professor Callendar, of the Royal College of Science, Mr. J. S Lyon, of the Royal College of Science for Ireland, who combines a taste for vocal music with petrol engine building, and Mr. Walter Hibbert, a lecturer at the Regent street Polytechnic, who has written on electrical ignition for motor vehicles and regards experimental work as a great recreation. The recreation of Mr. J .■• Hargreaves, M.F.H , whose enthusiasm for motor racing has been a feature of the automobile year in the past is not given, and Dr. H. S. Helen Shaw might have added motoring to his published pastimes of golf and mountaineering. Among the other items of social information contained in the 1908 " Who's Who," we learn that the New Zealand MX.C, the Hon. J. B. Jenkinson, places bowling and motoring as his dual open-air attractions, and that Sir W. G. D. Goff , Bart , goes a-yachting with as keen enjoyment as he goes a-motoring."

desired conditions. One of the tramcars of the Exeter Corporation was fitted with Mr. Parsons' patent seat, and, after a month's trial, in most indifferent weather, the Tramway Committee was so satisfied with the efficiency, that it decided to extend the use of these seats to other cars. An examination of our illustrations will show the nature of the invention. The second figure shows the condition of the seat when not occtipied, and from this it will be noticed that the seat is covered with a small tarpaulin When the seat is required for use, the back rest is pushed into an oblique position, and the action of moving the back-rest causes the tarpaulin to travel underneath the seat, thus leaving the seat clean and dry for the reception of the passenger. The movement of the tarpaulin is effected by the meshing of a tooth quadrant, which is fixed to one of the back-rest irons, with a small

pinion. On the same shaft as this pinion, two chain sprockets are also mounted, and, engaging with these are two short chains, the ends of which are attached to the edges of the tarpaulin. Immediately the passenger rises from the seat, the back-rest asssumes a vertical position, and' the seats are again covered. The idea appears to be a good one, but it has certain objections which could, no doubt soon be overcome by the inventor. One of these is the absence of protection for the passengers' clothing from chains and gearing.