["I have personal knowledge of marriages resulting from motor-car courtships."--The HON. C. S. ROLLS.--Daily Express.]
When Reginald asked me to drive in his car
I knew what it meant for us both,
For peril to love-making offers no bar,
But fosters the plighting of troth.
To the tender occasion I hastened to rise,
So bought a new frock on the strength of it,
Some china-blue chiffon--to go with my eyes--
And wrapped up my head with a length of it.
"Get in," said my lover, "as quick as you can!"
He wore a black smear on his face,
And held out the hand of a rough artisan
To pilot me into my place.
Like the engine my frock somehow seemed to mis-fire,
For Reginald's manner was querulous,
But after some fuss with the near hind-wheel tyre
We were off at a pace that was perilous.
"There's Brown just behind, on his second-hand brute,
He thinks it can move, silly ass!"
Said Reggie with venom, "Ha! Ha! let him hoot,
I'll give him some trouble to pass."
My service thenceforth was by Reggie confined
(He showed small compunction in suing it)
To turning to see how far Brown was behind,
But not to let Brown see me doing it.
Brown passed us. We dined off his dust for a league--
It really was very poor fun--
Till, our car showed symptoms of heat and fatigue,
Reggie had to admit he was done.
To my soft consolation scant heed did he pay,
But with taps was continually juggling,
And his words, "Will you keep your dress further away?"
Put a stop to this incipient smuggling.
"He'd never have passed me alone," Reggie sighed,
"The car's extra heavy with you."
"Why ask me to come?" I remarked. He replied,
"I thought she'd go better with two."
When I touched other topics, forbearingly meek,
From his goggles the lightnings came scattering,
"What chance do you give me of placing this squeak,"
He hissed, "when you keep up that chattering?"
At that, I insisted on being set down
And returning to London by train,
And I vowed fifty times on my way back to town
That I never would see him again.
Next week he appeared and implored me to wed,
With a fondly adoring humility.
"The car stands between us," I rigidly said.
"I've sold it!" he cried with agility.
His temples were sunken, enfeebled his frame,
There was white in the curls on his crest;
When he spoke of our ride in a whisper of shame
I flew to my home on his breast.
By running sedately I'm certain that Love
To such passion would never have carried us,
Which settles the truth of the legend above--
It was really the motor-car married us.
Illustration: Miller (looking after cyclist, who has a slight touch of motor mania). "Well, to be sure! There do be some main ignorant chaps out o' London. 'E comes 'ere askin' me 'ow many 'orse power the old mill ad got."
Illustration:
Cyclist (whose tyre has become deflated). "Have you such a thing as a pump?"
Yokel. "'Ees, miss, there's one i' the yard."
Cyclist. "I should be much obliged if you would let me use it."
Yokel. "That depends 'ow much you want. Watter be main scarce wi' us this year! Oi'll ask feyther."
Illustration: Smart Girl (to keen motorist). "My sister has bought a beautiful motor-car." Keen Motorist. "Really! What kind?" Smart Girl. "Oh, a lovely sage green, to go with her frocks."
Illustration: Mrs. Binks (who has lost control of her machine). "Oh, oh, Harry! Please get into a bank soon. I must have something soft to fall on!"
Illustration: Miss Heavytopp. "I'm afraid I'm giving you a lot of bother, but then, it's only my first lesson!"
Exhausted Instructor (sotto voce). "I only hope it won't be my last!"
Illustration: SORROWS OF A "CHAUFFEUR"
Ancient Dame. "What d'ye say? They call he a 'shuvver,' do they? I see. They put he to walk behind and shove 'em up the hills, I reckon."
A CYCLE OF CATHAY.--The Yorkshire Evening Post, in reporting the case of a motor-cyclist charged with travelling at excessive speed on the highway at Selby, represents a police-sergeant as stating that "he timed defendant over a distance of 633 years, which was covered in 64 secs." The contention of the defendant that he had been "very imperfectly timed" has an air of captiousness.
"Many roads in the district are unfit for motorists," is the report of the Tadcaster surveyor to his council. We understand the inhabitants have resolved to leave well alone.
At a meeting of the Four Wheeler's Association, a speaker boasted, with some justification, that a charge which is brought every day against drivers of motor-cars has never been brought against members of their Association, namely, that of driving at an excessive speed.
Rumour is again busy with the promised appearance of a motor-bus which is to be so quiet that you will not know that there is one on the road until you have been run over.
Illustration: AN UNPARDONABLE MISTAKE.--Short-sighted Old Lady. "Porter!"
Illustration: NOSCE TEIPSUM.--Lady Cyclist (touring in North Holland). "What a ridiculous costume!"
Illustration: Sporting Constable (with stop-watch--on "police trap" duty, running excitedly out from his ambush, to motorist just nearing the finish of the measured furlong). "For 'evin's sake, guv'nor, let 'er rip, and ye'll do the 220 in seven and a 'arf!"
