Out and Home.
Page 12
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A Stuffy Xmas. Selsize Billiards and Business. More Trade.-Headlight Cartoons.
By "The Extractor."
Sounds of Christmas fill the air as _I write ibis, and one is surrounded by evidences of good-will. The survival of the custom of sending cards of greeting is a pleasant one, as it ever rejoices one's heart to be remembered. Many cards reach one from friends in distant places, and these are the only links with past times which one greatly desires to remember. As to the present, Christmastide would for me have been a " stuffy " one had it not been for motoring. The rain made walking and other outdoor exercise practically impossible, but one could take the air motoring. I had just as much as short days and a short holiday would allow, but I never noticed such a few cars on the road, although in the country it was quite good to be out, even if the rain at times were pitiless. I went across country on Saturday to Bagshot and thence to Hounslow to get a glimpse of the cyclecars and others returning from the all-night run to Exeter and back. The miniature cars seemed to have stood a severe test wonderfully well. I venture to extend to those who are interested enough to peruse this page a hearty New Year's greeting, and a hope that 1913 will prove a prosperous one.
There was great exultation at the Motor Club on Friday when Mr. "Johnny" Adams of the Belsize Co. romped in as winner of the winter billiard handicap. Adams is a great sportsman in its best and tritest sense, and if a streak of luck does run through his play, if some of the scores do result from what may be called unpremeditation, what of it ? It is seldom a back marker wins, and when be goes from triumph to triumph through the various heats, it is evidence of a possession of something in addi
tion to luck. It is that same quality that has proved so efficacious in building up the Belsize business in the south.
During the first year that "Out and Home" became an established feature of this journal—which is going back to the year 1008---I started a series of personal sketches of the people who count on the supplier's side of commercial motoring. These were accompanied by thumbnail caricatures of the various gentlemen impaled. Considerable interest was aroused, and it has many times been suggested to me that now the trade is broadening so rapidly, and we have the two commercial shows looming ahead of us, a revival of these " Trade Headlight" sketches will be at once opportune and appropriate. As I write I have not the file at band t6 extract a correct list of the victims, but I think they included the following:
Mr. Raymond Dennis (Dennis Bros.).
Mr. Julian Halford (Cornmer Cars, Ltd.).
The late Mr. E. Foden,
Mr. J. H. Mann (Mann's Steam Wagon Works).
Mr. H. Spurrier (Leyland).
Mr. Fritz Popnle (Polack).
Mr. R. Bockemuhl (Peter Union).
Mr. A. E. Newton (Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd.). Mr. W. A. Tritton (Fosters, of Lincoln). Mr_ W. J. McCormack (Fronie Tyres). Mr. Arthur Drummond (Drummond Bros.). Mr. Albert Brown (Brown Bros.).
. J. H. Adams (Belsize).
Mr. E. Lisle (Star).
Mr. G. H. Halley (Halley). . Mr. Chas. Challiner (Shrewsbury and Challiner).
In addition, others, who submitted themselves to our artist's pen for sketches for this page, were Mr. H. G. Burford, Messrs. Straker and Squire, Mr. Frank Churchill, and Mr. T. C. Pullinger. I may have omitted some, but I think not.
Well, as I say, the enlargement and extension of the trade seems to warrant a revival, and, during the year, which is close upon us as I write, I propose to make an endeavour substantially to add to the above list, in the hope that it will prove a further attraction.