Out and Home.—By " The Extractor."
Page 13
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In spite of my previous animadversions on the Great North Road, it was quite good, at the commencement of my holiday, to wend my way up through Hitchin and Biggleswade on to Stamford. I had, for companion, one to whom it was all virgin soil, so his wonderment at these straight vast stretches of road was quite interesting. The telegraph poles began to pall on the second day, but before that, quaint old Stamford, with its wonderful inn at the foot of the hill, made up for some dreary stretches.
Another fine inn is the " Bell " at Barnby Moor. This place is about opposite to Sheffield, just before you reach Doncaster, and evidently a motoring rendezvous for the Sheffiqld Blades. This is a grand example of the revival of the old coaching inn resuscitated by motoring. Harrogate was our immediate objective ; Harrogate, with its Stray, steam buses and sulphur water. I ran across several friends undergoing the cure, and each explained to me that this was not his holiday, but was merely an annual medicinal interval, carried out on the strictest lines, in preparation for the proper holiday roystering and for another year of worldly habits.
But they looked a very weary lot on the one morning. I arose early to go and see them, and the band, which I understand starts playing at 6.30, looked as if it had been up all night to get there on time. AU the same, at ordinary civilized hours Harrogate is a delightful place, and when I journeyed out to Bolton Abbey and Ilkley. to Wharfedale and Wensley
dale, it felt worth while going so far from London. After that I made for Helmsley and Kirby Moorside, and made acquaintance with many fresh parts of the Yorkshire coast. I tested a very willing engine up some fearsome gradients. I was warned by everyone not to try the roads round Whitby, as my tires would surely be ruined, but I suppose it is in one's nature to see for oneself, and my Wood-Milnes took it all splendidly and have brought me back to London without giving me a moment's anxiety.
When up in Yorkshire recently I caught sight of a new delivery van
in service. The name was "Invincible," and I should say it is of American origin. Perhans the English concessionnaires will send us some details.
Interesting figures are issued relative to the business of Bradbury and Sons, Ltd., of Oldham, makers of tools, domestic machinery and motors. A very successful year is recorded, particularly in the motor branch of the business, the result being a gross profit of £19,189. I was associated for many years with this Lancashire concern, and may rightly take credit for inducing the Board to go into the motor business: Moreover, I sold the first one, so that it is especially satisfactory to me to learn that the motor side has become the chief and most remunerative portion of their vast business. I am sure that much of this success is due to its present management. and to the shrewdness and capacity of Mr. James Howarth, and I know that in his bands this progress will continue. A correspondent, who I suspect has some undisclosed idea in his brain-box, suggests that "there is need for yet another new word, to correspond with agrimotor ' and parcelcar,' for motor char-abanes and similar pleasure vehicles." He goes on to say that " comotripper," " paysanear, ' and " passocar" indicate the want somewhat, but he rightly says they are not quite the thing. Permit me to add that they are very far from it. I have no desire, at the moment, permanently to godfather any more short descriptive titles for vehicles. It may be that a concise name is wanted for the motor char-a-bancs. I am not in favour of the adoption of foreign words, and I like to see clumsy compound titles done away with whenever possible. My particular aversion to "motor chars-iibanes " is due to the difficulty which so many people find in supplying the necessary " s's," and in locating them when supplied. I will not ask my readers to make suggestions on this head at once, but if they care to do so when the holiday period is over. I shall be glad to have their ideas on the subject. I am led to postpone a request for brainy suggestions in this direction, because I find that so many of my friends, on account of the abominable weather which August has provided for us, have Postponed their holidays until September. Indeed, the Editor himself is likely enough to be away next month, as he is shortly coming under the tender influence of another, having rightly and scornfully rejected Punch's infamous advice. So we will go easy until the end of September ; then, perhaps, we will attack this re-naming question;