or the falling in of a roof, or the choking of a drain, you can concentrate, by means of a motor that will carry ten to twelve persons in it, a large force and meet the emergency, and perhaps save the situation before any very great damage is done. I should recommend for estate work a good rough wagonette which can take materials as well as persons, with plenty of engine power, say, not less than twelve-horse, and a low gear which will make a load of bricks or half a dozen bags of cement a possible freight. And, above all, have electric ignition, and only use tube ignition, if you have it, in cases of emergency or breakdown in your electrical arrangements. Otherwise a flare-up and a charred car is a daily possibility.
It is necessary that an agent on a large estate should be as independent of time and distance as possible. Give him a light motor-car, and let him get one of his stable-boys or farmhands properly instructed in its care and use at one of the centres of the automobile industry. His work will be more efficient and his control of his staff more complete.
Although I may be accused of prejudice, I personally favour an English-built car for these purposes. The work in them is, I believe, better, the material is certainly stronger, and as strength and durability are more essential for practical work than paint and artistic lines, I should recommend my readers to go to the well-known English firms for their vehicles.
For golfing, yachting, and in fact for every pursuit where you have to go from home to begin your day's amusement, the saving of time will grow upon you, and give you more leisure moments and more hours of amusement. The War Office, who have of late become more practical in these matters, are genuinely taking efficient steps to perfect mechanical traction for the army. The one department—the Post Office—which has especially to cover long distances, and to whom the saving of time ought to be, but apparently is not, of the utmost importance, appears stolidly indifferent. Just as for years after the introduction of railways the Post Office fought shy of the use of
