BY HARRIET M. LOVSETH
My mother told this story about the first car she ever saw. The year was 1902. She was 13 years old. My mother grew up in the small town of Davis, South Dakota.
For several weeks there had been a poster in a store window stating that if it didn�t rain, a horseless carriage was coming to town to give rides and to demonstrate this wonder of modern transportation. It would cost 10 cents for a ride to the half-mile corner and back. The date was July 13.
All the children saved their pennies one at a time. Ten cents was quite a bit of money in those days, especially to spend all at once.
At long last the great day arrived - July 13 dawned bright and clear. There was no rain in sight. Farmers from miles around drove their buggies into town and hitched their horses to the posts outside the stores and businesses on Main Street.
Arrival time was to be high noon. The townspeople gathered with the farmers in the stores and Davis� one caf�. But the machine was late. What had happened? Was it coming at all?
Suddenly a young lad shouted, �Here it comes!� People poured into the street. In the distance a cloud of dust could be seen. As it drew nearer, puffing and popping could be heard. Everyone made way as it rumbled onto Main Street. The horses reared up in fright at their hitching posts and owners had to run and calm them down. Dogs came barking from all over town.
Suddenly the machine stopped and all was quiet. Slowly the people gathered to see this machine that had defied all the laws of locomotion. It had arrived all on its own, not a horse in sight to pull it. Truly it was a scientific miracle!
It was time for the rides to begin. The driver got out, turned a crank on the side of the machine, and started it up again with a pop and a wheeze. Two brave young men climbed into the backseat and one sat in the most dangerous place - right next to the driver. They puffed out to the half-mile corner and back. The passengers climbed down with shining eyes and glowing reports.
Finally, the young girls, including my mother, deposited their coins in the driver�s hand, climbed up and settled in for the long-anticipated drive. It was really a thrill, they agreed as they descended from the machine, safe and sound.
All day the rides continued. The dogs and horses finally got used to it.
It was a big day in the town of Davis. That horseless carriage was the talk of the town for weeks over the coffee cups, but everyone agreed that the machine would never take the place of faithful old Dobbin.
Back to Hard Times