Life — May 21, 1908 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

As the Great Car Shoots Westward the Excitement Grows! “CYN TO Maxims!” has become a houschéld word in Siberia. The Zip, Lire’s famous motor car, is now nearing Paris on its record-breaking trip, leaving all competitors behind. Near Iekatrmabourgski Taft and Met- calfe, the famous Yale graduates, accom- panied by Anthony Comstock, whose mar- velous rescue from the snow by Bernard Shaw has already been told—alll this goodly company—were joined by C. D. Gibson and the Czar. The next morning bright and early, after a light breakfast of canned wolf and ice- cream soda, the car started forward. Taft looked at his chronometer. “There's plenty of time,” he said. “The Presidential nominations don't occur until June, and the G. O, P. won't need me to go ‘on the stump for Theodore and his policies until later. So let’s take a side trip down into Persia. I’ve always wanted to visit “This is worse than*a Republican Na- tional Convention!” muttered Taft. “Come, Metcalfe, hit her up!” Metcalfe, at the wheel, advanced the sparker until the great machine began to buzz furiously over the frozen tundra. Still the wolves came on, gaining little by little. Dub Comst “Three Weeks, still hugging his copy of sat cowering in the bottom said Gibson, with masterly pres ence of mind, snatching it away from him. ‘Tearing it into bits, he dropped it into the buzzing cylinders and then poured on top of it a quart of cylinder oil. The wolves were now leaping over the rear of the car. Suddenly a huge volume of smoke, almost as bad as can be seen every day in New York, poured out of the mufifer. The odor was indescribable. heard for miles. One by one the wolves gasped, keeled over, and died in convulsions. “T thought that would fetch them,” said Gibson. “The oil is usually enough, but no Siberian wolf could stand ‘Three Weeks’ in addition.” At Moscow they stopped a few moments for despatches from home. ‘The following messages were received : It could be Dub Comstock: If you had not deserted me in the hour of my greatest need, I might have put through I shall always blame it on you Hocus. Toft, Moscow: Lonesome without you to read over my messages to. Come back and all will be forgiven. T.R. that racing bill ‘The car then proceeded to St. Petersburg. All Russia turned out. It was known that the Czar, casting aside his usual timid- ity, had gone out in advance to greet the world-famous globe circlers, and the enthu- siasm passed all bounds. Many members of the Douma even came forward and offered to shake hands. Several naval admirals were tried and executed in honor of the event, merely to show that the spirit of good-fellowship exists the world over. ‘The ice palace was decorated with nun’s veiling in honor of Anthony Comstock. This great reformer was specially wel- come. His fame had preceded him. A banner with this strange device: ST. PETERSBURG TO SUMMIT, N. J. GREETING. was floated from the Kremlin. that country, anyway. How is it, Nick, old man?” “Anywhere,” replied Nicholas, “to get away from that Douma and the bombs.”” A few hours, therefore, were pleas- antly passed in Persia, after which the car proceeded on its way. Persia is a pleasant change after the Steppes. It was sufficiently hilly to give the Zip a great varicty of exercise, much needed after the monotony of a dead level. After a few days thus pleasantly spent, they were back once more on their cours After leaving Notchegarskayaski the air began to grow colder. Suddenly in the rear a sound could. be heard—a low, ominous wailing, like a Prohibition mass-meeting at Ocean Gro Wolves! All faces blanched. “Taft, old man,” said Bernard Shaw, “they're after you, You are the only really square meal that has ever crossed Siberia.” A FEW HOURS IN PERSIA comicbooks.com