A dramatic battle is being fought out on the gleaming salt flats at Bonneville in the United [States, between two British motorists, who are endeavouring {o establish a new record for automobile speeds. On Thursday John Cobb, established a new record for the mile at the Average oMelal speed of 950.20 miles an hour, beating Capt. Eyston's new record of 345.49 miles an hour which he established so short 'a while ago as August 27. This challenge to the previous record holder is being accepted, and Capt Eyston will make a new attempt with his 6,000 lip, Thunderbolt, to regain the supreme acy which he has held for so short a while. and he has expressed confidence that he will Ibe able to do so, claiming that in his previous attempt he did not force his engine through fa desire to take no unnecessary risks, Experi fence has already shown that as greater speeds fare attained, the danger is increased out of all proportion fo the importance of the perforuunee. amd it is hoped that a time will come when these strivings for speeds, which it is to bbe expected will never be of any real value in the world of transport, will be abandoned. To ithe average man in the street the attainment lof speeds such as these represents just about fas valuable a contribution to the art of living, fas would the successful ascent of Mount Ever-fest, Most certainly the Initer can confer nothing but the satisfaction of achievement, and proof of human endurance, but when.
comes to the question of any effective contribution to scientific knowledge being, derived from these exploits, it is doubtful whether the results justify the enormous efforts which are made. Mankind is living too rapidly already; the strain which is being put upon is creating very serious problems, and it is open to "question whether a return to rather less speed would not be of inestimable benefit to a nerve-racked humanity, Whether that would be $0 or not. there is nevertheless much to be said for the outlook of Li Hung-chang, who when invited to attend a race meeting, decline ed, adding that in his country it had been known for centuries that some horses could run faster than others.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.