This photograph was, I'm sure, taken when we were first back in Minneapolis. My father had a 1922 Model T Ford and my Grandfather Ellertson had this Buick! My grandmother drove an electric car which was an adventure because she would often have to be 'rescued' when the battery gave out; stranding her downtown or some other far place! But driving any car was an adventurous undertaking . Automobile tires were quite unreliable as were country roads; the spare tire was not enough to rely on in those days. A tire patching kit was a necessity, along with a jack and a tire pump! I remember Sunday picnics when only one car problem was considered a good day.

And yet because road building and the growing evolution of the family car was creating a tremendous sense of progress and prosperity in this country, people endured all kinds of what we would consider intolerable hardships with the new conveniences. So much faster and easier than before. I think it was this early 20th century mantra that created an easy acceptance of any new idea or fashion as progress. Each year we couldn't wait to see what wonders the Detroit big three had for us in style and improvements in the latest model. This was their marketing strategy; each year, your present car would become more obsolete.

In response to your question about which poem I enjoyed the most in Silver Pennies? It was certainly

The Plaint of the Camel

CANARY BIRDS feed on sugar and seed,

Parrots have crackers to crunch;

And as for the poodles, they tell me the noodles

Have chickens and cream for their lunch.

But there's never a question

About my digestion —

Anything does for me!