Every now and then it’s not about cars, racing or banging on car fenders. But it’s always about Words.
Although this is a bit about cars, because this popped into my head when I was reading the book “A Most Unique Machine” by George S. May. Any excellent read if you like the history part of this passion of ours – cars.
In the book they grab excerpts of real period accounts and news articles about the dawn of the auto industry in the United States – which was mid morning to the rest of the world – as we were behind many European countries.
These excerpts came from a time when words stood lone. Words like ‘marvelous’, ‘wonderful’ and ‘unique’. The use of these words meant some thing back then. They were reserved words, used to emphasize important events or objects. The word ‘unique’ really meant something special. Here’s an example from the Detroit Journal: ‘when in motion, the connecting rods fly like lightning, and the machine is capable of running seven or eight miles an hours…a most unique machine.’
This excerpts is a description of Charles King’s evening joy ride in his gas powered horseless carriage in March of 1896. Of his version of the car he said…”I am convinced they (horseless carriages) will in time supersede the horse.”
Back then words such as ‘fly like lightning’ or even words like ‘capable’ and ‘unique’ were as good as it got. If someone called you ‘capable’ that was high praise as was ‘unique’ and if you supersede someone or something it meant you were the best. In today “drama – filled, I need attention writing these are lame words.
Can you image describing the winning top-fueled drag car – fast as lightning? Certainly not (hell no) it would be friggin’ fast.
Words meaning have been muted by adjectives and adverbs.
Ok on to my next audacious, awesome filled, friggin’ outstanding article.
Thanks for reading,
Tim
