The literal truth can be found only in letters of complaint written to the manufacturers.

The man who one moment says his machine is a paragon of perfection, sits down the next and writes the factory a letter which would be debarred the mails if left unsealed.

Open confession is good for the soul, and owners of automobiles must cultivate frankness of speech, for deep in our innermost hearts we all know that a machine would have so tried the patience of Job that even Bildad the Shuhite would have been silenced.
In the year 1735 a worthy Puritan divine, pastor over a little flock in the town of Malden, made the following entries in his diary: "January 31 .-- Bought a shay for L27 10s.

The Lord grant it may be a comfort and a blessing to my family.
"March, 1735 .-- Had a safe and comfortable journey to York.
"April 24 .-- Shay overturned, with my wife and I in it; yet neither of us much hurt.

Blessed be our generous Preserver! Part of the shay, as it lay upon one side, went over my wife, and yet she was scarcely anything hurt.