Flivvering

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Victor Moore starts out to purchase an automobile. He is confronted by a salesman who offers him a dilapidated "flivver" for $99.99. Vic is enthused, but cannot see his way clear to spend such a vast amount of money. He therefore reverses the card so that the figures become $66.66. Vic, elated over the happiness he has brought to his family, proceeds homeward to show them his purchase. Mrs. Moore, followed by a group of little Moores, crowds out to view this "new" toy. They glory in anticipation of coming pleasures, while their neighbors, green with envy, sneer at the car and ridicule it. Having foreseen the necessity of a garage, Vic has already had one built, and deciding that it is time to store the car for the night, he backs it into the garage, only to find it is not large enough, and in consequence the hood of the flivver projects over the front of the garage. With the conviction that he should have bought a smaller car, and having no alternative, he chains the car to the garage. The next morning Vic spends $6.06 on accessories, which include an automobile map, and outlines a trip that extends over 300 miles. Even little baby Moore has been supplied with an auto duster and goggles, and they are ready to start. Vic proceeds to get the car out of the garage. He cranks the car and it starts towards him, taking garage and all. His neighbors rejoice at his plight. He finally succeeds in untangling himself and ushers his family into the car. No sooner seated comfortably than he discovers the horn is out of order and rushes into the house and comes back with the "family parrot." "Friend wife" discovers she has forgotten to take the baby's milk, which is boiling on the gas stove, and Vic rushes to get it. He finds the milk boiling over and in trying to save it gets his fingers scalded. He again gets into the car. He starts the machine and has not gone over six feet when it stalls, and he is compelled to "get out and get under." He gets a cinder in his eye, which forces him to shut both eyes, and one of the little Moores starts the car accidentally. Vic is unaware that the car is no longer over him. A rag man coming down the street stations himself over Vic's body. Vic succeeds in getting the cinder out of his eye. Through a hole in the rag man's wagon Vic pulls out old shoes and clothes and begins to realize what he imagines is the matter with his automobile. The rag man starts again and comes into contact with Vic's body. Vic gets up, sees his family far down the road, and starts after the flivver. He catches up with it just as the engine stalls. Vic decides he has had enough of automobiling and orders his family to assist in "pushmobiling" home.