The automobile was officially patented in January 1886 and its invention is most credited to Karl Benz, from Germany. The automobile was made in order to increase the speed of travel and bring more comfort to traveling. “The main features of the first automobile was a seat for two, a compact high-speed single-cylinder four-stroke engine installed horizontally at the rear, the tubular steel frame, the differential and three wire-spoked wheels.”(Daimler). This invention is very important for the novel Cold Sassy, since it greatly influenced the plot. As the story goes, automobiles are almost unheard of in Cold Sassy, until Hoyt decides to buy one. Once Hoyt buys the car, this causes the attention of Cold Sassy’s residents to shift from Grandpa and Miss Love, to Hoyt and his Cadillac. “The car was all Cold Sassy could talk about, and all we talked about in the family. You’d think Grandpa and Miss Love had just disappeared, instead of being off in New York enjoying Mama’s trip”(Burns, 237). The arrival of the automobile not only shifted Cold Sassy’s attention but also brought them into a new age. As Grandpa says “I done joined the dang twentieth century, folks!”(Burns, 251). Automobiles also brought about a new style of clothing. For example, the dust veil it protected women from breathing in dust. “ A country woman watched Miss Love and spent her egg money on a dust veil.”(Burns, 282). Automobiles …show more content…
“The locomotive was first operated on the twenty-first of February, 1804, and was invented by John Blenkinsop”.(“Encyclopedia Britannica”). Locomotives were used for railway transport of goods and people and provided a faster way to travel. The invention of the locomotive begun with the invention of the steam engine. Since the Locomotive would need a power source, a steam engine was used and in order for the Locomotive to be complete, a steam engine was attached to the locomotives frame. Like automobiles, locomotives also had a large impact on both the plot of the book and the residents of Cold Sassy. The effect of Locomotives on Cold Sassy was that it changed Cold Sassy forever.The most major effect of the Locomotive on Cold Sassy was that it caused the name of Cold Sassy to be changed. Since the railroad had to be expanded, it caused the last Sassafras tree to be cut down. With no Sassafras trees the name was changed to Progressive City. “The next spring the town council voted to widen the road on each side of the railroad tracks, which meant the Cold Sassy tree had to go”.(Burns,