The morning times. [volume], June 21, 1896, Morning, Part 2, Page 11, Image 11

About The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
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OVEP 30,000 WHEELS PIDDPWSppefOlSI
Five Years Ago
RATIO OF THE
first Six Months of 1896 Has Witnessed a Remarkable
Growth of the Fad.
Quaint Facts and Figures Which
Go to Show that Bicycles Are
the Thing of the Period.
One thousand; three thousand and five
kundred; fle thousand; revcn thousand
rive hundred; ten thousand; sixteen thou
sand, and sixty-two thousand will be the
record or hales of bikes, tcglnning with
the year 1890 and ending withthc present
year of grace and whirring -wheels. Thirty-
one thousand have already been bought
from the various dealers from January 1
to date.
It Is easy to juggle with these figures
and to change the idea of the "fad" or the
"craze" Into an indictment of Insanity,
but truth Is better than romance. Al
together there have been sold 74,000 bi
cycles of the newest styles, grades and
fashions. This means that people number
ing more than one fourth of the wholo
population have at some time within the
last five and a half years bought wheels,
learned to ride and have Joined the multi
tudinous caalry host that rides the steel
teed.
There wasa time soshortatimeago that
even children remember It that even a
man ona new wheel wasa rare bird. Their
first vision, perhaps, was of the man on the
old upright wheel, away up in the air, and
going In those days at what was a rate of
peed far beyond the limit of safety. He
was a Colossus of Rhodeson a wheel, if not
on wheels, for the little one was regarded
as a necessity merely to be tolerated. Ex
pert riders even now can do fairly well
on a one-wheeled bicycle, which is, never
theless, a contradiction in terms.
BIRTH OF THE FAD.
Then there was the period when the two
wheeled bike par excellence sprang Into ex
istence. Washington Is not always first In
departures, but it was not long after the
new wheels were invented until tlieasphalt
boulevard was discovered tu be the place
designed long ago by Gov.Shephcrdforthe
modern horse.
Then there was another period. It was
acta illy the moot question in the social cir
cle as to whether woman should be a bene
ficiary and patron of the eighth wonder of
the world. This showed that lielva Lock
wood had straddled the question long be
fore on a velocipede, and had moved every
thing before her.
Nevertheless It was fully and prajerfnlly
discussed and thcnlo! a woman appeared en
a wheel and then another and anotherand
another, rising above the sccial horizon
one at a time, as the stars come out In the
purpling skies of a summer eiening. This
Is somewhat florid and poetical, but it is
in touch with the ideal movement about
which It is being written.
There would naturally be an Impression
that when woman is seized with any kind
of social fever it will assume a virulent
form. It might be concluded f ran this that
women would own probably one-half of the
T4.0C0 cycles, but such is not the fact.
WOMAN'S PART IX IT.
It Is perhaps slightly exaggerated to say
that there arc 1G.0C0 wheclwomcn In the
city, but even 15.0CO Is an important part
of the grand nrmy. It Is the picturesque
contingent. It Is to the presale men on
wheels what the glittering cuirassiers, or
xouaves,tlieliighlanders,arctotl.e monotony
of eoler In the French and English armies.
It is a little strange to Dote that "the
stringency of the times," for there were
uch stringencies between '90 and 'DC, If
not at present, did not In the slightest de
greeeffect the buyingand sellliigor bicycles.
Tor the five jcars noted there was n steady
Increase. In '91 the sales were 350 per
cent more than In 1860, and in '95 6ixtcen
hundred per cent greater. This yeir they
estimate a sixty-two hundred per cent.
Truly the bike is running down the grade
without breaks and coasting on to greater
things.
Figures, while they do not lie, arc yet
barren of suggestion when speaking of so
interesting a subject; but if any jiroof were
wanted of the enormous success of the
bicycle boom It can be found by an In
spection of the bikes themcehes Id active
service.
There are socral places in the city nt
which tlie bicyclers meet unconsciously In
the great afternoon tours which are usually
taken to the north Into the lovely suburbs.
One or these places Is on Capitol Hill,
Second street and Pennsylvania avenue
southeast. A writer from The Times toot
the pains the other afternoon to watch the
stream or bicyclers as they passed that
point, some going down the grade toward
the notanlcal Gardens, others north toward
new Library Building, and all heading for
points west and north. He counted the fly
ers for forty minutes, and found that the
average was nine per minute. This, of
course, does not mean all day, but in those,
at .present, delightful hours of the after
noon, when the Departments are closed and
the prospective tourists have dined well.
PASSING A POINT.
Another famous polut of observation is at
Fourteenth streetand Pennsylvania avenue
northwest. The average here was six
per minute, but nearly all the streets run
ning north from Pennsylvania avenue are
channels from the streams that flow north,
ward to the green fields and country roads
f the suburban retreats.
At Ninth street and Pennsylvania avenue
northwest the average was eight per
nlnute after 6 o'clock.
Another phase of the people In motion
on wheels Is to be observed on the street
lars. A. few nights ago a passenger on
the cable cars counted 1G9 bicycles coming
south while tile car was going from M
reet to U street northwest- It is a
ong, good, and straight .run from M
rtreet to the rise of Meridian Hill, and this
Itreteh is a favorite with the little barks
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Less Than a Thousand of the Silent Steeds Were
Owned in This City.
-'
INCREASE YEAR BY YEAR
that stay, figuratively, near shore or which
are not in the mood to make the suburban
trips. Nothing Is prettier than a view
up or down one of the big boulevards in
the dusk, when the Washington gas is
constructively shining, than the multi
tudinous glitter of the blcjcle lamps, for
all the worlJ in the distance like a swarm
of fireflies or wlll-o'-tbe-wisps out for
the witches' frolic
The particularly picturesque lamp Is, of
course, that of the wobbler, which stag
gers its various and variegated way at
short and easy stages.
The moonlight night is, of course, the
harvest time forbc,northwcat. The streets
are fairly alive then with hundreds of
riders In all the stages of proficiency. A
very common sight Is the group which
surrounds the young lady who -is only
learning to ride, and who. If fall she must,
will be caught In the arms of half a
dozen or more cxperlsof theother gender.
INCREASE IN SALES.
Another measure of the phenomenal In
crease of sales is had from tnc records of
the dealers. The record of one of these is
as follows: In 1892 he sold 12 machines;
In 1893, 80; In 1894, 124; In 189D, 200;
and 633 so far in the present year. He ex
pects to make a record of 1,E00 sold for
the whole year 1898.
There Is no telling what the results of
the general desire to sit astride or the new
hnrse will be. At the present ratio of In
crease there will probably be nt this time
next year in the city at least 150,000
bicycles. It is, of course, the wildest con
jecture tn suppose that In the meanwhile
an; thing better will have been Invented.
The French "eclerette," which, it is
claimed, anybody can ride and anybody can
make, is such an ungainly thing that it will
have no chance with the beautiful, trim
and fleet steed of the century.
BXUECOATS ON BICYCLES.
TUey Are Terror Now to tlie Heck
lesss Scorcher.
The police bicycle squad is doing good
work. Although comprised of but three
oWIcers and organized less than one month
ago, tlie silent riders have made nearly
1C0 arrests for reckless riding and other
orfenses against the bicycle .regulations.
Scorching- h'as "now become the exception,
where heretofore it was the rule.
This city, with' Its 'smoothly-concreted
and splendidly shaded streets and avenues.
Is a paradise for wheelmen and n standing
inducement for speedy riding. There are
thousands of bicyclists In Washington, and
while marly of them 'are careful and cool
headed, there are others who are reckless
to a degree bordering on criminality.
The iiciiuency-of accidents, serious, and
In someJnstancjsijJaJal, convinced ilaj.
William G. Moore, chler of rollce, that
steps should Je takea to apprehend those
who "persisted la violating the police regu
lations, which liad Leen adopted forthe pro
tection of pedestrians and wheelmen them
selves. The foot patrolmen were unable
to capture the flying bicyclists, who wbcq
spoken tcr woulcTln the parlance or the
street, gle the copsthe laugh, and then rush
away, leaUng the discomrited policeman
standing in the roadway.
, PUT ON WUEELS.
MaJ. Moore knew mat several of his men
were expert wheelmen, nnd the happy
thought occurred to him to organize a bicy
cle squad. The precincts lieutenants weic
consulted by the major, and each submitted
the names or the officers in their bailiwicks
who rode wheels.
The result was tlie selection of Police
man Charles C. Estes, of the Sixth pre
cinct; John W., Robertson, of tlie Fourth,
and James A. Duvall, or the Becnud.
The trio are sober, conscientious men, fear
less and expert riders. They have done
such stalwart work that it is probable
after Juue 30, when the fifty new men
are sworn in, the bicycle squad will be in
creased in numbers and placed in charge of
a sergeant.
Charles C. Estcs, a member of the "Three
of a Kind," as the police have christened
the bicycle squad. Is thirty-three years of
age, and a man of flue physique. He was
born in Burke county, N. C, and attended
he Slate schools in Rutherford county.
Mr. Estes is proud of his "Tar Heel" Slate
aueestry.and the fact that though early left
an orphan, lie commenced the battle of
life at hard work on u farm in the pic
turesque Southland.
Mr. Estes married Miss Alice Kingsbury
of this city, her father being an official
of the Postnrfice Department. He has
been on the police force seven years, and
ror the past three has devoted his spare
time to bicycle riding.
Policeman Estes was put to n test the
other day. He rode up beside an ath
lete who had been scorching. The ath
lete did not recogiize Estes In his bicycle
costume as an officer of the law.
"I want you for fast riding," said
Estes.
"Who the d 1 are you?"
"An orficer."
"You are, eh? Well, It you want me
you will have to catch me."
AN EXCITING CHASE.
And away sped tlie athlete like the
wind. Estes- bent down to the work be
fore him, and after a long chase overhauled
the rider and escorted him triumphantly
to the station-house.
Policeman Estes recognizes the fact that
bicycle riders as a xule are gentlemanly,
fellows, or "good people." He, therefore,
UBes good Judgment in making arrests and,
has never locked up a boy between the
ages of fourteen and twenty yars until he
hehas notifie.i their parentsor guardians of
the arrest. If the parents are responsible
people the boy is sometimes released with
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out collateral and notiricd to appear In tho
police court on the following morning. In
one case. he accompanied a youthful rider
under arrest to a bicycle establishment,
where he left his wheel for $5 an t put that
sum up as collateral ut the station house.
Mr. Estes does not discriminate between
rich and poor, Influential or lowly. Blnce
his. connection with the bicycle squad he
has made thirty-two arrests.
Policeman John W. Rgbcrtson, or the
squad, was born In Kansas. ,Ue Is twenty
eight years or age, and has been on the
police force six years and four months.
During that time be served in the First,
Second", Fourth and Ninth precincts, being
at present in the Fourth or bouth Washing
ton precinct. Robertson has resided In
Washington ror twenty years, and attended
the public schools here. He is married and
has one child, a bright little girl. He served
six years as a bugler tn the Marine ser
vice, and made u long cruise over the South
Atlantic. At one time he was also de
tailed with the police guard at the While
House.
Policeman Robertson has had some long
races artcr scorchers. One of the longest
waB from Third street and Pennsylvania
avenue northwest to Tenth streetand New
York avenue, after three colored men who
had been racing along the Avenue. He suc
ceeded in capturing all three, however.
Since his connection with the bicycle squad
Mr. Robertson has made thirty-nine arrests.
A MARYLAND BOY.
Policeman J times A. Duvall is a sporty,
handsome looking young man In bis natty
bicycle costume, including golf stockings
and a nobby looking little cap. Heis twenty
nine years of age, and was born In Prince
George county, Md., near Upper Marlboro.
Mr. Duvall has rcsldedin Washington pleven
years, but gained his schooling In Prince
George. He is married, and has two Inter
esting children. He has been on the police
force five jeurs. and served in the Second,
Third and Eighth precincts.
Policeman Duvall has had some exciting
experiences as a bicycle copper. Recently
a reckless wheelman ran against a boy and
knocked him down. The wheelman had a
long lead on Duvall, but the gritty ofrlcer
got down to work and pursued the fellow
along II street to First street northeast.
The steam railroad gate there was being
lowered as u train was approaching, but
the reckless rider darted beneath Hand came
near being caught under the locomotive.
When Duvall reached the gate it was
down nnd the train was passing. The
reckless fellow on the other side took ad
vantage of this and made his escape.
On another Occasion Policeman Duvall
had a long chase after an offender, ex
tending from Fourteenth and Q streets
northwest, down Fourteenth street to
M.Tssachusetts avenue, thence to the Na
tional Guard armory, ou L street between
Fourth and Firth, where he was captured.
The bicycles ridden by the police squad
are owned by the men tbcrasi-n, and
they are also compelled to root the bills
for repairs, etc. An effort is being made
to have the District authorities buy a
supply of bicycles for the men, which
seems to be but Just, considering the great
amount of "wear and tear" the wheels
are subjected to in running down violators
of the law.
BICYCLE TENUIS.
An Exciting; and Popular Game
I'luyed on Wheels.
Does biej cling bring wrinkles?
That was the question hotly discussed
by a little knot of wemen. resting on a log
by the roadside the other day. Seme of
them were plainly alarmed at the sugges
tion, others doubtrul as to whethcrit ought
to 1 allowed to Interfere with the day's
run or not, nnd a feeble mlncrity of one
remained openly defiant and skeptical.
"Well, for my part, whether It's the
solemn truth or wicked flctlcn." said the
girl In lively looking gi if stockings, us she
pumped awa j earnestly and persistently at
her hind tire, "it's too serious a matter to
have to chance, and to counteract any pos
sible danger or v. tinkles 1 cm going to Join
a bicycle tennis team.
"It was an eminent face specialist who.
frightened me about the wrinkles. She
dldn'tknow etcn my name, occupation of
special predilections, butdlrectly I lock off
my veil In her operating thalr the other
morning she calmly asserted that I had been
wheelingtoomnch. When IInlstedcnhear
Ing how she knew I had been wheeling at
all. she Just handed mc a powerful hand
glass and began to point out the almost in
perccptable Indi cations of fine creases about
my forehead, between the ejes and around
the mouth and nose. It requires mly three,
to six months wheeling, she tcld rhc, to
fix those halr-flne creases into long In
delible wrinkles. I had Just taken a private
heart-breaking vow never to touch the
pedalsogaln when she creerfully suggested
that I countera ct the effect of the bicycling
by alternating or combining It with some
other out-dcor sport.
" 'Try something,' she said; 'that will
lift your eyes off the unconsciously steady
and frowntngcootemplationof the road be
fore you, that will bring your arms into
free play nnd raise up your chin. Mcj cling
is routine sport. Give a woman ten miles
of pood road and away she will spin, her
laU drawn up In a knot, her body In
flexible', her lips tightly shut, too inter
ested, short of breath and Intent on her
road to speak, laugh or even change her ex
pression and the result is natural, wrinkles;
quick, deepTugly fellows, hard to rub out
and rapid in reappearing.' Do you see
I have been warned In time and In order
to at once keep up my wheeling and main
tain my youthful smoothness of brow
and chin I've taken to bicycle tennis."
THE COURT.
Even the skeptical girl undera brown veil
demands to know something of this game.
"Oh ltsanewthing,"explainedstaeotthe
golf stockings. "It originated only this
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.
seasonatoneoftheEogllsbwaterlngplaccs,
nmong a lot of women who thou ght it would
serve as a substitute for polo, and now It
has got over to this side. Two or three
persons have laid out special courts for it
up in Westchester couuty InJXtW York, and
the loamed women wheelers of Boston are
rather enthusiastically adoptjnfilt'at their
summer resorts. Of course jou can real
ize that no ordinary tennis forts are largo
enough for one to pedal about In with com
fort. If I remember rigbtlyithe-dimcnsloirs
are trebled and In England 'lrft'consldcrcd
no drawback if tlie ground slopes a little,
but of course the surface roust "Be perfectly
smooth. Turf courts are quite out of the
question and the best of thcih drehspbaltcd.
That is expensive, however, unless there Is
a club to meet the costs and In private
grounds Just the plain foundation for the
goOd American dirt court serves perfectly.
"Naturally the net is extendedand broad
ened, but as well it Is stretched at least
three feet above the ground. In the right
position it should reach u high as the
shoulders of the ordinary woman when sit
ting In her saddle. The reason ot this Is that
there Is a -variation on the usual rules of
tennis by which drives can be made under
as well as over the net and balls can be by
a dexterous wrist movement served that
way If one is able to do it."
"Whatdotheplayerswear? Oh Just what
tbey do ordinarily on the wheel with the
exception that every woman carries at bcr
left hip a bag. This Is usually one end of
a soft china silk sash she binds around her
waist and by sewing one end. In the form
ot an open-mouthed bag, she keeps her rub
ber balls there handy for serving with her
right she wields her racquet, which is made
very light arid with u handle double as long
as one uses for tennis afoot. Some women
use a featherweight racquet, made a good
deal like that for lacrosse, nnd, by a hole
in the end of the handle and a stoutsatin
riblion, this fine long cat is tied to her
wrist. A-
THE WAY TO FLAY.
"Now as to the game: Two, four or six
persons can play on one set of courts.
Where there are six women two offi
ciate in the courts on either side, while a
pair of partners can ask the assistant.
of a third party. The third player offi
ciates like the others on her wheel, but
her sole business Is to recover balls that
fly beyond the limits or the course and
It she can recover and drive back such
balls, before they touch the ground, the
point is not lost as In other games of
tennis. She must send It back Into hen
partners' courts and let them manipu
late it on, but it she can direct it straight
on over the net into the opponent's courts
she wins a point ror her side. When not
actively looking out ror these flying lulls
her duty Is to regain those hopelessly
lost and restore them to their partners'
bags and to take precious oare she
doesn't Intrude one inch Inside the boun
daries of the courts. For Infringing tills
law she can lie ruled out ot the g.ime l-y
her partners' opponents. ,
"Meanwhile her partners begin, as they
circle round the courts, by serving six
balls, according totheusualrulr ot tennis.
They wheel around as they sere. In order
to preserve their balance, and tic", dex
terously maintaining their course by the
left hand on the bicycle's handle bars,
dart, circle, turn double, half and run
in their efforts to keep the ball going.
All of the six. balls are plajedupon. That
is, If one player can place cvery'orc, or
five, or four of br'r" balls correctly on
serving an entire game is played out on
every ball and uitaulU counted or eicry
ball that falls falsely in thc..necwce.J.Witli
the privileges of serving and drilling either
over or under the net you, can see larger
opportunities are given anoVthcn in this
game of tennis every poiut-igalned Is a
polut earned toward the sum tmUil on the
final score. They tried to-. Introduce that
ruling very often Jn the palmy days of
regular tennis, but the authorities always
frowned It down. Now th, bicyclers have
made laws of their own taud the good
pastime of tennis is like to) return to a
larger and more vigorous popularity than
ever before.
"Women who have tried It pronounce
blcifle tennis the most aUWihlrt. amusing
and exhilarating sport posybTe.1 TlierVls
Just enough dancer of lroubl collisions
and exercise lioth ror lungs m.d muscles,
with skill and wit, agility nndjdisrretlon
required to Inspire enthusiasm awl energy.
Itls Impossible oplaybicycletennls"unIess
you know all about your wheel. and It is
Just as impossible to play it without shout
ing orders to your outside playcrrconfusIon
to-your opponents and triumph over your
good strokes: Just as It is difficult to- get
through without some 1I ely tumbles, rapid
onslaughts Into the net and high-pitched
denunciations of the umpire's rulings:
But bruised defeated, breathless, and ex
hausted yon will cling to your decision that
as an outdoor gnme it is almost without
her fresh-pumped wheel, "Ivdo honestly
think It Is a cure for the only danger I
know in bicycling." .- .
MILICENT ARROWPOINT.
vm iM wm.wm.ns
Mary had a little lamb, I H lH I JSmmmmkW
But both bavc long been dead; HJ Wmm H i iHjjgHjBBF'vg
If Mary were, alive today, mTM WMM H I lillimMWT H
Bhe'd want'a wheel instead. mm IH H .1 liillMpHl ""
Somcrvllle Journal. m 1 IH H I I I 18 tSR? T
' 1894. IIS 1 ilmr'nTO
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, IfAVD MUXLEn. 1
Maud Muller, on a summer's day,
Mounted her wheel and rode away. uL
Beneath her blue cap glowed a wealth
Of large red freckles and first-rate health.
'Singing, she rode, and ber merry glco
Frightened the sparrow from his tree.
But when she was several miles from town,
Upon the hill-slope, coasting down,
The- sweet song died, and a vague unrest
And a sort of terror filled her breast
A fear that she hardly dared to own.
For what If her wheel should strike a stone!
The. Judge scorched swirtly down the read
just then she heajd bis tire explode!
He carried bis wheel into the shade
Of the apple tree, to await the maid.
And he asked ber if she would kindly loan
Her pump to him, as he'd lost his own.
She left ber wheel with a sprightly jump.
And in less than a Jiffy produced berpamp.
And she blushed assbegavelt, lookingdown
At her feet, once bid by a trailing gown.
Then said the Jndge, us he pumped away,
" 'TIs very fine weather we're having to
day." He spoke of grass and flowers and trees;
Of twenty-mile runs and centuries.
And Maud forgot that no trailing gown
'Was over her bloomers banging down.
But the tire was fixed, alack-a-day! ,
The Judge remounted and rede away.
Maud Muller looked 'and sighed, "Ab, me!
That I the Judge's bride might be!
"My father should have a brand-new wheel
Or the costliest make and the finest stecL
"And I'd give one to maot tbesame design,
So that she'd cease to borrow mine."
The Judge looked back, as he climbed the
hill.
And saw Maud Muller standing still.
"A prettier face and a form more fair
I've seldom gazed at, I declare!
"Would she were mine, and I today
Could make ber put those bloomers away 1"
But he thought of his sisters, proud nnd
cold.
And shuddered to think how they would
scold
It he should, one of these afternoons.
Come home with a bride In pantaloons.
He married a wife of richest dower.
Who never succumbed to the bloomers'
power;
Yet oft, while watchlngthe smoke wreaths
curl.
He thought ot that freckled bloomer girl;
Ot the way she stood there, pigeon-toed.
While be was pumping beside the road.
She married a man who clerked in a store,
Aud many children piayed round her door;
And then her bloomers brought her Joy!
She cut them down tor her oldest boy.
But still of the Judge she often thought, "v- ,. H3bSk "" '
And sighed o'er the loss that her bloomers , jJ" - jmjM Hb- - i
-wrought, H1.9L1 " ' '
'. - vSHLL
Or wondered If wearing them was a sin, i laHRfll --a
And then confessed, "It might have been." XlEf'rrTTt9,,k
Alas for the Judge! Alas for the maid! KW l & H
Dreams were their only stock in trade. B I I I III II tk IH
For of all wise words of tongue or pen, Sn ' II
The wisest are these: "Leave pants tor ! Ill
men!" H III
I At. VVflllt V7 1 nil lift.... B.ltl v.n.nt-... 1 I 1
For the bloomer girl and the man of brains; III
And, in the hereafter, bloomers may I
Be not allowed to block the way! I
Buffalo Commercial. '
I 'I
1895. .- -
mtf cSI IE 9 'I
TOE SEVEN AGES OrjJICYCXJJiO.
All the world' a-wbeel.
And all the cyolers merel j- tlrel - -" 1
They have their enmities as to a choice of
bike, r -V,- " -
And one man In his time has many falur-v
His acts being seven afes. jit' flrs.t.tbe
pollywog, "" " ,,.
Wiggling and sprawling from his trainer's
arms;
Then the whining and discouraged tyro,
creeping, -
Tremulous and fearful, unwilling, from the
adamant floor "
Back to the wheel; and then, all hopeful,)
talkative of when
That blissful day shall come; and he -With
mistress ride
A tandem to the happy coarti'dr Love!
Then a blklst, In full measure, seeking the
bubble Notoriety
As a trick cycler; colliding with ah-Alder-.
man,
In huge proportions, beer -and capon lined.
With eyes severe, our cycler vanishes be
hind a prisoner's dock;
The sixth age shifts, and into .his lean and
plalded pantaloons
With fearsome mien and real fainthearted
ness. Ills little board, well saved for purposes
Known right well by his hike, which, dis
arranged. And spokes uncombed, awaits Its master's
ball!
And his big, manly voice, turning to a child
ish treble, pipes ,
"Ay, guilty Honor!" winds whistling in
his sound;
Last scene of ail, that ends a wheelman's
Chess and Checkered history; "
Is cyclomanla, oblivion to else.
Save gear, save spoke, save tire? save
scorchingl
New Orleans Times-Democrat.
A BENEDICTION.
God bless the wheel! the whirring wheel!
That wakens the world's unmeasured zeal.
And makes a man ot my torture feel
Like praising the same alway.
For it's taken the maid next door, who
sought
To daily pound the piano-forte.
To another brand of athletlc'sport
That bears her miles away.
Boston Courier.
Half of 1896
- Hhm
II .H
I -
A X.OVEH'3 WAHV.
Lbcjnd ha the cycle fad.
And weekly worse It grows;
She wants a wheel and wants It
itbVl
And likewise bloomer chithaSL
G ' ir - - .
I'd like to please her, but I feel
Opposed to cycllog quite;
' To me a woman on a wheel j
la not a pretty sight. ' '
I
The thought of Itmy temperstlrt;
I know I would not like i
"To see that stately form ot hers '
.Bent over on a bike. '
-1 do not fancy biking humps, v-
And feel my grief 'twould crown '
To see those beauteous legs, like pumps,
Go working up and down.
t
No, wheels are not for such as she.
Though they are speedy things, j
Far more appropriate 'twould b(j
Were the equipped with wloga
MY CYCLE.
Dear other self, so silent, swift and sure.
My dumb companion of delightful days.
Might fairy fingers from tby orbit ray
Of steel strike music, as the gods ot yore.
From reed or shell; what melodies would
.pour I
On my glad ears; what songs of woodland
-ways.
Of summer's wealth of corn, or tho sweet
lays.
Of April's budding green; while evermore
We twain, one living thing, flash like the
light
Jjown the long tracks that stretch from
sky tn sky.
Thou hastthy -music, too; whattimethenoon
Beats sultry on broad roads, when gather
ing 'night.
We drink the keen-edged air; or, dark'
ling fly,
'Twlxt hedgerows blackened by a mystlf
moon.
Adrlel Yere, In Spectator.
MADE IT CUnONIC.
Ue was bent on having a wheel, tbey said.
And to'-purchase one was straightway led.
And now, as his daily feats have shown,
He's bent till the same has chronic grown.
to June 30th.
I
1
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i
i
I
1
a
1
1,000,
3,500.
5000,
7,000.
- 11,250.
16,030. .
30,000.
-' TCiLs&JKScrrr. ,
.. . . ,MS-
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