..
i LEARNING TO RIDE
THE BIKE.
lie starts,
He moves.
He seems to feel,
lie’s perched upon
A wriggling eel,
—Hike Ha I lads.
nis teeth are set. His eyes are bulg
ing. Cold lieads of |*>r*plratlon be
spangle Ills pallid brow. Kvery mus
cle Is ctnse and rigid. It Is rigor mor
tis. the beginning of the end'/ No. If
Is only the beginning on the hike. Von
can see typical cases of It every light
In any of the nineteen bicycle acade
mics of this city, and there are nine
teen different methods of treating the
disease. Kvery •’professor” has the t
only correct system In the land, and
they all effect a cure, so there is no
gainsaying their claims.
The methods vary, from the “rough
and tumble" process, which Is based on
the principle that experience Is the best
teacher, to the progressive school, In
which the pupil Is carefully led through
every stage, from kicking the pedals on
a dummy machine to cutting the figure
eight in a six-foot square.
The Fat Man's Instruction.
I,et us wati-li the hapless beginner
who falls Into the hands of the rough
and tumble artist. This method Is
especially adapted for one Inclined to
embonpoint, and who has taken to the
wheel on the advice of the family phy
sician. The Instructor Is a cadaverous
looking youth, with spindle shanks and
dressed In very baggy breeches. He
walks the wheel out on the thsir, and
while the pupil stands beside It he de
livers himself at length on the princi
ple of maintaining balance, the maii
agement of the pedals and the correct
L method of mounting. The pupil, a
^ stout man. whose bald head is only
partially concealed by a small cap. Is
the observed of all observers In the
academy. He Is thinking how he will
look oji the wheel, hears little and
heeds less.
The Instructor braces himself and
supports the wheel, while the pupil
gingerly climbs Into the saddle. Then
he of the spindle shanks clutches a
handful of the slack of the rider’s coat
with his right hand, and with his left
holds the handle-bar and pushes. The
wheel wobbles, and the big man alter
nately leans far out to starboard and
then to port, trying to balance himself,
ami filially discovers that lie's safe as
long as he rests against the instructor.
Ho they go around the ring several
times. "Just to get used to the ma
chine,” the big man leaning his whole
weight against the instructor, whose
slender legs lieud beneath the task of
supiwuting the rider and pushing the
mnchlne at the same time.
The “professor" looks on and gives
the signal when he thinks the pupil
has “got the hang of things.” Then
with a few additional “pointers," the
Instructor on n Cycle.
Instructor, with a revengeful gleam In
Ills eye, gathers up h1s strength and.
with one vigorous push send stlie pupil
forth on his wild cnieer alone.
Then the Thml.
The stout man lias had. perhaps,
some experience of the uncertainties of
life, hut never before anything equal
to this. The wheel swoops tirst to the
left, then to the right, in ever-narrow
ing circles. A cold chill creeps up Ills
spine as lie thlnkH of his utter helpless
ness and realizes wiuit the end must
lie. He grips the handle-bars with all
his might, in a frantic effort to keep
the front wheel steady and straight.
There lies all the trouble, so he tugs at
the handle bars until lie gets led in tiie
face, and the wheel twists, and turns
and cavorts ulsiiit. like some ttucauny
thing possessed of the devil, lie kicks
wildly at the pedals, catching them, on
r an average, once in three revolutions,
and harking his shins at every miss.
Then conies a series ot rapid idtiuges,
foliov.etl l>t a Inst wild stvuop of the
front wheel anil a "dull, sickening
thml." The hlg loin, nud tin wheel lie
iulrlettlely mixed tiu the floor. The
alert instructor hurr'es to his assist
ance. disc o I tingles him .mil straightens
tie hniidb* (tar mol sent of the wheel,
while the professor explains to the
pupil that Ilf "dull, sitkeiiiiig ilttul" Is
the e spotlnl nud gtirrctlvc feature of
his met hod
"Y»u see. every time a mail falls he
learn* something Vow, you did pretty
well for the first attempt: Imt you
turned that front wheel the wrong way
tin last time, anti that fact will now
Iw impressed on your memory. I tell
you, It'a the only way !«• Warn. I don't
believe In nurwtug a beginner l.ei him
gei right on a wheel and find out hla
It (Stakes for himself, and then he ll
nets* forget 'em " The stout man feet*
n HttW sore, hut encouraged then re
mounts the wheel and hohlly start* out
for the «e« otol thud He Warns tn fl%e
lesson*
The rough ami tumid* system, how
h ever tuts not many devotees, amt in
Inals* to tti* many excellent oyiW
noes in this i tty, It must he said that
the "less -a1' deoil*.I was Witnessed
In a small whool where the 'profess
nr." who was formerly a mhktW weight
pugilist amt one instructor were abW
in leach all the tsiirons sh< studied
daring the day, and still had leisure
it ms,
TW* Ustlesst f suras
In all the large pokutiM the begin
ners reveiy* a mtwral rasn* «f train
lag prxtgrvrasing In **« h lesson to a
greater degtee of po.fh les t hut I ever
allowed y« rid» slew* until the in
*trnctor thinks thev hnve sufficient
corn inn lid of the wheel to avoid hard
falls and accidents.
When he enters the academy for his
Initial ride, he is taken into the wheel
department, where ail ex|s*rt attendant
picks out a suitable wheel and proper
ly adjusts seat and bundle-bar. He
gives Ids ticket to one of the instruct
ors, who turns It In at the desk, where
n young man lakes the number of the
instructor and the time he begin* the
lesson.
If the pupil Is n woman arid I* not
dressed In a bicycle suit, the attendant
produces a number of large safely pins
wltb which be deftly shortens Imr long
skirt to the suitable length by gather
ing and pinning It In a wide pleat
around the hips. Men are supplied
with trousers guards.
Without receiving any Instruction
about mounting, tlie pupil Is assisted
into the saddle and told to let the ball
of the foot rest upon llte pedal* and
then push down with her toes, follow
ing with the heel. Silting upright and
grasping the handle-bars lightly, be Is
led around the ring tintII the ankle
motion Is acquired, which usually takes
It Would Wobble.
about live minutes. Then the Instruct
or Informs tin- pupil concerning the use
of the front wheel telling him to re
frain from clutching the handle-liars,
to sit easily, with the muscles of the
body relaxed, and to turn tin* front
wheel In the direction '.u which he Is
falling.
The Instructor then places his right
hand on the right side of the waist, to
keep the pupil steady, and with his
left hand on the handle-bar, lightly
follows its movements, only controlling
It when necessary to avoid a collision
or a fall. Hy the end of the llrst les
son the pupil has generally mastered
the llrst great principle of the bicycle,
that >>f balancing by manipulating the
front wheel.
■.•-■ii-iiI»if Hie Handle liar.
The second lesson finds the pupil
managing the handle-liar alone, while
the Instructor runs alongside, steady
ing him with one hand in the back and
cautioning him to sit straight and eas
ily In the saddle. H.v the end of this
lesson an ordinary pupil can ride with
a falrly-sleady front wheel, and only
needs practice and confidence. To se
cure these two essentials, the Instruct
or mounts a wheel, and with one linnil
on the shoulder or waist of the pupil,
rides around the ueademy with him.
Tills practice takes away the Irresisti
ble desire taht all new riders have to
run Into any wheel that comes near,
and teaches them to ride freely and
without fear. The fourth and fifth les
sons are usually devoted to practice in
the academy and in learning to mount.
Then the pupil is ready to try the road,
accompanied hy an Instructor, who
teaches him to take car-tracks, “back
pedal." and turn quickly and skilfully
to avoid collisions.
This Is the general system, as fol
lowed in most academies, but individ
ual professors vary It according to
tlielr own Ideas and the necessities of
the pupil, some of whom are so exceed
ingly awkward that it requires several
hours' practice on a dummy machine
before they can properly use the ped
als. others, again, require to be put
on a very heavy machine for several
lessons before they can properly bal
ance themselves.
\\ lii-elliiK to Hand Music
In the large academies, open to the
general public, where many patrons
resort for practice, various schemes
have been devised to afford diversion
for the experienced riders. A military
band Is the most enjoyable adjuncts,
and when the music starts the wheels
begin to fly at a lively rate. Kven the
new rider puts on steam and generally
manages to furnish a few thuds for the
edification of the spectator before lie
gets around the circle.
The see saw is one of the newest di
versions. This '-oiisists of a platform
about three feel wide, pivoted on a
aeint-elreular support, about a foot
high. One end of the platform Is made
a little heuvler than the other, so that
biUlM IM »••«•»< Hlifl
*1 will always mi <« lb* Tb*
rkbi im » m* al that rml u»>hhu iu
lb* M-nii-r ami » m-mi «b>*»n lb# in
■ Itu* wtib • tuata u lb* |.b»iU*n»*
rba■>*•>« H» |«Mlll< M
t'airbln* lb* nut* >• aU». a fbVWftta
am.rt fur lb* * bmiuoM A but* nrafbt
•M. In wbbb it wm*ba# «f •I**! rimfa
ami H* braas t«U» li* |»la. i «l la an*
|vmb4 al an anti* «fff iba •ul*> uf
lb* nnbiMi ami lb* rblma aa tb*y
I mm try iu |»bb MM iba rin« at lb*
vrnt uf lira tb>l TW una In 'by arnuiab
Iu (»l Iba bmaa rllta w »nl lb4 Iu am
ttib«-r bum a ibis fir*
1,1 aiblltbu l« Ilmra aibibb
I mu* uf lfl»A mlint »•»! anwa* uf bi
cycle polo, are Introduced during the
day anil evening, all of which add to
the social attractions which bring the
riders to the academies, when line
weather would otherwise tempt them
on the road.
The nineteen academies In this city
teach, on an average, l.dOo pupils per
(lay at this season of the year, nnd one
ncadetny has a record of po.ttoo lessons
In fourteen months.—New York Her
ald.
PIKRHK AND .IBtNNB.
A Storr of n Devoted Krli-mlshf ■>
Re I ween 11 tnl and n Hlral
Some time ago. In a quiet little cor
ner down on Hue Koynle. I chanced
upon a ipici r little Creole creature,
whom ihc nelglilsirs called “Mam'
selle." If there was ever any name
attached, it must have been In prehis
toric times, for now there is not even
It sign upon the door of the little lutke
shop where Mam'selle sells bread and
cakes to the neighborhood. Very good
bread nnd cakes they lire, too, as I can
testify, for recently 1 have found
Mn iii'zcllc's cozy simp a very comfort*
able resting place fora morning tramp
In quest of news, hi this wav I have
come to Is* pretty well acquainted with
Mnin'zcllc and Pierre, the eat, and
Jeanne, the bird.
Pierre Is n handsome black and
white fellow, wit n noble head, and he
and the little canary. Jeanne, were
about the same age. Marn'zelle told
me. In her pretty patois, how devoted
the two pets were to each other, nnd 1
myself saw frequent evidences of their
kindly relationship. In a quiet corner
of the Huh' shop I had seen Pleere
and Jeanne taking their breakfast to
gether, from the same plate, and by
nnd by, when the eat would lie dozing
In the sunshine, the bird would hop
nltout him, or cuddle up. snug and
comfortable, ... Ills outstretched
paws. When Mam'selle was busy so
that she eouhl not keep tin eye on the
little bird's safety she would swing
the cage In the doorway, while Pierre
would stretch himself on the floor be
neath. keeping guard over his friend.
And woe betide the strange eat that
wandered that way, Pierre was al
ways on the alert for squalls, and if
the eat came too near to suit hint he
would send Jeanne hustling Into her
cage while he chased the offending
feline off the street.
Just this very thing happened yes
terday. for the thousandth time, prob
ably, hut, for the tlrst time on record,
grief followed the move. Pierre and
Jeanne were taking their usual morn
ing game In the sunshine of the little
shop door, when a brindled stranger
appeared on the banquet without.
Ft might as a die Jeanne was in her
cage nnd Pierre had gone In hot pur
suit of the brlndle. The chase was n
hard one. nnd Mnm'zcllc says Pierre
must have have been gone a long time,
but she was busy serving customers,,
nnd by and by noticed Jeanne hopping
about the counter. Thinking, of
course, that Pierre had returned, she
took no further notice of the bird. A
little later, however, bearing a dread
ful commotion out on the banquet, she
rap out to witness the sad little trag
edy which I, too, arrived Just In time
to see, but too late to prevent. Taking
advantage of Pierre's protracted ab
sence, an ugly tortoise-shell from the
next block strolled up to the little
shop In search of Jeanne. Finding her
out bopping aliout and unprotected, he
began siege at once, no doubt. Mam’
zelle and I arrived Just In time to see
the tortoise-shell pounce on poor
Jeanne, ns she sat perched on the top
of the swinging cage, and hear her
with him to the pavement. Before
either of us could Interpose the deed
was done, nnd then In a moment there
came Pierre rushing around the cor
ner. and ns quick as a flash had taken
In the situation. With one fierce hound
lie sprang upon the tortoise-shell ami
swept poor Jeanne from his clutches.
For a brief moment he sat guarding
her. but that moment was long enough
to tell liim he was too late.
Then, letting Main'zelle take the lit
tle corpse from under his paw. ho
swooped down niton the tortoise-shell.
It was only for a little while, but
when the battle was over both cats
lay dead upon the pavement. Pleere
had lain down his life io avenge
Jeanne’s death, and the little Mum'
zcllu mourns both pets.
•THE NKISTKETTEH."
She Is Asuln In Evidence In Purls
nnd Rumor Connects Her With u
Millionaire
“The Neustretter,” who stirred the
Rots and Champs Klysee loungers with
envy of her elovlies and turnouts what
time the Vanderbilt divorce was on the
tapis. Is again in evidence wth equp
ages of the newest and finest, and an
other New York millionaire has set the
tongues of tout Parts wagging. The
funny pari of the affuir is that the
millionaire accredited with the present
episode Is well |«a*t the half century,
uud up to the present time has lived
with the regularity of au old time New
Kiiglnud deacon, without a suspicion
of wild onIm about him. In his youth
uud early manhood, when fredaines
urc to he expected, he lived tu the odor
of respcclgldhty, although a man of
great wealth, wide travel and yacht
ing pni|H-UMltlvs, and now Ichaliod!
Well, humanity is a curious compound
nnd men make queer breaks. In this
present east* a number of cognate aud
connected shiners are chuckling, aud
conversely several aristocratic famil
ies, whose names are aynouymoua with
the straight aud narrow path. are
plunged lutu the depths of gloom.
Aa KeeeareU- Plaslst
After au iuterval of fourteeu years
ladob'H has again heard toe plautst
T*>’Albert, whose nationality Is so great
S pussle lie has a French name sad I
waa Istm ta Keutland Hta mother was
Fugtlsh. and bis father, a well known
dam lug master waa the son of a >ap |
tain of French artillery and »f a tier
man mother, nknwe aueeaters w«*r*
Russian* though educated In Rughind
he adopted tier many us Ut country,
and wrote savage remarks about He
"British but hurts ua." At htu reappear
sice ta tendon there waa "Utile ><r no
applause w to a ha Aral >wut« mi ths
stage, but to-rtiers mended gradually,
and hta great* si success was won with ]
I (sat s |n*n Juan ' fauiaata. H> the
great dlagust of the iffltkA who cannot !
understand why educated audtvuceu. j
the world over and groat piaatais like
w ice should be to fond sf 1 Seal tin*
>ii tk< crtUca says that s#«e toe a full !
grown rousia* be |t Albort la much the
same l«<ytali ttgure whhrk ke presented
m l'Vi New York l‘oat
BICYCLE GIRL ALL RIGHT.
Know* a llaap Mora About Thing* Thai
She Who Doesn't Hide.
The girl who thinks that the great
est Joy In life is a gallop over the brown
roads of the park in the early mornlni
when the trees are trickling with dia
mond dewdrops, the dozy birds twitter
ing over their coffee and rolls, and tb<
squirrels rollicking about on the dew
drenched emerald sward, has absolutely
r.o sympathy with the maiden who Is
content to ride along the boulevard
astride a wheel, her nether limbs In
cased In bloomers and leggings, her
chin decidedly "set” and her eagle eye
fixed on some object before her, with a
determination lo win or die.
All the same the bicycle maid is hap
py. She knows she is only one of
many, and that her steed Is cheap and
cheerful, rather than costly, and easily
tamed; that she does not have black
smith's bills and other proofs of aristo
cratic indebtedness, and that she has to
do all the work If she is to get the ex
ercise; but nevertheless she Is happy.
The bicycle girl knows a great deal more
about the country than does the ordin
ary city girl who dots not rid'1. Site
knows how green the grass Is, and how
pretty the sky looks as seen through
a vet! of Interlacing leaves and
branches. She becomes acquainted
with the feathery little people who live
In cozy nests and who have very well
trained voices, although they don’t
seem to think it necessary to ruin an
Impresario in order to let the world
hear them. She knows that the green
velvet sward Is brocaded with white
star flowers in day, and that after that
come the pink hawthorn and the fra
grant trailing arbutus and the hooded
violets. She can tell you If It Is going
to be a fine day by merely looking at
the clouds In the west, and she can
guide you home In the evening by look
ing at the stars. She learns a good
deal besides the proper sort of garters
to wear, and the right make of wheel
to ride; but, then, some girls prefer
horses.
—
NEW BICYCLE CATAMARAN.
Ute«t Invention In In the Wajr of «
The latest invention in the way of a
bicycle novelty of practical service Is
the bicycle boat. It Is different from
any other boat, because it Is driven by
what may be called a water bicylc,
but for the reason that It consists of
two boats and Is really a bicyle cata
maran. The new boat is the Invention
of a man In Detroit, and be says that
it Is going to be the biggest succecs
of the year. The boat consists of two
canoes arranged side by side with a
frame similar to a diamond frame of
a bicycle between them. The frame is
pivoted to the boats and is equipped
with an ordinary bicycle seat, a pair cf
pedals, sprocket wheels and chain. In
place of the ordinary tired wheels are
two miniature paddle wheels, which
propel the boat through the water.
The Inventor Is able to use one or
more paddle wheels at the same time.
The outfit is further equipped with
steering gear and a rudder that works
quickly and surely, both of which are
operated by the handle Dars. The bi
cycle boat Is of such light construction
and so low on the water that It cannot
be used where the water Is apt to be
rough. It has been tried at Detroit In
smooth water and worked very suc
cessfully. The inventor seated himself
Just as would a bicycle rider who was
about to Indulge in a spin on the road.
With the same motion and effort ex
pended In driving a bicycle the boat
was forced through the water at a fair
■peed.
Th. Irish Was Not Served.
A business man of Paris has Just lost
a large sum of money under strange
circumstances. He was supping with a
party of friends at a restaurant. De
siring to create a sensation, he visited
the kitchen of the establishment, and,
handing a number of gold coins to one
of the attendants, told him to serve
them at the table under the guise of a
dish of gold. Time passed and the
meal began to draw to a close, but still
the expected course did not appear.
Eventually the originator of the Idea
returned to the kitchen, but discovered
to his horror that the bottle washer
had vanished. It appears that he was
only an extra hand engaged for the
busy season, and left without demand
ing his wages, taking the money with
him.
A Fluiiclfr.
(Jaggs—’‘Gorkins lives by bla wits.”
liaggs "1 didn’t know he was such an
able financier." (lagga — ’’Why?”
liaggs- "To make a living on so small
a capital."—Washington Times.
OBAN SWIFT’S CYNICISMS.
No wise man ever wished to b#
younger.
I have known men of great valor
cowards 10 their wives.
It Is a miserable thing lo llvs la sus
pense. It Is llv Ilfs of a .ptder.
M'ist sorts of diversion la rues, rhll
dr.a and other animals Is an imitation
of Bghlias
If a man makes Kir keep ia» dls<an> e.
Ihs comfort lo that he keeps Ills at the
•am# time.
We have J USt enough religion to
make ua halo but set enough lo moke
IM love eg. another
Sumo Bvt, under the button of need
ing nut prejudges eradicate virtue,
honest* had religion
The chameleon who lo said to feed
upon not Mag but at*, bath, at all ani
mate, the nimblest tongue
The stoical s lotto of »uppl*ias our
waste h* topping off our desires lo
llbe lopping off our foot when wo want
w lj .,, ^
the rtsiw 't mage the; nut of
ti.iiu tic ope ta India. Ivons are total I
abstainer* am ■ toiled la the ladter I
Army Temper « aeeotdal.es.
Not H ■ Jim Dandy.
A young man in Rhode Island writes
us that he is going to take in the great
west this summer and that this town
is on his list, providing we think it safe
for him to show-up here in a plug hat,
red necktie and russet shoes. If that
is the rig he intenus to don when he
visila us. he’d better not come. This is
a growing town—a healthy town—a
town which is hound to boom and be
come a second Chuago, hut it is no
place for Jim Dandies - not yet. Fifty
years hence a man can put on link cuff
buttons and yaller kid gloves and stalk
up and down and swing a goldheaded
cane, but such a thing now—well!
Pass our town by, young man. Don't
come within fifty miles of it!
Coe’s Cowgh Dalsoan
la the oldi-st »ml best. It will break um si'olrt nulolc,
or iusu mo tblua elao. It in always roilablr. Try lb
Kditesllmial.
Attention of tiie reader it called to
the announcement of Notre Duma uni
versity in another column of this pa
per. This noted institution of learn
ing enters upon its fifth-third year
with tiie next session, commencing
hcpu x, 1 Mini. Parents and guardians
contemplating sending their hoys and
young men away from home to school
would do well to write for particulars
to the University of Norte Paine Indi
j ana. before making arrangements for
their education elsewhere. Nowhere
in this broad land are there to be
found better facilities for cultivating
the mind and heart than are offered at
Notre Datno University.
The Klop^meot
She paused a moment
"The die is cast" she murmured.
"There is no retreat"
Hastily gathering the most necessa
ry part of her wardrobe into twenty
seven trunks, she dropped them softly
Irom the window.
Then she descended by the rope lad
der and fell into the arms of her lover,
who in the gloom of the shrubbery had
patiently awaited her. — Detroit Trib
une.
The Man, 5J
And^The Pill. |
i |J She was a good woman. lie | >
ip loved her. She was his wife. (|
I | The pie was good; his wife | ’
!11 made it; he ate it. Hut the " I
| pic disagreed with him, and i|
i j he disagreed with his wife. 11
\\i Now he takes a pill after pie (|
i U and is happy. So is his wife.
| Ij The pill he takes is Ayer’a.
II Moral: Avoid dyspepsia
| > by using
i Ayer’s
; Cathartic Pills.
¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥
There is no dividing line. "
Bi
DON’T FORGET for 5 cents you get almost
as much "Battle Ax” as you do of other
brands for 10 cents.
DON’T FORGET that " Battle Ax ” is made of
the best leaf grown, and the quality cannot be
improved.
DON’T FORGET, no matter how much you
are charged for a small piece of other brands,
the chew is no better than " Battle Ax.”
DON'T FORGET, "Economy is wealth,” and
you want all you can get for your money.
Why pay 10 cents for other brands when you
can get "Battle Ax” for 5 cents?
I 19
mrs of
C lumbias
The Bicycle of experience.
A hundred dollars* worth of cer
tainty.
The 44bicycle of doubt** price saves
you little and costs you much.
IjPopeMfg^ Co*, Hartford, Conn. 11