The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-15 00:00:00

VELOCIPEDE RIDIN G-SCHOOE3

The Daily 11 ewes publishes an amusing article on velo-
cipede riling-schools. These abound in London just now.
East, west, north, and south of the metropolis are lessons
being given to men of all ages, with a decided run upon
bald heads and grey hair among the pupils. It is on
record that Faraday toiled up Hampstead-bill on one of
the lumbering, old-fashioned velocipedes, a picture of
which used invariably to illustrate the letter V in nursery
alphabets. But that was when the philosopher was
young, and one of the marvels of the new apparatus is
the fascination it seems to exercise over the old. About
midway between Moorgate station and that Goswell-
street which has become classical ever since the
embarrassing scene which took place in it between
Mr. Pickwick and Mrs. Bardell is one of the
best-known of the velocipede schools. From ten in
the morning till six at night it is very busy. A couple of
broughams and several handsome cabs are waiting at the
archway leading to it. Past these, and up a sort of court,
and we are in a large factory, with crowds of mechanicians
busily at work. Velocipedes in various stages of progress
ire to be seen everywhere. Long lines of wheels unvar-
nished and unpainted are seasoning, while handles, seats,
axle-trees, and smaller wheels are being manipulated, or
lie ready for use. There is as much scope for fancy about
the decorations of a velocipede, as in aught else. The
guiding bar is one of the things upon which extravagance
is expected to centre. Already we were shewn a
very handsome one in burnished steel and with
ivory handles as an " extra," and that "we shall
have to bring them out in silver before the season's over,"
is an opinion confidently expressed. Beyond the manu-
factory is the riding-school, full of life and vigour. Here
is a stout country gentleman who has come up from
a distant province fel- the sole purpose of receiving les-
sons. A stalwart attendant walks with him round the
room, holding him on his velocipede, by keeping an arm
firmly round his waist. Round and round the vast bare
chambergo the twain, the attendant walking slowly under
his double task, and giving out instructions rather dis-
jointedly for lack of breath, " Give a looser hold to the
handles, sir— (puff)—don't grip 'em as if you were afraid of
tumbling off—(puff, pant, puff). I'll take care of that. (Pant.)
Just feel 'em like ; the lighter and gentler the better—
(puff)—and whenever you feel you are going over on one
side, just turn the opposite handle, and you'll right your-
self directly. (Pant, puff, puff.)" After a little time the
novice is told to use his feet, and he then turns the wheels
slowly for himself, being still held on by the attendant-
instructor. There are no fastenings for the foot—simply
a rest, which projects out from the axle-trees ; and when-
over the handle is mismanaged, and the centre of gravity
lost, the rider comes to the ground on his feet, and so stands
up in a very comic way. It is as if a very tall man were
on a pony so small that he can at any moment allow it
to run between his legs. Two such lessons as
we saw given would, we were assured, enable
the gentleman before us to manage a velocipede
for himself, and from this stage to its complete mastery is
a mere question of practice. Several other pupils were
at work. One gentleman was taking his secund lesson,
and confined his attention to moving the velocipede slowly,
and to learning how to stop it at will. Others were prac-
tising various methods of mounting and descending. The
true thing is to jump on while it is in progress, and to
then push away merrily with hand and foot. The experts
who had gone through their lessons, and were now merely,
Indulging in an hour's practice, played a variety of tricks
to skew their proficiency, or to extend their experience.
{ere was a man standing on the saddle—which is
far broader and more comfortable in the seat
than it appears--and balancing the velocipede by
his dexterous management of the guiding-bar. There was
another cutting in and out among the rest, end describing
various figures on the floor. Skating on a large scale,
or skimming over the ground by means of wings, was
what it reminded one of most ; and very exhilarating and
delightful the rapid motion and entire mastery seemed.
Many of the gentlemen before us had rushed in from the
City for an hour's practice in the intervals of business—
the Stock Exchange contributing a considerable contin-
gent to the amusing and animating scene. There were
plenty of young men, too ; and the practice we
saw, ranging, as it did, from the inexperienced
novice to the skilled expert, made it clear that
the use of the velocipede is easily, safely, and
quickly learnt. There has been no accident at any of the
schools since they have opened. It seems certain that the
fashion of using velocipedes will increase if riding them be
really as harmless and agreeable as it appears. The
fatigue being slight, and the progress—though not reaching
the proposterous promises of some of the advertisements—
rapid, it seems reasonable to expect that this peculiar
form of locomotion will increase, and that it will in time
be no more singular to keep a velocipede than to carry a
walking-stick. Already the best makers are as busy as
they can well be.

Her Majesty, it is expected, will leave Windsor
for Osborne about Monday or Tuesday next.
Commercial circles in Birmingham and the neigh-
bourhood have again been startled by more extensive bill
forgeries. Mr. George Solomon, who has hitherto occu-
pied a respectable position in the town as a wholesale
stationer and paper dealer, absconded en Saturday.
The discovery has since been made that he had forged bills
to the value of £1,500 or £2,000. Amongst others he has
made use of the name of the Mayor of Worcester. Be is
said to Lave gone to America.
,THE DRINKING CUSTOMS OF A3I ERICA. —An
eminent American physician has published some interest.
ing statistics concerning the drinking habits of that coun-
try. Taking the population at 40,000,000, he finds that
of every 300 men 122 do not drink at all, 100 drink mode-
rately, 50 are occasional drinkers, 25 drink periodically
(" spreeing "), and three are habitual inebriates.
To every 178 who drink three are confirmed
inebriates, 25 are periodical and 50 ephemeral drinkers.
There is 1 confirmed inebriate to every 591 men. Of 700
women, 600 never drink, 30 taste wine occasionally, 17
taste ardent spirits, 36 drink beer regularly, 14 drink
spirits periodically, and 3 are habitual inebriates.
There is, he declares, 1 female inebriate to every 333
women ; for, though fewer women drink than men, more
of those who do drink become habitually intemperate.
THE MIDNIGHT MEETING MOVEMENT.—TIie
tenth annual meeting of this society was held on Wednes-
day in Hanover-square Rooms. General Walker pre-
sided, supported by numerous friends of the institution. .
It appeared from the report, read by Mr. John Stabb, the
secretary, that various meetings had been held in different
parts of the metropolis, and that no meeting had been
zonvened without several women and girls having
been induced to leave their life of shame. The
report, in its conclusion, referred to the fearful
traffic which is carried on to keep up a supply
of young girls for immoral purposes, and contended that
the fact should be pressed upon the attention of the Legis-
lature until more stringent means were adopted for its
suppression. The receipts for the past year were
£1,401 11s. 2d., and there was a balance in hand of
£25 19s. 2d. Speeches in support of the society's object
were delivered by Mr. George Williams, Rev. J. Davis,
Rev. J. H. Wilson, and other gentlemen, and a vote of
thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.
The value of glass in the cultivation of fruit
will, no doubt, be amply exemplified in the forthcoming
season. Speaking generally, we believe the orchards
and wall fruit-trees are as yet perfectly safe. Pear-trees
that were whitening in February are now quite brown,
but this is the result of the discoloration of
appear
pp e
aolu. ter
to
be s cua a r
ma nd
edbractsPeach-walls
; t
e mvale
ii
ls
are unopenedfor
the
most buds
part, even in southern parts, only just acquiring
pfirst v e
db blush
somewhat c colour,
they appear
asri ntcoe
hteh the
safe.weather
Nevertheless, their
we apprehend that those who grow
n
orchard-houses will have the best of it
inru..
that is, of course, so far as their skill will carry 1869,
them ; at
present, at all events, well-kept orchard-houses have
plenty of fruit to show, but what will
be seen
upon their on the walls is
matter for a forecast, in attempting •
which
taken into account that the trees have probably to endure
many hardships ere summer will smile
nectarine crops. There was nothing like leather for the defence of
the town besieged ; assuredly there is nothing like glass
for the defence of peach and n • trees from the
treacherous assaults of a British
itr
fmsh swelling
ii
nmb;ge
spring, —Gardenef's