New-York tribune., 1869-02-26
THE yELOCIPRDAL MAMA.

II has been observed that this is a fast age.
Other ages, it is true, have done extraordinary
things in the way of swftness-at our best, 1t
is not probable that we shall ever equal the
renowned seven league boots, of which, how
ever, we believe only single Gpar was ever
constructed. In consequence Of this, the pro-
priotor was never able to make bets with tho
owners OF similar contIivances, and, therefore,
seven-leaguc boot-races were impossible Nor
could the wearer get up matches against time;
for the exact ability Of the boots was we'll
known-it was just twenty one miles at O step,
no more and no less-which must have
rendered betting on the subject quite de-
void of interest, for it was Heads 1
"win-tails you lose.' We do not mean
that there is not some racing OF that
description now but nobody is humbugged in
that way il his eyes are open. We do not feel
at all sure, however, that the boots will not be
re-invented of an improved pattern, and de-
pendent somewhat for their speed upon the
legs of the wearers-the maximum rate being
fixed at seven miles per step, this being the
very best which the most accomplished boot
"istr would be able TO achieve under any cir
cumstances. Then, as there would be good
"bootsts" and bad, we may easily fancy how
exharating must 10 the competition. There
would be lower order of two-mile steppers;
then would follow he-Camillas Of three, four, or
five miles skimming along the main; and
then the champion doing sometimes his six,
sometimes his six x-and-a-half miles, according to
condition and the state of the roads. It would
be needful to have very long courses; circular
tracks, it is easy to see. would not answer, as
the boots might at any time kick over and de-
mOlish score of spectators; but given track
Of sufficient length. given proper elevations
from which to watch the contestants through
telescopes of long ranges, and, above all, given
the boots, and highly interesting 1t would be
to mark the most accomplished velocDedist
"of New York." his comparatively clumsy ma
chinery discarded, with fire in his eye and
miraculous stride in his manly legs doing his
thousand miles or so before breakfast and re-
turning to that meal without any perceptible
perspiraton We are satisfied that this can be
dOne-if somebody will only invent the boots
Care would be necessary to have these under
the perfect control of the wearer, for other
wise New-York might have to mourn the loss
of her most accomplished velocipedist," who
might be carried off to sea, or heard of wander
ing, walking skeleton, over the broad plains OF
Western America, or possibly climbing by
sheer force of boots to the otherwise inaccessi-
bio SUBMITS of the loftiest mountains, there to
become prey to condors and other winged
rivals Ia circumstance which would cast q
gloom over certain circles in this city and rem
der proper the passage of long series OF tho
most melancholy resolutions!
The modern expermentalist, however while
exercising his legs, should not forget that ma
ture has also given to him arms We hear of
genius who proposes to fly across the Atlantic
Ocean, unless he is previously shut up in a
mad-house. The flying" of Camilla "oer the
unbending corn" was purely metaphorical;
and Horace has slrewd remark about the
fate of D@dalus and his experiments, "pennis
"non homini datis." But Horace loved his
ease. and in this same ode, upon religious prin-
ciples, objected to navigation. If "wngs were
mot given to man" in his age, neither was
the steam engine. We will insure the inventor
of wings in this nineteenth century against
the thunderbolis of Jupiter, provided
he-be careful not to go up in thun-
der-storms. We call for wingsl We
demand wings! We feel infinite prompt
ings and soarings of the sonl, and although
the yelocipede may be we'll enough, as q nero
terrestrial machine. we shall not be satisfied