The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-05-08

| The Velocipede.-Ell1ton has been con-
siderably excited over the velocipede this
week. On Monday evening last, Prof J.
W. Rider appeared in orr streets with one
| Of these vehicles, and on Tuesday opened a
school in the Odd Fellows Hall. On We'd
nesday. the furore rose to its hight, and
quite a number of persons were earnestly
engaged in learning to ride. To the look
er-on, the performance was very amusing.
and the crashing of the velocipedes, and
the almost inextricable confusion in which
the would-be-riders frequently found them
After a few hours practice, however-dur-
ing which blistered hands, tlayed knees,
and bruised feet were incurred-the most
of the scholars could ride quite gracefully.
To those who never saw this article of
locomotion, it is curiosity to see man
passing along at the rate of six or eight
miles an hour with scarcely any more exer-
ton than that used in common rate of
walking
In regard to the question whether the
velocipede can ever he used to any practical
advantage, as means Of travel, there is 4
great difference of opinion here. But the
reports from other parts of the country
where it has been in use for some time, are
to the effect that it can be and is used to Il
large extent as means of travelling dis
tances of ten or twelve miles.
The velocipede is an old invention. ORR
ginally it was described as "a carriage for
one person, having two wheels placed one
before the other, in the same line and con-
nected by beam, on which the person sits
astride, and propels the vehicle by striking
the tips Of his toes against the earth. -
The present style of the article, however,
is great improvement on the old one; the
propelling being performed by cranks
attached to the front wheel, on which
the feet are placed and a movement pro-
duced like that of walking.
But all great inventions have met with
more or less ridicule, and in bringing them
into practical use, some "noble souls - have
had to sacrifice their all-even life ITSELF
story of the fate of one of these martyrs to
progress:
The shades of night were coming down
AS swiftly racing through the town
A youth whose strength could scarce suffice
To keep him on that strange device,
Nelocipede!
His brow was sad; his eyes revealed
His woe, like onions newly peeled;
And like five cent .iewsharp rung
His accents when aloud he sung,
Eelocipcde!
\ jolly tavern he draws near;
The boys are drinking larger bier,
His throat is parching for a drop
But yet he can't make out to stop
Nelocipede!
''What makes you pass - an old maid said,
And then Yelled bully on your head;''
AS youth tore past on 'tother side
And answering very family cried,
Eelocipede
so stay" a maiden shrieked, and says
= Rest your soft head agin these stays"
He answered 81 would go it, dear,
= If | could only stop this here
NelOcipede!'
''Beware the lamp post up the street,
Beware! gutter soon you'll meetn'
But he went rafting out of sight,
And nary more was seen that night
Nelocipede.
At break of day, far out of town
Velocipede all broken down
A COW boy found, who then and there
Uttered this self-complacent prayer
''Nelocipede..'
Our traveller could not be found
Among the fragments on the ground;
Wither he went no tongue can tell,
Perhaps he kept straight on to-well,
Velocipede.
Oft in the twilight cold and gray
Our Nelo- City-Zens may lay
Their longing ears close to the ground
And hear this sadly solemn sound,
s:EelOcipede -