The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-17
Tie Byoiole.

way says the Professor. "IIold handle
III each hand, put your left foot on this
little projection behind, shove the byciclc
ahead and then stand On your left foot,
letting the machine run till 1t stops"
''rhen won't begin saddle riding at
tlst2"
"How much accident Insurance do you
carry9"
"None."
"Well, then, | wouldn't if were you.
Pd approach the saddle gradually"
lplaced both hands as DIRECTED: put nv
feet on the projection; showed gently ahead
with the other foot and then stood up.
The recollection have Of this incident is
that the numerous windows of the hall
made sort of rapid torchlighl procession
around me and then the lion and the lamb
lay down together.
"Ah, that was iirst-rate for beginning"
said the Professor, as he picked up the bi-
cycle while l busted myself off.
"Oh, that was good start, was it2'
inquired.
"Yes: you kept on top. Now, many fcl-
lows let the machine tumble on them.
Are you ready for the next rOund?"
mot quite. lost a couple of buttons
while look them up would you mind
Then the Professor gave it n push, stood
on one foot and glided around the room
with al case and grace that was deligh full
''No trouble at ALL" he remarked us he
stood on one foot and glided around the
room with an case and grace that was de-
iightful.
mo trouble at all, he remarked as he
STOOD beside me again. "When you find
yourself falling just give the wheel turn
IN the direction you are going and 1t will be
all right Keep your eyes fixed Oh some
thing ahead"
showed the machine ahead and kept my
eyes fixed at window.
1clt l was falling against the brick
wall. turned the wheel in that direction.
turned not wisely, but too WELL AS an
eagle swoops downward, 30 swoopcd my
tw0-wheeled demon toward the iron pillars
Turn the wheel, >" shouted the Profess
sor; but sclf-preservatio is the first law of
nature. abandoned the wheel and wild
ly claspcd the pillar, as if it had been my
long lost brother while the bicycle left me-
wabbcd and fell with clattcr on the floor
'First rate, good enough y said the Pro-
lessor, rubbing his hands chccrfully, IA he
went to the assistance of the bicycle.
''Was that a success, too2" | asked.
ooh, yes. Why, you went at least
twenty feet rs straight as @ line. Eut
you're too ambitious. If | were you |
wouldn't try going around the posts just
yet for WHILE"
"Well, now that you mention it won't
Would you have the kindness to see if l
have bent that pillar any1 l feel too
excited and confused for a critical OK
aminatioh.''
''Oh the post Is used to those affection
ate advances" said he rs | walked across
the room to pick up my hat.
Again showed tho machine forward and
gaZcd ahead. We trundled along as if we
were madc for each other until we had
gone about half the length of the room,
when stepped down and brought it to a
standstill
"Oh, psllaw," cried the Professor, "why
didly."
".Prctty woll done, wasn't it,"
"Well, of course"
"Well, I thought there was no use over
doing good thing. The machine was Just
giving list over towards that last post. I
didn't want too conclude the thing too
abruptly, you know"
Thus endeth the first lesson
All next day felt kind as if had been
in fight in which the other party was vic
torious. 1t was week before / climbed
those stairs again.
'Ah," SAID the Professor as entered. 81
thought You were discouraged Since you
were up here last, that tall journallst-on
the other paper, was here and would you
believe it, he mastered the bicycle in half
All hour-yes, sir"
ooh, we'll, he has an advantage over
me. He can just put down his feet and lot
the tallest bicycle run from under him."
"Yes, l know, but he's not man to take
IN advantage of any one. lie went through
all the regulation tumbes with as much de-
cision as you did,"
s LAS l d,d7 thought you said l did
fret nate before?"
"oh, well, 80 you did--so you did; on
tumbles you know. You tumble, don't
you2"
'Tcad out your stced." %.
Eyes, sir, he went clear over the head of
the tallest machine we havc-twice. Mag
niffcent fallsl Last time he went smash
through that door carrying everything be-
fore him. You noticed we had
now door, didn't youa But he
rode around every post in the hall before
he quit"
A new bicycle was now before me. The
other one had been used up In tho interim.
'"Try that one-foot business again."
l tried it; and when lie lifted the bicycle
from above me, realized how much
person can forget in week.
'You should have turned tho wheel In
the direction you were going to fall" he
said in tone of mild reproof.
''What do you do when you know you
are falling In three different directions2"
asked reproachfully.
After being able 10 guide the machine
around the room, standing on one foot,
the next feat is to get into the saddle A
feeling Of utter hopclessncss seizcs the
daring man who finds himself on this per-
ilous porch. But the secret Of safety is to
turn in the direction you arc falling, and
by and by you can run along with tho byci-
Gle, step on the projection, and slip into the
saddle, while the apparently unconscious
machine whlrls around the room.
Whenever you begin to feel the least
conceited about yonr exploits tho malignant
~, -f