The Portland daily press., 1881-05-11
[Chicago Tribune.]
A Novel Tour.
A Chicago Clergyman and His Bicycle
Trip-Plans for the Journey, the Route
to Be Followed, Etc.

The Rev. Arthur Edwards, editor of the
Northwestern Christian Advocate, is going
abroad next month witt the intention of see
ing England and portion of France and Scot
land as not one visiting American in thous-
and sees those countries He is bicyclist and
will use his bicycle to go from town to town.
81 began practcing," said he to Tribune
reporter, yesterday, 'about six months ago,
and now ride down town every MORN
ing and home every night. When 1
commenced, 1 was nervous, couldn't sleep and
didn't enjoy my food. Now / sleep nicely,
have good appetite and it seems to me as il 1
had new lease of life. The Methodist Ecu
mencal Council meets in London September Z,
and it occurred to me that, instead Of waiting
would take my son Robert over with me, and
make brief tour on the bicycle. as little can
be seen from a car window"
'How much does one cost?''
"About S125."
"Will you take them with your"
"No. They are to be made at Coventry, En-
gland, and sent off the order to-day"
when do you sail?"
"June %"
"Where do you land?"
cat Glasgow"
"Do you start on your tour from there?''
Eyes. We shall go up to Loeb Lomopd, east
to Stirling north to Dundee and st. Andrews,
south to IEdmboro, visiting Melrose Abbey and
Abbotsford, and then take a zigzag course
across England, visiting the chief Cathedral
towns, and taking the best road to London"
"How long time will you spend between
Glasgow and London?"
'"Three or four weeks"
"You will not travel 80 many miles day?"
sNo. we ,yill rpCulate the distanca according
to the places of interest. We may go twenty
miles one day and seventy-fve the next"
"Will your travels end at London?"
"No. l expect to remain there about four
weeks. Then we will ride to Southampton,
cross to Havre, and go through Normandy to
Paris. After stopping there two or three weeks
We'll go to Dieppe, recross the channel to
Brighton, and return to London, going thence
to Coventry, from which point shall ship the
Bicycles home"
"Wili you carry any baggage?"
"The main portion will be sent from Glasgow
to London, ssmall satchel kept aay or two
head. We can carry about 10 pounds each in
little bag adapted to the bicycle"
''Then, your trip is novel one?'
"Novel in this country, bu5 not in England,
where there are hundreds OF thousands bicyc-
lists; and the commercial travellers Of the
northwest are not better organized than they,
and do not obtain better accommodations In
the towns through which they pass"
"Won't you have to take pot luck?'"
No, indeed. There is in every town in En-
gland from one to five little wayside inns whose
proprietors cater to the bicyclists. They all
have on them sign with the initials B. T. Co.
which means 'Bcyclists' Touring Club, ban
organization which numbers from 5000 to 1000
members. l am one of them, and have book
with the names of all the inns and OF men who
repair bicycles, so that shall know where to
eat and sleep or to get my bicycle mended in
case of an accident And if any one attempts
to persecute me while on the road, the infu-
ence and treasury of the Club will be back Of
me. Bicycling in England has restored the
traditional inns that fourished in the old stage
coach days. There is similar club in this
country, which was started in May, 1880, and
now has / 800 members"
"Why have you selected tho bicycle as
means Of locomotion?"
81 take the trip not for its novelty, but for
the downright physical and mental benefit
which is sure to follow. L ride the bicycle not
as pastime or toy but as practical mode Of
conveyance which have thoroughly tested to
my entire satisfaction. Several OF the gravest
and most responsible men in Chicago are
learning because of the benefits to be derived
As l said, the exercise has made new man OF
me. While there may be difference OF opin-
ion about the dignity Of riding on a bicycle, L
would ride it even II considered disgraceful
because of the positive physical benefit it is to
me every day of my life"