Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-05-05
EUTORPEER.
The Island in the Mediterranean Where
Nearly Hvcrybo Rides the Bicycle.

| turkey and Greece, the blue Mediter-
ranean contains an island which il a
perfect bicyclers' paradise, and on which
bicycling has been more fully developed
and popularized than in any other place
in the world.
Eutoepeer is an island having about
the same area as the State of Massachu-
sets. 1t is hilly, rising high out of the
sea, and possesses climate unequaled
in salubrity.
Rain falls in gentle showers, only
during the night, and the thermometer
varies only about forty degrees in the
year, running from fifty degrees to
ninety degrees. These conditions, and
the nature of its soil, make its roads
wonderfully smooth and hard, and its
inhabitants being wealthy, cult, ated
and enterprising, it is not strange that
the bicycle was early introduced; and
it has grown into almost universal use,
so that with population Of about 2O0,-
600, there are $4,000 bicycles and tri-
cycles in use by all classes for all pur.
poses.
The island is m independent king
dom, governed at present by King Get
tarp, mild-mannered man, of great
intellectual attainments. beloved by his
subjects, patron of literature, art and
science, and himself an enthusiastic bi-
cycler.
This delightful little kingdom is not
widely known, for its inhabitants-di-
rect descendants of the ancient Greeks
have for hundreds of years lived quiet,
peaceful lives, undisturbed by the con-
flicts of nations about them, but grow
ing in wealth and culture, if not in
power.
With this introduction, we quote from
the letters Of two American bicyclers
who are now there:
1t was a beautiful September morn
ing when our little steamboat ran into
the harbor of Tumwahs, the principal
city Of Eutoepeer, and we gazcd upon q
scene to make a wheelman shout. The
wharyos swarmed with bicyclers, dash
ing to and fro, or what mystiiied
US greatly, sitting still on their wheels
as easily as one would sit on horse back,
watching our movements or chatting
with each other We had formed a
high idea Of the Owen-like skill of these
people, when we discovered that from
the handle-bars hung a small steel rod,
on which the wheel leaned firm as O
tripod. When the rider starts of, the
rod telescopes up until only foot or 81
in length, and it is then pushed into
the hollow handlc-bgr. These attach
ments are universally used. As We
neared tho wharf, several fellows in
scarlet uniforms wheeled up to the edge
and in n moment bags were thrown
from our boat, which were caught by
men on the wharf. who threw two over
the shoulders of each scarlet-coated
rider, who then shot away through the
crowd at a rattling pace-only there
was nothing to rattle. These we were
told. were mail carriers, who would
have the mails at the central postofiicC
before the boat was fairly secured "a
the pier.
Almost the entire business of tho
postoflice department is done on bicy.
oles. Letters are gathered from the
street boxes by men on the wheel, and
bicycle postmen distribute the mails
into boxes placed in front OF each pri
vate or business house at the edge o
the sidewalk. The dexterity of these
carriers is remarkable. The letters are
arranged in their proper order in frames
carried upon the handle-bar, and The
\ postmen ride along near the curbs,one
thrusting them into the boxes without
Q stopping at all. All postal bicycleri
. wear scarlet--a color forbidden by Law
D to any others they have always
I the " right Of way"
Z As we landed, we we're besieged by
+ men with bicycles, who shouted Obi.
{ cycle to tho hotell" "Have a wheel p
= Fifty-two-inch nice wheel yer, sir,
: etc, and most of the passengers rod
] Off on their machines, which would bC
! called for by their owners later.
, The doctor took his Harvard, and
my Columbia, and mounting on the
e wharf, which was rs smooth as 4 floor
= we took our first ride in Eutoepeer.
Q Such roads! Chestnut Hill Reservoir
+ road is cobble-stone to them And
3 such riders Men, women and children
dash about on bicycles, rs much al
: home, apparently, as il sitting in Q
chair.
The ladies-and ladies they are, too
ride in modest costumes of tho bloomel
style, tho full pantaloons gathered be.