The Tombstone epitaph., 1882-04-03
SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.
Esthetic Bicycling In and Around the
 Pacific Metropolis.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 70, loo%.
 The subject which, above all others, is occupying the minds of our pleasure seeking citizens in this city, is
 THE BICYCLE.
 This machine is, perhaps, the most popular, and at the same time inex- pensive mode of looomotion that we may delight in. The English have recognized its efficiency, and when Engllshmen recognize anything, you can rest assured there is something in it. In England the bicycle IS a family friend. All classes of people are in love with it. The doctor has tens to hls patients on one; the sober, staid lawyers and judges go to the assizes on their bicycles; the student takes his constitutional on his ma
 chine; and even the minister rides through his parish on his. It is wonderful thing. Who can conceive of motion half so perfect. How swiftly and silently they glide along the street, or over road. Possess ing the swiftness of a race-horse, coupled to the smoothness and si- lentness of "soft-spoken, velvet handed steam engine" they compare favorably with any machine in eX, istence. Soon San Francisco will adopt the bicycle as its favorite mode of locomotion. Even now, as you walk along Golden Gate avenue, or drive through our beautiful park, you meet with ever and anon, one of these steel horses. They glide past you with the rapidity of San Fran cisco wind. Away they go,
 NO NOISE ! NO DUST!
 What an invention! What brain that invented horse and carriage that makes no dust at they ge. Why talk of the brains of Homer, Aristotle
 or Euripides! They are no where. If it were only for the reason that these machines make no dust, they
 should be adopted by San Francis
 cans. Look at the rider; how easily
 he sits astride his lifeless animal! :!
 His every movement is graceful.
 Wonderful people; wonderful-bi-
 cycle! To see the bicyclists in their
 glory you must come with me to
 the Golden Gate park some morning.
 We get up at six a. m., and as we
 step into our buggy We shiver, for it
 is a cold, frosty morning. As we
 drive along, the exhilarating morning
 air braces up and makes us feel
 young again. We whlrl past Not
 Hill, past beautiful residences in the
 Western Addition, and soon fno
 ourselves on the road to the park
 As. we approach the entrance to this
 garden of Eden, we meet bicyclst
 a little late for the meet, but hurry
 ing on so that he won't get left en
 tirely. But look! What is that 1T
 the distance? The bicyclists? You
 are right. Just look at them! Fifty
 at the least; all young men! Thei athletic frames set off by their nea uniform of jersey, knee brooches, cal : and colored stockings. Here the, come! At a command the whole flock changes its direction. Now il twos; now in fours; by threes, anc . then in single file they come on How their brightly polished ma chimes glisten Tn the rising sun which is just beginning to cast hl 7 golden beams over the eastern hills ) In and out, circling. round and
 swoopING DOWN,
 Q like flock of arctic sea-fowls, the. e pass and repass our stand among tn = trees, where we have halted to watc ! their maneuvres. All this time the 5 have been gliding with great rapid }, ity. Suddenly the command "Halt! e rings out ,n the clear, crisp, air, an e the steel horses are pulled up, an n stand, perfect network of motion e less steel bands and spokes, thei a riders deftly keeping their seats h Soon they go at it again. Movemen 2 after movement is called for and l c executed with accuracy and rapidity e Perfection? Can you conceive of any d thing so delightful! Perfect! Grace q ful! The bicyclists now dismoun , and as they gather together to dis } cuss the mornings drill, you canne [. but notice the men themselves. Tn . glow of their healthful exercis
 shines in their faces. Their eyes ar s keen, and bespeak clear brain; an
 as they talk together, their every ge' IS ticulation is the personifcation ( n grace. What thing a bicycle of when it can produce such effects y The bicyclists now mount the 0. steeds, and after one or two evol' o. tions, they separate and ride off, b Is pairs, in groups, and slngly. Son ,d going home, others for longer rid I, The drill IS over, and we have see n one of the prettiest sights that ca F ,e possibly be seen. Oh, to be a bic, ~ ~ clist! We turn our horses head ;, and after completing our ride, retu1 aa m home, fully impressed with the b. ,'o 'o lief that the bicycle is the most wol ,o ,e derful thing in the world; and file .1 1e