Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-06-10
BICYCLES, ENTERTAINMENTS
20,
Special Correspondence INDEPENDENT.


grasshopper, and were upon the eve o
calling out our "Home Guards" to arrest
his satanic majesty and hold him captive,
until we could confer with Barnum OF
some other enterprising Snowman, that
we might dispose of him, at nice little
sum, and thereby be enabled to replenish
our depleted treasury, so that we c. uld
pay off our burgess and other town Off
Gals.
But as for myself | was gratitied rs
well as pleased 10 find instead, two gen
tlemen fro m Washington city. Mr.. @ +
Hawley, President of the Capital Bicycle
Club, and Mr.. Handsman, who had been
on pleasure trip through part of our
beautiful valley on their bicycles. bad
the audacity TO approach them in the garb
of a reporter, and ELECTED from them an
exclamation of their machines and the OBJ
iect of their visit. They were very COM
municative and it seemed to give them
much pl,asur to impart information to
the curious. They came by rail from
Washington 10 Winchester, thence on
their machines to Rock Enon Springs,
distance OF about twenty miles; returned
to Winchester on the following day, and
ran from AutTt w WAL % aPVN0
of 8 miles an hour They halted at this
place to refresh themselves, thereby af-
fording us an opportunity for an inter
view They spoke in the highest terms
of the excellent condition OF our turnpike
and the beauties of our fertile valley
They both rode so inch safety bicycles,
known as the Extraordinary or more
popularity as "Hoppers " from the fancied
resemblance to grasshopper legs, IN the
curious looking side levers of this ma
chine am not sufficiently versed in the
science, to talk "bicycle" much, but
feel confident that the day is not far dis
tant when they will be in very common
use. if not generally used From the ex-
PLANTATION of Mr. Hawley, ! could see sew
eral great advantages in them. good
machine can be bought for about $l25.
GU can go when and where you please,
and as fast as you please, thereby saving
the expense of horse feed at hone or trav-
cling 1t is true good horse can be
purchased for about tbs same amount of
money, but the custom now requires an
expenditure of $500 or 5000 more, to
complete an outfit for the average Ameri-
can citizen Hence the economy in a pc
cuniary point of view.
This exercise, it 10 true, requires train
ing, and should say, would be a little
trying on Conscientious mans religion
to become an expert, but the evil tenden-
cies, which might be produced by awk-
wardness, would be overbalanced by good
results from moral point. The bicyclist
is bound, not only by sense OF the moral
wrong, but for his own safety and ulti-
mate success to be entirely temperate,
whilst travelling. And in order that he
may excel, all the evils to which he may
be addicted must necessarily be renounc-
ed. The excitement attending the exer-
else, naturally creates a fondness for it
and leads to good results in forming the
habits of youth. They are not permitted
to eat to excess, and must OF necessity
abstain from all alcoholic drinks. For
this reason, am OF the opinion that
the bicycle would do more toward a per-
manent reformation, than all the tenn
perance shriekers and fansti crusaders
in the world. These gentlemen subsisted
entirely on bread and milk, during their
journey and appeared to be in fine physi-
cal conditions. They no doubt would
enjoy ''smile'' in the privacy of their
homes, when their choppers" had ceased
to hop, but they respectfully declined to
imbrihe even our water-preferring the
tactical fluid to any thing else-and feel
ing DESTROYS that they should De accom-
modated, was about to drive in my herd
of Attorneys and give them full swing of
the "teats;" but bread they also wanted,
and the vacuum which existed in my -four
chest brought the tears to their eyes, and
sympathy to their hearts; so they let me
down easily, and sought their frugal meal |
at the way side inn Thus we passed q
few pleasant moments with these gentle
manly strangers, who mounted their ma
chimes and were soon lost to sight
AT recent visit to your town had the |
pleasure of meeting our representative,
Col J B. Hoge. ] am truely glad to see |
him looking 80 well. Washington city |
no doubt agrees with him, and am in |
hopes that he will be content to remain
there for another term. The people of
this District will exact it from him, fact |
which the people will convince him OF, at
the proper time. His highest aim is to
CRAFTY the wishes of his constituency in
Justice to his country and duty to his /
God. deem it mighty early for me 10
sound his trumpet, but when the time
does come, its loud, long blasts shall be |
heard from mountain top to river dale.
Judge Hoge nice genial gentleman, an
able jurist an good representative. We
will no doubt make a grand mistake if
we do not retain him.
Charley Lamon and lady entertained
DR.. Grantham, lady and few intimate
friends very handsomely at their hospi-
table residence, on Monday evening last.
Mrs. Lamon knows how to cater to the pal.
ate of a sick man as we'll as healthy one.
The table groaned beneath all the luxu-
ries that the season could produce, and |
they were dispensed with SO much clever |