The Arizona sentinel., 1885-01-03
Bicyclers and Bicycling,

We confess that when told years ago
that man had, by the judicious com :
bination of the characteristics Of a mule
and buggy wheel, produced thing
that would revolutionize the locomotion
of the world, we were skeptical,
but when we saw grasshopper man
glued to the kinder garten saddle of q
bicycle, and by the use of his feet,
guided by massive brain, go through
the air like an angel, noiseless and yet
spry, we could see how the best of us
are liable to be mistaken as to what can
be done in the world. OF course we do
not mean to compare the ordinary BIZ
cycler to an angel, because most angels
that we have ever read about, or seen
pictures of, are chubby, and wear calves
that are not patterned after piece Of
gilt molding. There is one drawback to
the picturesqueness of bicycling, and
that is the fact that the devotees of the
bicycle are all slim young people, and it
would be great relief to see one who
had some meat on him, though the sad
dies in use, made on the principle of a
chopping-knife, would not fit a fat
young man. At first bicycling did not
strike us favcrably, and, while we feel
that we have been forgiven for any
words spoken in the heat of debate in
regard to the riders of the bicycles being
split clear to the shirt collar, and having
the bicycle buttoned onto their collar
button, we shall, by life of strict devo-
ton to the bicylers, endeavor to undo
our wicked work. And yet, if the sport
of bicycling is 30 enjoyable, we often
wonder why the rider always looks so
COMPOUNDED frightened and despairing.
1t would be relief to see man ride
along on one of these things with a
smile on his face, but they always look
as though they had firmly made up their
minds if they ever got off the machine
alive they would never get on again.
They look as though their whole mind
was exercised to find out who had been
putting carpet tacks in their saddle.
Bicycling is as yet in its infancy.
We look forward to the time when
much of the work that is now done
by horses will be done with the bicycle.
We do not see why pole team of BIZ
cyclers could not be hitched to light
road wagon and take the place of horses.
It does not cost any more to board bi
cycltr now days than it does to board
horse, and by the use OF bicyclers, all
danger IRON shying at pieces of paper
would be avoided, ). and runaways would
never occur. Take a couple of nobby
bicyclers, with their gray uniform and
shining machines, and hitch them up,
with the smallest one on the nigh side,
and fellow could take girl in a buggy
and have q real nice ride without having
to fool with any lines, as bicyclers woulp
be more Intelligent than horses, and
would go wherever told. Of course it
would be necessary to have binders on
the bicyclers, so they could not look
back into the buggy, but that could be
easily arranged. Also, for the circular
work in brick yard, where blind
horse is now employed to grind clay,
bicycler will yet be used. For deliver
ing groceries, the time will come when
the bicycler, with herring box fitted ON
the back wheel, will do it all. By the
time of the next war the bicycle will
take the place of cavalry, and charge
down on the enemy with Gatling gun
arranged on the handles of the machine
to be touched off at the proper time, to
carry destruction and death. The fu-
ture of the bicycle is grand, if the riders
do not wear themselves out before the
power is utilized. Sun.