Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-10
A VISIT To MAGERsTOWN.
How the Capital bicycle Club Cele.
brated the Fourth.

PES PICTURE OF ROAD RIDE-THE CELEBRA-
JOURNEY ALL NIGHT-AMUsIN0 SCENES AND
. INCIDENTS.
The following account Of the recent bicycle
meet at Hagerstown, by IL. W. S." for the
benefit OF the members of the Capital Bicycle
club who didn't go, will be found very interest
ing:
The arrangement Of the calendar which
caused the 9TH of July to be celebrated on the
9Th. enabled the Capital Bicycle club to escape
from the tropical heat of Washington for a two
days visit in the more northern latitude of
Hagerstown, Md. The fact that "meet" of
wheelmen was TO be the prominent feature Of
the HagerstOwn celebration was sufficient TO
induce thirty-six members OF the club to en-
bark on the Chicago limited" on the morning
ofthe 4th, bound for Martinsburg, w. Va, from
which point they were TO ride to Hagerstown,
distant about twenty miles.
The capacity of spacious and elegant box
car, rendered them by the B. and 0. K. r. COM
pany, was severely tested by the number OF
bicycles and tricyles belonging TO the party;
while the party itself scattered through the
train In congenial groups. patroniZed the BAN
ana man and the illustrated papers, and sang
club songs In q way which, TO q cultivated mu-
steal ear, Wa. simply unbearable. Now. for
instance, there WAS BOTTLES" "Bottes," as
you know, is the proprietor OF an alleged tenor
voice, which, In . chorus, when it couldn't be
heard, would be listened TO with pleasure; but
ms amateur assumption OF the part of Nanki
roo TO the accompaniment OF rum bling wheels
and rafting windows, was OF such a character
as to call forth u gentle hint that the club motto
was temporarily sitentiam dudedmus.
III Is dlincult TO give such hints without max
ing them too obvious, and thus giving offense
To the performer; but in this Il single APP
plication OF q loaded satchel after the manper
OF an Indian club was found quite sufficient.
Martinsburg, which WAS our railway termi-
nus, is u town of which much may, but little
need be said. The sight oil thirty or forty wheel
men with all their war paint and other regaIia
cUnsplcuously display ed, was sufficient to create
a very hattering degree of interest among the
inhabitants. An excellent dinner at the Con-
tnenial hotel followed by walk about the
principal streets study OF West Virginia archi-
lecture and general oilins and preparing of
machines, passed the time until 2 O'clock, when
tue bugler's assembly" summoned US for the
start, and amid the parting cheers OF miscel-
ianeotls assortment OF Juvenile AartinsburgerS,
We rode in line through the city and such sub
urbs as may exist there and into the open
country.
Here should come rhapsody on scenery
The beauty of nature, bathed il sunlight, should
DE described at this point with all the fervor of
DRY. 81 here goes to beat VIM. Black.
SCENERY AND A sUNBATH.
We passed several fields in which things were
growing; there were also trees covered with
outrageous foliage; the grass was OF q bright
green color mostly, and grew along the road
and by the fences. Cattle graZed in the mead
Here were plenty OF stones 10 throw at them.
Several varieties OF birds were running
AN open air concert in the leafy woods; all ma
ture was bathed In sunlight and seemed 10 re-
Joice in her own loveline,s. The temperature
OF the bath was about 11So +.
Far on To the east the shadowy outline of the
Blue Ridge was vaguely defined against the
SKY, which latter was of d deep blue color
throughout ITS entire majestic concdvity. There
were no clouds To mar the perfect beauty of the
celestial arch. We wished there had been. A
tiny brook ran babbling between nlossy banks,
and murmurlns Its song OF peace ana happi-
ness "A, 1t danced and sparkled in the sunlight
on Its way TO the mighty ocean; IL was not
large brook, but ii ran directly across the road,
and one OF the boys took u header in trying to
ride through 1t. (Ihls Is all there is to be about
scenery; 1 have got in growing crops, grass,
trees, birds, sunlight, sky, mountains ana
brook, and that is about ali the stock ia trade
the scenic wordpainter ever hasj
WHEELING AT AN EASY GAIT.
With perfect road bed, easy grades and the
genial influence OF the sunlight, we sped on
ward at an average speed OF 41a miles an hour.
Those who imagine that because bicycle is
Capable Of great speed, it is always pushed to its
utmost capacity, have u very mistaken idea OF
The pleasures Oi wheeling on a hot day. Do you
always drive your $50 irOtter at that rate? We
simply sauntered along at Il restful pace, stop
ping occasionally at some weather-beaten
pump Tor internal and external irrigation, or
beneath some of those trees mentioned above,
where the stray breeZes might blow through
our - midst to effect "a reduction OF Lempera-
ture ON the well-known principle of eSapora-
ton.
On reaching Falling Waters we halted to
allow certain straggers who had been overcome
by the heat and TOO much water to overtahe us.
As We lay grouped picturesquely on The banks
OF the canal we were marked as prey 10y band
OF desperate characters of both sexes returning
from sunday school in u wagon, and Who We're
anxious To obtain funds To procure an organ
Tor that institution. When assailed by the pa
thetic enireaiy OF pair OF bright eyes, the
owner OF which personally presented hat to
the notice OF each mem Der, what man could be
E,IctntInR "RtsEN' a H..
ton OF mental syncope, put cent into the hat,
and then underworld TO collect the change
CANT A-Iuan had inserted therein 1t is pleas
ant to record that he did not succeed.
AT u point opposite WilliamspOrL We reached
the Potomac, which Is here crossed by means
oil y rope ferry. The terryman has Il sinecure.
be rows not, neither does he steer. The current
does 1t all; but somebody gets fifteen cents
Ior it.
TKIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO THE TOWN OF HAGER.
We were met at Williamsport by an escort
from the Hagerstown club, and under their
guidance rode over seven miles of almost per-
feet road to our destination. Our triumphal
entry into Hagerstown in parade form, with
nylnX cOlOrS, was amid the enthusiastic shouts
OF the Juvenile populace, the waving of hand
kerchiefs and other emphatic manifestations
OF popular approval.
The main street of the little city presented on
small scale the appearance OF Springfield,
Mass, during the great annual meet. Variously
uniformed wheelmen dashed up and down in
tent ON displaying their wheelTnanship To- an
awe-struck world. From all the surrounding
country the rural population had swarmed into
the town, clad In its holiday attire, and for IL
the wheeimen formed the center OF attraction.
We went to the-hotel. Much, also, might be
written concerning this alleged hosiery but
prefer to leave 1t to the recollection OF those
who were there and the imagination of those
VINO were not.
The morning of the 5th dawned bright and
fair. At 10 O'Clock the wbeelmen assembled
III the public square, and were welcomed in an
eloquent and patriotic address by the may or Of
Hagerstown, who presented US with The free
dom of the city. We responded in an address OF
equal eloquence and patriotism through MrJ Il
Bartlett, Marylan club, chief consul l.. A. W.
marshal OF the parade, officer OF the day, land
several other things which don't recollect)
THE PARADE.
The Hagerstown club led the parade %
strong-a tine body Of men. They were fol-
lowed by the Accommodating, pa, Williams
port, Martinsburg. Woodstock, Washington
Cycle, District wheelmen, Mary land Bal more
Westminster. and Capital clubs. Altogether
there were 155 wheelmen In line. The Capital
club appeared in line SO strong, under COM
Inand OF Captain ODDS and subCaptain Shar-
rets, and hAvin. Messrs. Hansmunn and
Church on a sociable, and Forney and Wagner
on satellites. Mr. Hansmann Ottcia ted as bugler
with ali the effect of a condensed Marine band
lEe parade route was excellent to road
surface, but the numerous hills interfered some-
what with good form In riding. Nevertheless
We rode in iours most Of the distance in very
good style.
PHOTOGRAPHED.
II was considered ftIn8 that our athletic
figures should be perpetd9eed for posterity by
means of the photographers art, and SO We all
grouped ourselves in the open squire beneath
ine broiIing sunlight while tive photographers
discharged five cameras ut shor. range. IL is
lard Tor one IMAM to look graceful and pleas
ant when exposed 10 one camera. 1t would