The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-05
WHEELING THROUGH EUROPE.
A Bicycle Tourist Tells How Enjoyable
Such Travelling l..

II. how little is the expense of bicycle
trip through Europe. To the practical
American vhct.nan the first question is,
'.What does It COST From tho expert
encc Of one wLo hSs been through the
Trussache OF Scotland and the cathedral
towns Of England. who has ridden up the
Rhine and climbed half dozen or more Of
! the Alpine passes in Switzerland and has
spent nearly month each in tho cities of
/ London ard Paris, the cost is found to
have been lit.lo more than it would have
been 10 have continued IN the duh routine
of home life. To be sure. there is the lost
tine Of those who have only salaried in
cones. Once over here, while the traveller
| by ordinary means Of conveyance Is de-
batting whether to go second or third class
or to buy Cooks tourists tickets or the
regular ones, tho wheelman selects an in
| dependent route and, without waiting
upon the manner of going, goes. Besides,
the going, instead of being matter of
great expense, as it sometimes is by steam
or horse power, on the contrary, over the
perfect roads Of Europe, is O means Of en-
| joyable exercise that not only does not
| decrease the bank account, but increases
the stock of physical health. After nearly
four months, or 1900 miles, Of such de-
ightful travelling in the present case. the
limited letter of credit is still found so
bulky that ride through southern France,
along the Riviers, down through Italy
and over to the Pyramids is TO be under.
taken soon.
But as to the cost, so far, in dollars and
cents. While the English hotels are. as
rule, | think, more expensive than those
on the continent, yet in either case, my
expenses did not average over 81 day.
In fact, through Belgium and Germany
they were but 81 day. A wheelman
travels so independently that he is not al
ways obliged 10 stop over night at the
larger cities, and / often could avoid
then by riding eight or ten miles further
10 some small inn. found plenty of good
food and comfortable bed for half the
money. Such mode Of travelling does
not allow Of the putting on of any great
amount Of style, but my chief ambition
was to see rather than TO be seen Of men.
In London there are plenty Of good, re-
spectacle, private boarding places 20 be
found for 81 or Sl25 n day. To find
them one needs only to inquire OF some
friend who has made an extended stay in
London, or TO apply TO some American
living there. | found good place on
Euston road, within milo and half or
q four cent omnibus ride, of Fleet street.
for $3.50 q week. That included the
room and attendance. a meat breakfast at
$50 and four or five course dinner at
$50 The luncheon at Il, if had, was OK
ira, but IL was usually more convenient
TO take light luncheon wherever hap
pened TO be.
1t is proverbial that Frenchmen like
Americans better than almost any other
class Of foreigners, and this was, perhaps,
shown to be so one afternoon when was
riding out In the Bots de Boulogne, that
beautiful park of 2, eco acres just outside
the fortifcatiOns towards the west | was
riding slowly along, listening to the music
Of the Grand Opera orchestra, which, to
many Of the listeners, must have been in
pleasing contrast to tue sound OF the
German shot and shell heard there so
short a time ago, when q policeman
stopped me and ordered mo TO 90 another
way | did not understand which way,
but turned about and rode of In about
half an hour met the same policeman IN
another drive This time he was mad.
He gesticulated wildly and talked 50 fast
| could say nothing. Finally, when |
could get in word, | said did not under
stand, and could only speak English.
you are an Euglishmanl' he said IN
French | could understand, but without
cooling down any. "No, | said. Il am
an American 0h, he replied quickly,
pass on, ." and he stepped aside with
wave Of his hand. as pleasantly as could
be. | happened, | have since found out,
to lie riding in some Of the drives
from which We arc prohibited. Many Of
the English and German wheelmen use
little sleigh bells fastened 70 the handle
bars as warnings to pedestrians, but in
Switzerland, where the noise OF running
water browns ell other ordinary sounds
in so many localities. found that my
shrill whistle even was insufficient, and
nothing but the most throat splitting yell
would clear the road of the numerous
pedestrians. Here in Paris the wheelmen
have adopted the tram car horn, an in
strument with a rubber bulb for forcing
the air through, aud, really one blast
from those pneumatic levers is enough TO
lift a whole regiment out Of the road
George b. Thayer in New York World.