Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-14

regular ones, the wheeiman selects an IN
dependent route and, without waiting
upon the manner of going, goes. Besides,
the going, instead of being a matter Of
great expense as it sometimes is by steam
or horse power, on the contrary, over the
perfect roads Of Europe, is q 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 Riviera, 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
a rule, I think, more expensive than those
on the continent, yet in either case, my
expenses did not average over So day.
In fact, through Belgium and Germany
they were but 81 day. A wheelman
travels so independently that he is not al
ways obliged to stop over night at the
larger cities, and I often could avoid
them by riding eight or ten miles further
to 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 to be
found for 81 or $1.25 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. l found good place on
Euston road, within mile and half, or
four cent omnibus ride, Of Fleet street,
for $3.50 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 eX-
ira, but it was usually more convenient
to take light luncheon wherever hap
pened to DO.
It 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 2,2O0 acres just outside
the fortiAcations 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 the sound Of the
German shot and shell heard there SO
short a time ago, when o policeman
stopped me and ordered me to go another
way. l did not understand which way,
but turned about and rode off. In about
half an hour met the same policeman in
another drive. This time he was mad.
He gesticulated wildly and talked so fast
1 could say nothing. Finally, when l
could get in word, l said did not under
stand, and could only speak English.
you are an Englishmanf' he said in
French l could understand, but without
cooling down any. NO" l said, Il am
an American" ''Oh," he replied quickly,
pass on, and he stepped aside with a
wave Of his hand, as pleasantly as could
be- happened, have since found out,
to be riding in some Of the drives
from which we are prohibited. Many of
the English and German wheelmen use
little sleigh bells fastened to the handle
bars as warnings to pedestrians, but in
Switzerland, where the noise of running
water browns all 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, ON in
strument with rubber bulb for forcing
the air through, aud, really, one blast
from those pneumatic levers is enough to
lift whole regiment out Of the road
George B. Thayer In New York World.