The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-10-02


= When all had been supplied with cigars,
President Stevens introduced Mr.. Elwell in
a few pleasant words.
For minute Mr.. Elwell could not make
himself heard, but when the applause had
subsidized said
''You have heard the story about the boy
who liked to pound his finger because 1t felt
so well when 1t was done aching. On the
same principle. one of the best things about
going abroad Is the pleasure of getting home.
While away thoughts of home continually
come up, and when enjoying some of the
rare pleasures often was the wish expressed
that our friends might be there to share
them.
sit was remarkable that the party was
such uniformly good set or fellows, almost
without exception they were first class men.
We dreaded the ocean voyage, but only one
OF the party became at all uncomfortable. In
Ireland we were cordially received. They
rode us all day through mud and rain, and
of England were better. and the scenery
more beautiful.
To give you any idea of London | cannot
attempt, except that 1t is the largest city in
the world; A ride ON top. of an omnibus
to be forgotten; it is the most animated spec.
tacle you can imagine. The stores-or. /
should have said shops-of London are, in
my opinion far better than in any other city.
But we found about everything cost as much
as at home, with the exception of cloth
ing.
In Paris we were feted by wheelmen, and
tramped until our feet were tired. To Gen.
eva was 412 miles through beautiful rolling
country. 1t was just haying and cherry time
when we were there. The roads through
world.
Mr.. Elwell then in interesting language
described the ride through Switzerland and
down the Rhine, dwelling with particular
emphasis on the coasts" with which there
is nothing to compare in New England.
In every town OF France and almost every
town of Germany there was drilling of sol
diers and marching Of cavalry, ready any
moment for instant action. The Rhine was
disappointing. The. castles add vastly to the
interesting as potato patch.
The roads Of Norway are good. They are
made of clay and sand, and when dry are
most delightful; when 1t rains they are just
like glue, pulling the shoes off your feet SO
that you cannot walk and much less ride. l
remember seeing good many wires
running to the top Of mountains, and
wondering what they were for. One day it
was solved / saw what looked like huge
bird ont0p OF the mountain. On getting
nearer 1t proved to be bunch OF hay sliding
down the wire; that Is the way they naryest'
They also hang hay on clothes-lines to dry.
The American wheels stood the tour
better than all others. We tried all kinds of
drinks, but found nothing to compare with
water. Our party was remarkably temper
ate. SO landlords did not make much out of
us, We come back rich in health but poor
In pocket. though / think all of the party
count it as one of the best times they ever
had and would not be sorry to 60 again."
Following this Mr.. l.. E. Smith sang in mis-
usual acceptable manner, and others assisted
to make the musical part success. at
late hour the happy party sepa rated.
NO BICYCLE RACES THIS YEAR.
Indefinitely Postponed on Account
of Bad Track and Weather.
The bicycle races have been indefinitely
postponed. Many people took hope when
the storm of yesterday cleared In the after
noon, and so did the management; but on
visiting the track at that time it was seen
that it would be utterly impossible for the
races to occur this afternoon. The course
was soggy and heavy. and in most misera-
BILE condition. The man in charge gave it as
his opinion that 1t would take two or three
days to put 1t In anything like suitable shape
There has been some trotting at the park
since the track was fixed for last Thursday,
and as the ground was soft, this completely
spoiled the surface for wheeling.
At first the feeling was that the races ought
to be held anyway, but it was soon decided
as far better to have no tournament at all
than to attempt TO have exhibitions Of speed
and then make a dismal failure before the
public, os might possibly have been the case
had the event occurred today. A poor track
would also make riding extremely hard and
dangerous. The bicycle boys have quite a
feeling of pride in the matter, and wish to
have their first public exhibition in this city
blooming success, SO the project has been
abandoned for this fall. Some may think it
might have again been postponed, but the
weather is now so uncertain. and as after
several p0stponements races or anything
else are not usually very popular, it was
deemed by far the wisest course to abandon
the races until another season, when the
people may expect to see some exciting trials
Of speed on bicycles.
No one can possibly feel more disappoint-
ed over this than the wheelmen, for the
event had been eagerly anticipated by them
for more than month; yet. in talking with
several. they acknowledged that postpone
ment was necessary under the circumstances
In the language Of the bulletin In the club
rooms last Thursday, it is still ''tuf luc."
BY another year they hope to have broken
from the Ill fortune of rainy weather which
has thus far attended all their race meets,
and when tibet happy time arrives look out
for an interesting occasion. Much praise is
due Chief Consul Dow for the excellent
manner In which all the arrangements were
perfected, and 1t Is too bad that the result is
as 1t Is.