Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-07

Try some, madame. IL ID very good- TIN
Enginh)-But it may make you sick, old girl,
II you eat too much of it"
WHEELING ON THE Road.
We got away from Paris in good order on the
Esd instant at about noon, and by nightfall had
put forty three miles behind %. By the time
we reached La Forte-M Milan, the night halt, we
were as hungry as bears are popularity sup
posed to be, and had a most destructive effect
upon the dinner laid out for u.s. We paid such
full and complete attention TO the soup and the
first course OF meat and vegetables that by the
off the remains and bring in an unexpected
second course of meat and vegetables We were
almost helpless.
We were scarcely well away from the town
next morning when two horses attached to q
cart going in an opposite direction, astonished
at lis strange appearance ~ he sailed oy,
attempted to climb up onto q steep roadway
leading into yard, overturning the cart with
its load Of dirt and breaking a shaft. The
driver, after getting his horses started, had
to drink glass Of wine--as all Frenchmen are
prone to do-leaving them to follow more
slowly with their load. c. and Won arrived
on the scene just in time to receive his bene-
diction as he came out and discovered the
state of affairs. After fine long coast down
through heavy woods we were rewarded by
the discovery that we would have to turn our
selves right around and toll slowly back up to
the top,
FOB We WERE OFF QUIZ Road.
But first one of Us had q long, stern chase
up hill through . village after H, whose
ambition had carried him far In the advance.
We were. in fact, kept busy all day missing the
road and looking for it again, in the course of
which pastime H finally became separated
from the party and we saw no more Of him till
next morning. To cap the climax two of US
Hnllfdah atfr,o oy,1 I'm
scared out into space and left the imprint OF
his form upon the virgin soil of France, while
his machine, not to be outdone, turned a very
creditable somersault for q beginner. DAM
ages were repaired by noon next day. Con-
WINGED that there was hoodoo somewhere
about, court of inquiry was commenced that
evening, consisting OF the survivors OF the
events OF the day. majority were OF the
opinion that the trouble lay In an English"
cap which c. was wearing on this run-one
of that kind made SO they won't fit you and 50
loud you can hear them before you See them.
NEARING BELGIUM.
Next day it rained, and rained again and
again. c. still wearing the hoodoo cap. By
the time we cast anchor in the evening at the
village of Hirson. near the Belgian frontier, we
looked as though we had just passed through a
Johnstown flood. Our dinner or whatever it
might be called was served in the kitchen,
where mamma and her daughters lowered
about in silent wonder as we emptied large
pitchers of milk and clamored for more. Our
satisfaction would have been complete but for
some cheese. That cheese was positively
vociferous- We did all we could to get away
from it. but couldn't The rain kept up at inter-
walls until nearly noon tho following day, when
We succeeded in getting off between showers
and struck out for Belgium, bent on wheeling
across the frontier, which, though quite
near in direct line, was not crossed
by the road for some 35 or 40 miles. Thir-
teen miles out Won separated from the party to
go to Germany direct and the rest of US pedaled
along through intermittent showers and mud
puddles as far as Liessies, seven miles beyond
Inc road constantly became worse, and would
have been bad enough even in dry weather.
For several miles We rode through woods, and
the first signs of returning civilization were
the wild yelps Of what in American vernacular
is termed kid, as its mother reproved it with
the family rod Of correction. By the time we
previous determination and cross the frontier
In more conventional way-by rail.
SHORT OF CASH.
Then ii was we discovered that we had but
little money left save Bank of England notes,
which would be available only in large places
where we could get them exchanged. There
were serious doubts as to whether we had
enough with which to get ourselves and bikes
to Brussels. We had not felt very hungry be-
fore. but now our appetites became ravenous.
Passing cafe restaurant near the station as
likely to make too great inroads upon our little
store If patronized, we proceeded to make
cautious survey Of the village, and at length
purchased, at a cost of 8 cents, small PASTE
board box. containing dozen very small wine-
cakes, Of the present century's baking, posi-
bly,, which we divided and disposed of in the
usual manner. The children Of the station
keeper, whose family occupied the upper story
OF the station, were running about with very
interesting slices of bread spread with
jam. Under almost any other circumstances
deprive them of it. At length, with one ac-
cord, we fed from temptation to the cafe res
taurant near at hand and there ordered bread
and milk, about the cheapest fare we could
think OF. A large pitcher containing fully
three quarts of milk and a large loaf of bread
were brought in. 1t did not last long and we
wanted more; but our newborn spirit of econ
omy said nay. With many misgivings we asked
how much we owed for the layout Seventy
i've centimes-only Is cents! We asked again
Va! only rs centimes. We had expected
to pay two or three times as much and have
never been able to forgive ourselves for not
getting second supply.
ON THE RAILROAD
Erquillinnes, over the line, was as far as we
were able to get that night Next morning,
after hastily swallowing our breakfast, we had
Just three minutes in which to get to the sta
tion for our train. We made it, but we kept
the train waiting for fully five minutes while
we got tickets for our bikes, which the officials
had kindly rushed aboard without tickets. The
station keeper, who generally seems to be the
man who starts the trains. blew his whistle
loudly and waxed exceedingly wrathy because
other powers prevailed. 1t has been said that
a continental railway train is something that
goes on the dot, waiting for neither king nor
subject. This statement may now be refuted
At a station short distance out from Erouil-
lnnes we noticed that great many people got
out, but gave ourselves no concern for some
until We heard the chatter of our bike
bells and an official came running across the
platform In search of US. We must change to
another train and were wanted at the baggage
car to hustle our bikes, which we did. Belgian
railway officials are trumps, and some of the
Belgian railway cars are q nearer approach to
the American than any we have yet seen, but
when they put on the brakes we felt as we do
when We strike cobble pavement.
FROM THE WINE TO THE BEER DISTRICT.
Northern France was not very interesting to
US, possibly because the novelty had worn off.
The third day out we passed ont of the wine
district into the beer district. and Won rejoiced
accordingly; for the last samples of wine ON
the ragged edge of the wine district were too
much even for a cultivated stomach As we
advanced toward the frontier the loaves of
bread gradually grew shorter, broader. thicker
and harder, until one would make very re-
spectacle armful for the average person. In
case Of war, should the artillery ammunition
run out, these loayes could be resorted TO with