The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-10-13
CYCLING ABROAD.
mr. Marry higgins Gives the Young
Mems Republican Club an Interest,"
Ing Talk.

a meeting Of the Young Mems Republican
oiao was held last evening for the trans
action OF routine business and the election
Oh member Of the executive committee in
place OF Dr. Addison s. Thayer, who has re-
signed on account Of his absence in Eurone.
The election resulted In the cboIca ~
stephen Hlnkley. Jr. A large number Of
members were In attendance, and after the
lightful talk by Mr.. Harry HIrrlns- who
described some Of his experiences while up-
on the last Elwell bicycle tour through En-
rope. Mr.. Higgins did not attempt anv ex-
Tended description Of the social institutions.
SCENERY or architecture Of Europe; but told
Sabts bhose ., more simple things relating to the
i, iaoi.s ol tne people, ways Of travelling and
IMPRESSIONS which an American receives
Just the things which one wishes 10 know
Dut can rarely find In letters OF travel. Some
oi me anecdotes Mr.. Higgins told entertain
90 MS hearers greatly.
All the bicyclists tried to observe the laws
OF the. country where they might be: but
sometimes. In spite Of their good Intentions.
tney would get into trouble. This was the
case 10 one town In France, to whl.h Mr..
higgins had telegraDhed ahead for a certain
MOTEL keeper TO- have luncheon OF twenty
plates In readiness. As they approached
the town one member OF the party nam ed
Huggins got impatient and dashed ahead.
de could speak little French, and when he
rode up to hotel and tried to ask IL luncheon
nad been ordered for twenty he received
loauy Iepiy tnat such was the case. So he
proceeded to make himself at home. When
tne rest OF the party came up he found that
ne was at the wrong hotel, so paying for
some few things that he had eaten he accom-.
panied the rest Of the party TO the proper
ineL hosel. Ihere they were eating their
tne other hotel appeared and de-
twenty plates. Mr.. Higgins as easG0 iesdeT Of the s
party, dlsclaimed having ordered any such
thing. But the landlady looked the party
over and pointed out the impatient Higgins
as the man who had made the contract. OF
cour g Huggins refused to pay. Thereupon
the irate woman proceeded to go after DO
liceman. Meanwhile 1t was ascertained that
she had made no preparations at her hotel to
furnish the luncheon, but was trying to ex-
was advised to flee. This he did. getting
away unobserved on his wheel to the next
town, 20 miles away. The other 10 were
still at the table when the woman reappeared
with the officer. They looked the whole 10
Huggins. Then they counted the party and
discovered his absence. Then they looked
under the table for him; but finally were
forced to give up the search. BY this time
about thousand people had gathered out
side the hotel. moved by the rum0r that had
got abroad. The public opinion OF this
crowd seemed TO be so doubtful that the
American cyclers decided to ride out Of town
In close order. that no straggler might be
picked up. In this manner they got away,
ana 1ourneyed after the fleeing Higgins. At
the next town they came up with him, and
were enjoying the reunion. when who should
appear but the policeman. who had driven
after them with warrant. There was con-
sternatlon, but one member Of the party dis.
covered that there was mo name mentioned
tn IN tne warrant, and that the policeman was
fond OF something to take. So 1t did not
take the party long to convince the off,
Ger that his warrant was useless and that he
was good fellow. When he went away he
liked the Americans so we'll that he rode of
declaring, III you ever come to my town
again, let me know, and you shall not be mo-
town."
At a small town 10 Switzerland. where
they were detained one evening by rain, tine
iandlady got up ball for them, sendin out
Irl dor some OF the young ladies Of the village.
were excellent dancers, but In waltzes and
similar round dances they had never learned
to reverse. Mr.. Higgins said there were
-FOUR doors on one side Of the room and the
American wheelmen would dance until the
doors all swan together. Then they would
have to propose promenade.
When he got around into Ireland, Mr.. Hig-
gins had the good fortune to hear Parnell
speak one evening In Dublin, and afterwards
waited with crowd outside Of a hall until
Harringten and Pezyf5i showing their ap-
probation of public man. AS Harrington
came out they made a pathway for him
through their midst, and be passed down 1t
as Though a gauntlet. As he went along
they would slap him on the back and express
appreciation. 'lD order that might not be
INrK Arx -. %
higgins, II decided to do as the rest did. SO
Wnen Harrington came along gave him a
whack on the back and shouted Good boy.
Harrington" When Parnell came out the
crowd swayed In such way that the Port
same Sign of APPRECIATION