Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1895-08-22
MAN AND hike
IRE ptmculsi-s Attendant TPca Their Firss


re TfNrfg uiftNN NffFuft ant ffefi Netr w
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didn't used 70 think tina; the stories
had aea-,f ~ the tricks ~ the bicycle
were true. When was innocent Of tnis
acme ~ deceit bought wheel I had
been led To do so bv the advice CO nv
friends They had declared N me that
the bicvcic was 4 noble steed, tnat the
I greatest possible pleasure could be had
/ BY ride astriie of one.
I I asked II it was har,i to learn TO ride
the thing. Every body agreed that il
was not Thcv sad ali ron had 10 dc
+ Wa 20 irrmc,iiateIv mount it ami ride
+ Il wa, they assured A. easy - rolling
/ II . log I never rolled of log, 80 ]
don't know how easy that may Ne
T Perhaps Il had done 80 once or twice
wouldn't have begun nv career OF
rolling of "a bicycle
remeul her well when I departed
from a store AZ whseh had bought
wheel I was pruud. I glanced with
,upercilious glance at the common
earth treading mortlls whom I
saw 1 rrjoiced in the pos
session Of FRIEND who could
accompany me on pleasant iauuts in
The country Just the right sort Of
friend Not one OF those who inter
rupt you when YOU are telling them a
favorite story Just because they have
heard il a few times before. No. this
would be a friend who would always
be silent-a -'silent steei. ~ as the BIZ
cycle poets call IL
In spite of nv confidence that Il was
IN easy matter to ride q wheel. I did
not mount it then. The street was too
crowded. 80 I walked it home. pre-
ferrin- - practice on NY own stamp
i1E-ground
7ou reaching home determined to
begin riding. knew from what had
been told that it was very easy mat
ter carelessly placed one foot on the
pe,iaL while the other foot rested on
the ground Immediately a crowd OF
rihald small boys gathered expectant-
Is. while the neighbors came out to
watch me.
NV bosom svelled with pride. I
knew that it was an easy matter To
rifle the machine. and al that had 10
il was 20 hop on. but I postponed the
hopping on for awhile.
I tried several times to mount II. and
hoped along on one foot. pushing the
bicycle Finally I came to the eoucIu-
sion that must take the thing firmly
in hand I knew that the right foot
was getting more than its share Of the
SPORT 50 I put the left foot also on the
pedal The result was disastrous.
The machine had only been acting a
little cranky before. but now 1t sud
denly lay down in the street AMI took
ne Down with it
stopped practicing for that dsy.
but continued practice the next ana
succee'iing days for week. until had
mastered 10. As / thought I will not
tel you what calamities happened to
ne. II YOU have tried to learn 70 ride.
their recital would only ava-e IN
pleasant memories in our mind II you
nave yet to learn. then do not wish
TO prevent you from having the same
amount Of fun that I did am not a
philanthrupist- I an only an ordinary
mortal. and confess that take mali
cIous pleasure in seeing other people
made victims Of the game from which
havs already suffered.
When had gained some control Of
nv -'steed.- ventured 70 try
>traigntaway ride On Al unfrequented
street ! got along very nicely. but
soon discovered that must keep in
me straight and narrow path. Or else
meet with an upset This discovery
was made when I attempted 70 get
out Of the way Of wagon The team
ster avoided ne Just IN time 7 had 10
20 fast for wneu l slowed M nv
wheel would wooble- wondered hosv
ar aan "a 90, and whether I would
ever be able u start back. was ike
the man whn had caught the bear by
the tai and couldn't ct 20.
On We sped The only hone had Of
avoiding the wagons and carriages. as
we'll A. ncdeStrians was TO yell when
ever ! Grew near them. didn't know
hoEv 70 turu the wheel. and the wheel
gvaulGa turn OF itsown accord All
could co was - hold on and 10 make X
% FAST % 7 wouldn't fail
But this sort Of thing couldn't last
forever There was son TO be an end
% nv ride I c-iiided with a stone
wall in the parS, smashing nv ma
ehine and badly hurting myself +
iimped around for several DAYS. AMI
gave the remnants a. the machine
away. and hereafter. Il want 4 gentle
''steed to ride viii ride donkey or
4 niue No more hirvele for me. thanlS
You.-Wiiliam ". Webster. in Golden
Days