The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-28

| I am not sure that ought to write
about the demon bicycle. at least until
my acquaintance. Monsieur Rataplan.
has had time to get back to Paris and
| patent his marvellous invention all over
| the world. Still he spoke in the most
open way about this miracle, and did
| not seem to care who heard him, so
perhaps he has protected his different
contrivances as he went along, after
the Edison manner, for 1t is well
known that Thomas A. Edison cam
not sleep at night unless he has taken
out at least sixteen new patents during
the day.
| met NJ. Rataplan al a mountain re-
| sort 5000 feet above the sea In the
Juia range. the most western part of
Switzerland. l thought at first that he
was covered with medals of all sorts,
but closer inspection showed that
they Were badges of various bicycle
clubs in all parts of the world. He
| told me that he Is a member of every
cycle society In the world so far as he
knew, although, of course, some of
them might have escaped him.
| "Are you u record breaker?' asked.
NO, / am an inventor although
think l did break the record across
France
| "And you are here resting after your
ride?" | ventured.
| We'll, yes. in measure. Actually,
| | had no intention of coming to Switz-
erland. but ] could not rightly help
myself. 1t all came about through
the greatest invention the world has
ever seen. Talk about pneumatic tires!
They're not in 1t compared with my in
vention."
| You talk English" I said, with a
collouuial fiuency somewhat unusual
| in a Frenchman. Where did you learn
| the language"
"Oh, I'm not Frenchman. My
names Macguire and I'm from Phila-
| delphia. / came to France and
| changed my name to Rataplan because
| / couldn't get fair show in America"
Il thought the States was the best
| place in the world for an inventor"
80 it is. If you don't start from
Philadelphia. You sen, Philadelphia is
a slow town. New York men speak of
having their country residences there.
Then Philadelphia has always been an
unfortunate city for inventors. There's
the Keely motor man. He Is enough to
Gomorrah any town. You see, | had no
| capital, and the moment I invented
| anything and tried to interest a man
with money in 1t, he made fun of the
| thing as soon as he heard | was from
Philadelphih-asked lme If I was a
friend of Keely's and all that, till l
got tired Of 1t. Then other fellows got
to hear of my inventions and patented
them before me and SO / never got a
| chance When became NJ. Rataplan,
of Paris, | got rich americans over
here to listen to me and I've made
money. But this invention beats them
| ALL"
rs 1t a secret?'
you're not an inventor, are you?"
'1n a way. Pm a newspaper man."
"Oh, that's all right I like newspa-
per men. 1t doesn't matter my tell
ing you, for II you did write 1t up, you'd
get it all wrong, and nobody would un-
derstand it,"
'Tnen ~ me hear about It,"
4 "D'' you know anything Of electrici-
ty?"
"A little. know you will burn your
fingers II you don't let go a live wire
mighty suddenly"
quite so. You have been accurately
informed. Well. you know what stor-
age battery is?"
"Yes. 1t Is like certain kinds of in
| vestlnents. You put in a sum of money
and get out only part of it.