Connecticut western news., 1895-10-10
A NIGHT RIDE.

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 The bicycle is queer instrument. You think you know all about it; then suddenly you find there are still things to learn. The other evening got on my bicycle and worked my way for five or six miles through one of the prettiest lanes in England to a country village where friend of mine lives. The lane which leads to this village is one in which did a good deal of practicing when I first took to the bicycle some months, ago. It is bordered by hedges long green tunnel through which the sun sends some f1ittering, flickering rays down on the excellent roadway, making sort of dancing carpet of light and shade, eternally weaving themselves to- gether and mimicking in shadow and sunshine the interlacing of the trees above.
 But there is, alas, along the side of this lane ditch with which l have be- fore now made acquaintance while teaching myself how to ride. It is al-
  cler to revisit spot where he has had his conflicts with the machine. It gives him sense of having accomplished something. I recognized all the places where had been thrown in the ditch and where had been thrust through the hedge It was nice to know that these exciting days were past, and that now rode the machine as if Iwere part of it.
 The lane is a lonely place at any time of the day. Broader roads and more di. rect ones lead to the little village have spoken of, but whose name l need not mention, My friend proved so entertain ing that I staid on and on. I was in- vfted to stop for dinner, and did. 1 was afterward censured for this, when I ultimately did reach home. People in the country, was told, were not al- ways prepared to receive unexpected visitors to dinner. It was not the thing to drop down with my bicycle upon helpless man in the country and then hang around the premises until was invited to dinner. I am always putting my foot in it this way. It makes me feel guilty afterward, but what is man to do?
 It was pitch dark when I left the house, and when came to the entrance of the lane it was even darker than pitch, if such thing be possible. Hit my bicycle lamp for the first time in my life. The lamp had cost me lot of money and was said to be the best in the market, but when it tried to com pete with the appalling darkness of the lane I saw what futile thing it was. It shed dim circle of light long way ahead that didn't seem to me to be of much practical use. pushed the ma chine along and sprang lightly on its back. Now I thought I knew how to ride perfectly, but was to find out that riding in the broad daylight and riding in the darkness are two entirely differ ent things. The machine gave wabble first in one direction and then in the other and my heart came into my mouth wheel did not knowIhow to balance the concern. Sitting down moment afterward, fortunately not on the side where the ditch was, had some time to mediate on the situation. The wheel was on top of me, and the lamp was out. This was old times over again, and l had not even the chance in the dark ness to select the spot on which to fall I did not like the idea of trundling the machine all the way along the lane when l ought to be able to do so much better time on it's back, so rose slowly, I placed the machine upright again, and | relit the lamp. The lamp hung on a couple of vacillating fanges which ap- parently were actuated by springs and | gave the lamp wabbly motion when | you joggled unexpectedly over stone. | got once more upon the machine, this time with better success, and we went along nicely for some distance. Then | got off again. Coming along that road in the daylight the lane seemed perfect ly smooth and unobstructed. Yet sud denly came against some unseen obstacle that appeared to me as alighted to be powder lying on the road. It was in reality a atone about the size of my fist. The lamp had gone out of course simul. taneously with my fall This one have goes ont whenever joggle over any ! thing. I have been told that it was on account of the bad oil I was using, but | 1 have since secured the most expensive oil in the market, an oil with beauti ful name but the lamp joggles out just the same.
 After going over the stone saw that had to do something definite with tht lamp. l took out my handkerchief ant tied down the springs, so that the disl of light touched the front wheel Thil { wasn't so bad, as it showed me plainly the stones in the road, but hardly il time for Eae to avoid them, although did dodge some by performing acrobati' feats that usually led to the ditch. II my evolutions and anxiety about th' lamp I had forgotten the existence O that ditch, but it was there just tn same, lying low and saying nothing
 found it without the least trouble. Tn lamp went out again, of course, and
 began to fear that would not hay matches enongh to last until l got int the radius of street lamps crawle' out of the ditch, righted the machin and once more applied match to tn
 wick. had lost the handkerchief, but
 tied the lamp down with the oilin, cloth. was bowling along at rapi, I md satisfactory pace through the brip h