Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-09-06
MAN AND sIKs.
Tho Disaculties Attendant Upon Their First
Contact.

Tho Dinacultics Attendant Upon Their Firsi
Contact
didn't used to think that the stories
I had heard OF the tricks of the bicycle
were true. When was innocent of this
acme OF deceit bought wheel. had
been led to do so by the advice of my
friends. They had declared tome that
the bicycle was a noble steed, that the
greatest possible pleasure could be had
by ride astride of one.
/ asked if IL was hard to learn to ride
the thing. Everybody agreed that II
was not. They said all you had to do
was TO Immediately mount 1t and ride
1t was, they assured, as easy as rolling
off log. never rolled off log, SO ]
don't know how easy that may be-
Perhaps II had done so once or twice
/ wouldn't have begun my career Of
rolling off bicycle.
] remember well when ] departed
from store at which had bought a
wheel ] was proud. glanced with
supercilious glance at the common
earth treading mortals whom ]
l saw. rejoiccd in the pos
session Of friend who could
accompany me on pleasant jaunts 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 it a few times before. No, this
would be friend who would always
be silent--a silent steed,"a as the BIZ
cycle poets call it.
In spite of my confidence that it was
an easy matter to ride wheel, did
not mount it then. The street was toe
crowded, so / walked it home, pre-
ferring to practice on my own stamp
ing-ground.
Upon reaching home / determined tc
begin riding. Iknew from what had
been told that it was very easy mat
ter. carelessly placed one foot on the
PEDAL, while the other foot rested or
the ground. Immediately crowd Of
ribald small boys gathered expectant
ly, while the neighbors came out tc
watch me.
My bosom swelled with pride.
knew that it was an easy matter tt
ride the machine, and all that had te
do was to hop on, but postponed the
| hopping on for awhile.
tried several times to mount it, ant
hoped along on one foot, pushing thu
bicycle. Finally came to the conclu
sion that must take the thing firmly
in hand. ! knew that the right foo
was getting more than its share of the
sport, so put the left foot also on tn,
pedal. The result was disastrous
The machine had only been acting ;
little cranky before, but now it sud
denly lay down in the street and tool
me down with it.
stopped practicing for that day
but / continued practice the next ant
succeeding days for week, until ha,
mastered it, as thought. will no
tell you what calamities happened Il
me. If you have tried to learn to ride
their recital would only awake un
| pleasant memories in our mind. If yo
have yet to learn, then do not wis
to prevent you from having the sam
amount of fun that | did. am not
philanthropist. / am only an ordinar
mortal, and confess that take NAL
cious pleasure in seeing other peopl
made victims of the game from whic
l have already suffered.
when / had gained some control Q
my 'steed," ventured to try
straightaway ride on an unfrequente
street. got along very nicely, bu
soon / discovered that must keep i
the straight and narrow path, or els
meet with an upset This discover
was made when | attempted to ge
out of the way of wagon. The team
ster avoided me just in time. had t
go fast. for when / slowed up m
wheel would wobble. wondered no,
far had to go, and whether l woul
ever be able to start back. was Xix
the man who had caught the bear b
the tail and couldn't let go.
| On we sped. The only hope had c
avoiding the wagons and carriages, q
we'll as pedestrians was to yell wher
ever drew near them. didn't kno,
how to turn the wheel, and the vince
wouldn't turn of its own accord. All
could do was to hold on and to make
go fast, SO wouldn't fall.
But this sort of thing couldn't las
forever There was soon to be an en-
to my ride. collded with ston
wall in the park, smashing my mi
chine and badly hurting myself.
limped around for several days, an
gave the remnants of the machin
away, end hereafter, if want gent
"steed" to ride, | will ride a donkey {
a mule. No more bicycle for me, than
you!-William W. Webster, in Golde
Days.
"Anno Domini" Good Woman.