Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1895-08-30

EVERY MAN BIS own HORSE.
them had to exert great deal Of
strength in their exercise. In those
days they were bent on speed over pc
destrianism, and worked hard to push
their wheels. To-day, however, the
bicycles are very light, and it is really
easier to propel them than it is to walk
long distances
When the velocipede came here from
France, the capital city was unprepared
for 1t. Our streets were cobble-stoned.
They were either muddy when wet, or
full of ruts when dry. Hence the We
locipede became popular in all other
cities before the people here undertook
to use them. But, with the develop
ment of our beautiful CITY, with its
hundreds of miles of smooth concreted
streets, the modern bicycle has become
popular. Men and women use the wheel
nowadays, and. many family has dis
carddathe old horse and buggy for the
gilenS sveed. The introduction of cable
and electric cars, supplemented by the
popularity Of bicycles, have combined
to drive horses out of the market, and
they are 30 cheap to-day that almost
any man OF moderate means could af-
ford one; but the wheel Is generally
preferred. 4
We have many visiting clubs Of bicy-
clers hgRm all parts of the country
every I'd br, and our city is properly as
well as Popularity known as ''the wheel
mems paradise" The smooth asphalt
pavements In all parts Of the city make
the best possible roadways for wheels,
while the wide streets give plenty OF
room, and the usually mild weather
makes wheeling q pleasant exercise at
almost any season of the year. Rain
rolls OFF Of our streets 30 rapidly that
within half an hour after shower
they are as dry as ever and glittering
as glass The roadways leading into
the country are 80 carefully macadam-
lied and SO heavily rolled that there
Is never any mud to speak of, and the
only time when 1t is impracticable for
bicyclists to be out is during the very
brief periods when snow Is on the
ground. It Is easy to wheel to the SOL
diers' home, and there, amidst the
trees, there are miles of hard roadway.
Over hill and through dale, past monu-
ments, brooks, lakes and over bridges,
the young men and women spin from
early morn till dewy eve, without let
or hindrance. sfast
This is essentially city of offices,
and one may go into any of the ex-
ecutive departments during business,
hours and see the courts and basement
walls Lined with bicycles belonging TO
the clerks. Ladies as well as gentle
men use them as horses used to be
driven from their homes in the morn.
ing to the departments, and back to
their suppers when the light labor Of
each day is over. At almost any hour
Of the day or evening these flying vehi-
oles will sweep past, like swallows
swimming the surface of q pond. Min
listers. clerks, letter carriers, business
men, messenger boys, all use them, and
can make the distance from the capitol
to the treasury IN three or four minutes,
leaving street cars and herdics far be-
hind. The district messenger and tele-
!. graph boys cannot 60 to sleep on their
e6rsnds now, their bicycles keep them
a1Rake. Moreover, the managers know
exactly how long q boy ought to be
gone on an errand covering agiven dis
tanoe; and the boys must push their
pedals ~ order TO keep pace with the
inexorab1e clocks
Some wonderful and daring feats
have been performed IN this city by
expert eyclers. Many of them have
been foclhardy. periiops, unnecessary
and worthy Of Condemnation for their
hazard; but, having been accomplished,
J they are noteworthy. For example,
the marble steps leading to the east or
main entrance of the rotunda of the
capitol are eighty in number, and at an
angle of forty degrees. Fl. s. Owens, a
cycler of local note, descended these
steps from the bronze doors to the
grtRad on single wheel. OF course,
thM might not be regarded as much of
an achievement on safeSy bicycle
with it's low wheels, but on q vertical
machine 1t was certainly very dam
cerous and difficult performance. An
other very hazardous feat was that OF
riding over the coping of Cabin Johns
bridge. This was achieved by w. IS.
Robinson. The coping on the sideo OF
the bridge Is four feet above the
bridge door, Is 800 feet long and 100