The herald., 1895-06-16
A Woman Reporter Tells
of Her First Lesson
in Biking
NO BRUISES AT FIRST
But She Scored Twenty Nine Before She
Got Through With the Second Les.
son.--Several Objects Met
Her Hallway

NV Hrst lesson on the wheel was very
tame. | went to an academy. where a
gentle young man told me many solid
facts and trotted softly by my side about
the arena, while slid about in the sad
die and the bicycle wabbled to and fro.
/ didn't fall down because the youn 6
man wouldn't let me. He knew great
deal about bicycling and how to do it, and
he poured forth a constant stream OF lnfor-
nation which almost lulled me to sleep.
In fact, the monobonous tones OF his
voice and the continuous circular going
induced species OF coma, in which the
flying figures of another young man and
Q young woman passing in swift circles
took on such reseln blsnce to that hap
less pair, Francesca di Rimini and her
lover. that l asked my guide in startled
amazement:
Ibid Paola chew gum?"
In his turn my instructor was dazed
and slipped from the wheel, meekly
paid my fee and walked out | had
learned to mount from the left side of the
wheel, to turn the haIdle-ba in the d.
rection | tipped. but so firmly had that
faithful youth held me up that had never
tipped. :and l must pedal faithfully in
the hope of getting there That even
and covered with shame and confusion.
Every man and woman had not only
kissed the dust in token of devotion to
the wheel, but had bitten the stones.
Those who had learned in the academy
had ridden full tilt into stacks OF chairs
and had brought them down, to the con-
sternation of the onlookers, and being
extricated by dint of great effort, or had SO
shaped their course as TO overthrow at
least two or three of their fellow students,
and then gaily ambled into knot of spec
tators. l had no such tales to relate; not
a single confusion on my person. Very
properly l was suffered to flock by myself
while the heroes of the hour spoke feel
ingly of thirty. fifty, ayl even eighty
black and blue spots. did believe them
then. Then hired a wheel and boy to
put me back when l fell off, but on no
account was he to do more. The boy and
the wheel met me in a retired spot not
far from Figueroa street. He was a boy
of good muscular development. and he
held the machine firmly while l climbed
into the saddle.
Wouldn't you like me to steady it
bit?" he asked kindly.
Thanks. no" L returned, and with
one revolution OF the pedals / was off.
That expression may be interpreted as
the reader chooses. The boy, however,
was equal TO the situation. and did not
feel hurt by my refusal. In fact. think
L
things turned out. Any way, in a few
minutes l said to him:
&. ''You may hold the wheel steadily until
get started, please
He did his part beautifully, and | felt
the bliss of flying for moment or two.
Then a tree at quite distance started to
meet me half way. 1t did. | abandoned
all connection with the bicycle to en-
b. ace the opportunity. 1 didn't miss it,
but met it full in the face. l answered
the boy feebly that it didn't hurt so
much now" and he said cheerily that
the wheel was all right. When l opened
my eyes the tree seemed quite distance
The boy seemed inclined to manage
affairs after this, and suggested that he
would ride the wheel a little bit and see
if it worked right. 1 had hardly assent
ed to this when he went like streak
What did he mean by acting like that?
1 wanted 10 ride, I'd have him Know
Before had really worked myself into a
rage he came back, riding easily, with
his hands in his pockets. 1t struck me
as an insolent attitude, but the boy was
good nature itself.
let me show you a few points," he
said. But my pride was reused and re-
fusede.
l mounted again, and by good luck
went wavering along to turn IN the
road. l heard a Gathering grocery wagon
behind me at this point, and, without
generalization. l sat down IN the road
to wait for it. holding the wheel down
to prevent it getting away. The grocery
boy didn't understand my intentions, aud
called:
Hi, there get move on you" II
have as much on me as l can bear now,
l muttered, and: sullenly awaited my boys
appearance.
He, meanwhile, iebuked the grocers lad
in we'll, chosen terms, while she lifted up
the wheel. He called it daisy whom
he brought it, saying. ''she only weighs
twenty-five pounds but in my inmost
heart believe it to be a sixty-pounder.
When / had once more resumed the per-
pendicular said with well feigned air
of carelessness
II think that will do for today. You
can bring the wheel tomorrow at the
same time"
The boy asked me if I would ride
home. | scanned his freckled and inge-
uuous countenance to see if any malice