The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-15
j. 3. BARNABY CO..

ct ,er day while passing through the main
thoroughfare OF Whitechapel on his
wheel. The roadway was greasy with
black mud and Mr.. BalfoLr's bicycle
spilled the first lord of the Treasury into
about as rank a gutter as that part of
London could produce. Mr.. Balfour
rolled completely over in the mud, after
having been thrown heavily on his side,
Dut being quite an athlete, he succeeded
in ~springing to- his feet just in time to
avoid a lastly driven butchers cart, which
drove over and spoiled the cabinet minis
ter's wheel.
But Mr.. Balfour was in no way discon-
certed. He laughinelv wiped the mud
from his wheel, called a four wheeler,
superintendent the placing of his ter
ribly battered machine on the root OF the
vehicle, and calmly ordered the driver to
drive to the treasury vault, where, not
long afterward, spotless as q shilling just
issued from the mint, Mr.. Balfour was at
tending to business as il nothing had
happe0ed.
There seems to be'a prospect that motor
cars will soon be seen in the streets of
London and in practical use. Hitherto
the so-called autocar has bsen liable to a
heavy penalty, according to sntiquated
laws, unless II was preceded in the streets
by a man carrying q danger flag. But
recent improvements have not only popu-
larized autocars, but they have converted
even the more or less m~osscovered city
and country officials, and, as a result, the
president OF the local government board,
Mr.. Henry Chaplin, has, somewhat reluc-
family, ii Is true, promised an intluen;
tial deputation OF solid voters that a bill
will shortly be introduced i'm the House
of Commons providing for the removal of
all complained-of restrictions and for the
placing of autocars on the same footing
as other vehicles. Possibly this result
would not have been so easily achieved
had 1t not been for the fact that the
Prince OF Wales earnestly interested him
self In the cause of autocars for which he
is known to have O decided prediction.
In fact only yesterday, the Prince OF
Wales was seen at the imperial institute,
engaged In making a personal trial OF a
mex and highly improved autocar. The
Prince drove it up and down steep grad
ings aud seemed highly pleased with his
work.
The Hendersons OF Glasgow, builders 70
Valkyrie ILL.,. laid the keel Of a large
racing yacht yesterday. The vessel was
designed by George l.. Watson, designer
OF the Valkyries, and will be built secret
ly, as is usual with Mr.. Watson, under a
closed shed guarded strictly by watchmen.
The name of the owner of the new racing
craft il not known, but several promi-
nent racing yachtsmen have been men
toned as being behind Mr.. Watson in
this venture. 1t is not generally believed
that the new yacht is intended as a cup
challenger.
In addition to the yacht building I'M
der the supervision OF Hendersons, the
Flies of Fairlie have laid the keel for a
20-rater they are TO build for a Dublin
yachtsfnan, Mr.. Frank Jameson. This
new creation of the Flies Is to be butt es-
recially to lower, IL possible, the colors of
Mr.. Edward Gould's Niagara, and some
interesting racing is looked forward to
among the twenties during the coming
season.
Manager Fleming of the National
Sporting Club has arranged a match be-
tween Dick Burge and "Kid" Lavigne,
for $500 (s2500) a side, and a purse OF
&700 C3500) presented by the club. The
men will box at 1883 pounds during Derby
week.
The United States ambassador, Mr..
Thomas T.. Bayard, has accepted an invi-
tation to speak at the annual Shakespeare
dinner, on April II, at Birmingham. Mr..
Bayard on the following day will be en-
tertained at timer by the Mayor of Biz
mingham in the town hall, and he will go
to. Stratford in April 70 to unveilia window
in trinity Church, where tbs remains
OF Shakespeare are buried. The funds for
this window were subscribed by Ameri-
can visitors during recent years. A cere-
mouy IN the Memorial Theater Is also pro-
posed for the purpose of emphasizing the
goodwill existing between the two ma
tiOns.