Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-12
A PunCtured Tire.

You can find my description in any
| of the little books distributed by our
| firm, and should you look it I'D, you
will discover that my picture occupies
the place of honor on the second page
under the heading, in large, black let
ters, "a High Grade Ladies' Wheel"
the high grade, Of course, applying to
me and not to the ladies. l defy any
one to produce a more perfect speci-
men of the bicycle kind than I was
when | left the manufacturers on
beautiful May morning just two
months ago.
They we're proud of me at the shops:
indeed, I think there was something
about my graceful frame and polished
enamel finish that made me stand out
as one apart from the thousands of
other wheels around me. The first
journey I took was when I left my
native city and was shipped with many
companions to Washington.
I liked this beautiful Capital City of
yours, and longed for q spin CT the
smooth asphalt pavements, but it
seemed for a time that I was doomed
to disappointment.
was taken to a. bicycle school,
where spent most of my days watch
ing the strange antics of beginners, the
earnest efforts of those who had taken
several lessons, and the lofty, though
sometimes uncertain air of those al
| most ready to ride on the street.
In this [ had no part, was a new
wheel, and must wait quietly until pur
chased. Sometimes my indignation
would be aroused by the rough treat
ment bestowed upon the poor old ma
! chimes, on which the beginners were
! taught, by their inexperienced riders.
How they slammed those wheels
around! Why, often I have seen the
ground strewn with riders with the
overturned wheels underneath them.
Sometimes, though, the wheels got on
top, and then the rider usually was
hurt little. Then again, some few of
the wheels who had not quite lost all
their spirit would get tired Of the end
less Jerking and clutching, and spin
around tht track until the scholar be-
came paralyzed and helpless with fear.
and then plunge through an open gate
or up a brick wall, with the rider
screaming: Instructor! Instructor
Helpr' Those were risky tricks, though
for you stood an even chance Of getting
hurt yourself
Day after day [ watched these sights
until I was weary Of it all, and beyond
making a firm resolution to throw my
self down a precipice before descend
ing to such work. I did nothing for
several weeks At last one beautiful
morning. remember we'll it was May
19-the manager of the place came in
the park, accompanied by very pretty
girl and an older lady, whom l took to
be the girls mother.
They came over to the rack in which
stood, and drawing me out he said:
Here is exactly what you want, miss
there is not finer wheel in the city
Look at that frame, good and strong
beautifully finished. Light weight
just lift it, not twenty-five pounds, all
the bearings turned from tool steel
The girls pretty face was a study as
she looked up and down in an anxious
effort to find the different parts tc
which the manager referred to sc
glibly
81 like it, she said at length, D." don't
you, mother? You see," turning to the
man, 81 have been about a month try.
ing to buy a wheel. thought it would
/ no hut hoy bo1
full time. Besides having gone to about
twenty places ourselves we have had
at least thirty agents. who hef I'd we
wanted wheel come after us, and the
most puzzling part of it all is that each
one says that all the others are per.
fectly worthless. So mother and
made up our minds to give them al
, the slip, and that is why we came here
this morning. Let us take this wheel
mother"
, The mother approached me, tried tx
look critical, gave me a gentle shake
and said:
, well, it seems to be a good strong
one. do hope you won't have any &C
cidents"
That very afternoon I was sent tc
my new home, a magnificent brown
stone on Connecticut avenue, and in {
few days I knew all about the family
. for gossip is ripe in the servants hall
in a little room adjoining which l was
kept
My young mistress was named Bessie
cambridge, she was the only-anC
needless to say overindulged-child OF
5 wealthy parents, and just now, OF
: course, she was suffering from a bad
case of bicycle fever
Almost every evening after dark the
, devoted father and mother would SIT
out on the porch and watch Bessie and
: me struggle up and down the street
A young friend of hers was teaching
her to ride, and of all patient and