The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-17

| ohSOuUlV OOlAllIuGcc, IO6V.
II. Hemiok. Milo; Rev. Norman M oKin
non, Dover; E. E. Cole, Dover.
WHEEL CLUB BANQUET.
observations Abroad by Messsrs. Ell
| well and KilbOrn.
Yankee Wheels Giving the Dust to Euro
| pean Cyclists - Frances National
Holiday.
For several years 1t has been the pleas
ant custom of the Portland Wheel club
TO welcome home Mr.. Frank A. Elwell
and some of his associates after their
summer European tour. Last evening
| this welcome took the form of a ban
quet to Mr.. Elwel1 and Mr.. Philip G..
Kilborn, at the Congress Square hotel
In the beautiful dining room of the
hotel the following gathered about the
banquet table: J. Harry Lanson, Carl
Lamson, o. P. T. Wish, A. e. Hall,
". H. Chase, r. NJ. Brown, Arthur P.
Howard, E. S. Pendexter, n. W. Mo
Causland, II. A. Roberts, C. r. Small,
q. R. Stevens. b. H. Tenny, c. South
worth, Fred d. Swasey, G. W. Dear
born, Frank W. Jewett, Hairy E. Wood
ward, Frank M. Liscomb, Alfred Wal
ker, b. E. Brown, b. M. Bolles, Fred
h. Lord, F. E. Davis, Howard r. Stev-
M r
A. EIwel, s. B. Phillips, P. @. Kill
horn, P. H. Richardson, Asher c.
Kinds.
After delightful banquet and after
cigars had been ighted-the same cigars
that the Portland boys won as prize
at Rookland-Mr. S. B. Phillips, presi-
dent Of the club, told briefly the object
OF the gathering, and after speaking
briefly of the good roads abroad, intro.
duced Mr.. Elwell.
MIR. Elwell, after cordial reception,
expressed his pleasure at meeting his
associates. He said he we'll knew that
the interest in him was not so much per-
sonal as because he was known to have
with him gentle youth cloud laughter)
oonfded to his care by solicitious
friends. (Lauahter.) But this youth
was present to tell for himself how he
had coasted down Alpine passes, and en-
joyed the sights on foreign shores.
Mr.. Elwell spoke Of the fine highways,
go beautiful as compared with our
own. But on another field the Ameri-
cans were making great strides. With
in five years the American bicycles have
invaded the European market and this
year the invasion is in full blast In
Paris the American bicycle is to the
fore. 1t is even more so in London. The
English, SO 10th to admit foreign super
iority in manufactures, ars loud in
praise of American machines. The light
eas British machine weighs 81 pounds,
while the American weighs 20 pounds.
The light American machine leaves the
heavier machines on the road.
The bicycle Is only one Of several man
ufaotures of ssAInerioan origin that
are popular in Europe. Shoes typewrit-
ers, dental materials are of this class.
Mr.. Kilborn was next introduced, he
being the aforesaid "gentle youth" He
described the Paradise of the French
roads, which they rode for week be-
tween Havre and Paris. They arrived
In time to be there on July IA, on the
anniversary of the fall of the Bastile.
The governments furnishes bands of
music and orchestras on the squares of
the city during the nights of the 18th
and 14th, and the people come out and
dance on the streets. The city Is at the
same time beautifully illuminated.
Mr.. Kilborn also described some of the
beautiful Swiss scenery of which he dis
played fine photographs.
Holland was one of the most interest
ing countries which they visited. The
roads are all made of brick and are fine
highways The hotel where they stopped
at Rotterdam was seven feet below the
level of the sea. Great windmills pump
out this country.
Mr.. Abner W. Lowell, who has been
nominated for chief oohsul of the Maine
Division, was next introduced. Nr.
Lowell said that whatever he could do in
the interest of good roads and good times
should be done. (Applause.) The men,
bership of the Maine Division should be
increased.
Secretary Treasurer Percy II. Richard
son was next introduced as one who had
done very much efficient work for the
cause Of good roads. He said that the
good roads and fine scenery of Europe
had been impressed upon the club for
many years. But he had seen in various
parts Of the United States scenery which
would seem to compare with that of
Europe From Seattle, eastward, could
be found scenery as beautiful as that in
dicated by the photographs shown dur
ing the evening. The Valley of the
Mohawk In New York, was probably as
beautiful as that of the Rhine. Coming
to Maine the scenery was well known
to be very beautiful. Only the good
roads We're needed to make cycling here
as delightful as anywhere on earth. The
wheelmen were going to try at Augusta
to get these good roads, and they were