Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-24


 of American Wheelmen Bulletin and also president of the league, has ever been re- garded as an eccentric genius, but the ex- tremity of his eccentricity is reached dn the current number of his paper. This official organ is issued to league members as cycle publication, and in the past an occasional item or two relating to cycling interest has crept into it's columns each week; but the latest issue is devoted to the theater hat nuisance, to the exclusion of anything pertaining to cycling, and Ellott's pet hobby is boosted by the in- auguration of a crusade against women wearing large hats during theatrical per formanees As this is one of the things that you get for your dollar, and the fem inine portion of the league membership does not seem to mind Elliott's idiosyn- crasies, objections are out of order.
 Cycling is commencing to take on @ picturesque side. Any pleasant afternoon groups and pairs of riders may be seen resting by the roadsides. It is not al- ways the ardent youth that is playing lover, for often the Staid and grizzled man of cares and science is seen In true Romeo manner talking earnestly to his fair companion.
 Should a wheelwoman be caught out on muddy pavement and find it abso- 1utely necessary to ride home, mud guard may be improvised by pinning 0 newspaper over the back. It won't look pretty, nor will the wheelwoman's clothes if she continues without some protection.
 Women are reminded that the cycle costs less, wears better and goes farther than a sealskin sacque.
 The southern circuit has almost been completed The dates allotted the cities are: Meridian, June 15 and 16; Demopo- lis, 18 19 and 20; Montgomery, P and 23; Birmingham, 25 and 26; Selma, 27; Mo- bile, 29 and 30, and Pensacola, July and i. All of the fast men in the south will follow the entire circuit and some excel lent sport may be looked for. The dates given Birmingham are during the Sec ond regiment encampment, and those who have charge of the meet here are going to have 1t prove one of the best meets ever held in the city. The fair grounds track will be used, and, as 1t is now undergoing the necessary repairs to put it in proper shape for training pur- poses, it will be matter of only few days until the local men who will partici- pate will be seen training for the con tests. Pickens, Fleck, Dillon, Stockin and Hickman will all be in the races, and Birmingham Is sure to make a good showing with these speedy youngsters to wear her colors. In the professional events George E. Quinn of Mobile, Fieck of Birmingham, Stowers of Louisville, Barry of Pensacola and Cox of Mobile will compete. In the amateur races such men as Will D. Lum of Montgomery, Pickens of Birmingham, CoZine of Me- ridian, Paquette of Mobile, Walthour of Atlanta and several others from out of town and the local riders will make this class of racing as interesting as in any meet in the country. Prize lists and en- try blanks will be out in few days and can be had from MT. H. l.. Samelson, l4 Twentieth street.
 The racing talent of the club have re- ceived entry blanks to the meet of the Memphis Cycle club, to be held on May 30 Memphis has given some of the best meets in the south and were it not for conflicting dates on the circuit it would be probable that some of our speedy riders would go over to compete.
 At last we are to have first-class cycle track. Or, at least, rumor has 1t that way. It is said that proposition has bsen made by parties with ample funds to place a track near the city if the local club would agree to hold certain num- Der of meets on it each year. The matter will be taken up at the next meeting of the board of directors of the club, and 1t may be that we will have a track. How ever, the local cranks should not put too much faith in the rumor, as it will be remembered that we were going to have n track some time ago, and after the money had been raised the scheme fell through.
 l Every wheelman should join the League of American Wheelmen. If every person who rides the wheel would stop to think how much he owes to the league for the fata a in would not take long for him to hand In his application.
 On May 30 Decoration Day. there will be race meets and road races galore. In the north nearly every city that has decent track will give a meet The Chicago road race will probably be the biggest event on that day. Last year there were over 300 starters in this race. The Irvington- another big event In the way of a road race The cracks will divide up. Some go to one meet and others to another. Bald, Cooper, Gardiner, Grant, Davidson, Co., burn and Zeigler vii not meet before the New Orleans date of the national circuit. It is thought by some that Cooper will defeat the speedy lad from Buffalo, while others think that Bald will remain as he was last season-on top. The going abroad of the Stearns team, composed of Riser, Wheeler ana Murpny, Will ue- priye Walter Sanger of the pleasure of meeting Murphy, who seemed very anx- ious to arrange match race with the Milwau ukee boy. Sanger has been showed under with these challenges, and is to be complimented for the manner In which he has held his temper, for it is certainly aggravating to see the low method which some of the racing men resort to seeking advertising. Sanger is certainly one of the best men in the country, and can give Murphy cards and spades and beat him out. Sanger is ignoring all of these fake challenges, and says that he will give all chance to meet him on the cir cult.
 The Maid of Ixion.
 In spring and fall she rides her wheel;
 Her hobby then, she rides it hard;
 Each week a century she'll reel,
 Just scooting up the boulevard.
 And when the summer, piping hot,