The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
PETS THAT RIDE WHEELS.
JOHN NTLLs's GRAY soUIRREb n
FAMOUS BICYCLIST.

|
Esioys whssisg ss Mech ne Mis Master
and Fond OF Scorehiag, Too-Banker
Howell Bennett Bothered By the Fond-
ness or His Pet Cst for the Bicycle.
HARTFORD, Dec. b.-Itis q growing custom in
the Nutmeg State on the part OF various en-
liRhtoned household pets to 90 bicycle riding,
in company, of course. with the master or mis-
tress to whom they are personally attached or
with whom they abide. For example, In the
village of Greenvile, in the eastern part of the
State. there IL the handsome and s~priRhtly gray
squirrel Of John Mills, who takes It Ill. indeed.
II his master goes away on his wheel, having
forgotten or declined TO invite his royal high
ness of the plumed tail TO 20 along.
too. Skip-that's his name-admires wheeling
immensely. In fact, there's nothing else he
loves so much as to perch himself on John
Mnls's shoulder. with John on the wheel, and
90 skating through the stony, up hill and down
dale. streets of Norwich, flying like tho wind.
That's genuine sport for him, and he revels In
every individual inch of 1t. He keeps his perch
superbly. too, his long, tiny claws fixed in his
masters Jacket, rocking and swaying with the
swiftncss OF the pace, his graceful plume form
ing momentary loops and curves or flowing
straight out abaft and his little bead eyes
blinking with commingled fright and delight.
1t is a sight worth seeing. John aud his SOUR
rel awheel, whether s%printing or coastinR; and
people halt on the city walks daily, especially
strangers, and smile at them speeding along.
Tho pair are so accustomed to riding together,
however. that John hardly realizes at times
what the folks all along his route are grinning
ut. until. perchance, he suddenly recalls
the circumstance that no doubt Skip 10 rid
ing aloft rs usual. He glances hur-
riedly at his right and left shoulder-tho
SQUIRREL 10 wont capriciously to shift his perch
from one to the other rs he t~ravels-and. sure
enough, Skip is there, looking wise and COM
posed, and utterly Indifferent to public accla-
nations. When young Mills is doing his level
best at sprinting his gray back companion lies
very low. Then Skip fattens his body against
the riders shoulder. and his silky coat is pressed
smooth by the rushing wind. On the other hand,
II the gait is a slow. sedate. idling one. Skip sits
nifty. his tall curled prlmly in front Of
him. or he gambols about hi, contradict neck.
..nsliyl O. sd ,,neai1lns h h,' e p,n%0 d g,Snd JONAS Hns
waistcoat. slipping across his watch,Ruard, and
mounts himself temporarily on the handle bars
of the machine; but 1t Is only rarely that he at
IS much at home on a wheel us his master Is.
Ing. II not a speaking. acquaintance with him.
II Is not always that Skip oourts publicity in
when he desires neither to see nor to be seen he
has a trick Of disappearing efectually, II tran
sidesiy Wen, n fisin asi through t the town at ses a r e'Hysio
ing pace, but Skip was not perched on his accus-
s ssToiIsrs place sSs0s on me S0n a1sns ssou MSo ue Hsn siws sRs
S Mhss , it Ts' a, that som had s KEPT w the n hspf;
doine. one Of his pranks. de was snuEiy
ourled up in Johns pocket. Witti1giy or
to fool lis expeetaht public he had siyiy srept
into that handy burrow soon after leaving homo
people in the streets were gravely discussing the
various tates that obviously. in their jud
PScl es." OF ", sudden e,as eape ne dR0 Up john 8a' S Nj iss
Jacket. and upon his shoulder. and archly
g HSssessa h In liked II the n trick Gls 50 Meil. G IN isos, ssas
he repeated it twice In the ensuing week. Both
k }Sse ~ M'l S, spf as skip "T1 5s nesI c, %s% Of SoI OF sho
In Ans"nia. in the western part of the State.
there is not another bicycle rider in the town
owned By Howell bennett. who goes riding with
him daily. Mr.. Bennett is an expert and enthu-
tiful animal is Nicholas, black as Jet; shapely
gem. and ii m'1H gray ray eyes seA' He foi Is passionssely
fond of wheeling. Every day. with eloquent
BlandislHnents Nicholas invites. and entreats his
haster to go wheeling with him; assures him
s ssaiy ne e fnnnos fR'q iroli tse a 11%s ri hlm ahe p sIeas s .oG
Pimmers. arches his back. swishes mis- tail, and
fnG ,I MS sD ye I'VE S coat against Sn. e Mt lI., sennett' Knee
10 oGI"
.Thereat Nicholas turns several wild fits.
claws the gravel walk. capers and skylarks. and
demonstrates in every way possible his ap-
prevail Of the scheme. Swiftly and dexterously
Mr.. Bennett swings himself upon his iron steed,
and he has barely dropped into it's saddle before
compartment to hit into a Salem witchcraft
scene artistical!y-has spun up his trousers leg
and mounted himself on the riders right shoul-
der, Therenpon the procession Is of: and the
wild styl in which the pair wheel about the
streets OF Ansonia is n caution to all quiet
altogether game: the faster the cycle travels
the better he is pleased. the straighter he lays
himself Out, and the more rapturously he purrs.
Sprinting, scorching, c%oasting. or leisurely
picking the pace. it's all one to Nick-any gait
suits him. provided only that 1t goes. But he Is
dreadfully disappointed when the fun 10 over
and Mr.. Bennett runs his ~carry-all aground in
more, and looks his disgust at the wind-up. and
finally retreats In a grumpy mood into the
house and its darkest corner. In rain or snow
or fog. whether the weather is bleak or sunny.
Nicholas is always more than ready to go and
always more than reluctant to return. As n
OF humor with his persistent and Unsuitable
craving for bicycle excursions. so that the
banker would be glad to sublet q good share of
his contract TO keep Nick amused with cycling
entertainment.
But there's no feasible escape for him; Nicho-
las hos him fixed. and obviously is aware Of the
fact. Thus. Mr.. Bennett Is bound to go every
after banking hours. prestol. the black cat.
ready. for him, pounces straiRhtway on his
shoulder. and argues the motion peremptorily
with him from that coign OF vantage. II he de-
oides, desperately. that he won't 20. there's
trouble for him. He had better comply.
FOR EMPTY PRESERVE Jars.