The record-union., 1896-05-31


This is the problem now puzzling the
pretty head of more than one fair cyclist
to-day. The bicycle craze is in full
swing. and is found to be "the thing
of the day, especially for people, who,
without the assistance of their wheels.
would find time dragging heavily, in
deed on their hands
One authority on the subject declares
that bloomers are not good form" and
that a sensible compromise is the short
skirt worn over knickerbockers end
ing at the knee. A Jacket, Zouave or
Norfolk, for a stout person, a shirt with
stiff white collar and tie, plain belt,
gauntlet gloves, knee shoes and neat
hat with stiff brim, either straw or
cloth, is correct, completes the ideal cos
tune for a lady. A bicycle outfit to be
au fait should be as severe as possible.
Tan and dust-gray are favorite shades,
while reds and puppies are assumed by
girls who love color.
The bicycle swells about town are
practicing a new trick; it Is to grace
fully doff the hat while passing a lady
friend at full speed. This is really a
difficult thing to do and at first seems
almost impossible. Just try it if you
have not already acquired the art; it
requires a good deal of practice before it
can be accomplished without danger of
taking a header, and nearly all the
boys come to grief in trying to do the
polite One young man well known in
town who is a great favOrite with the
ladies, and is noted for his polite atten-
tions TO the fair sex, was heard to re-
mark the other day that he would ac-
quire the feat if it took all summer, "
and in order to accomplish it in the
shortest space of time possible. said he
would take an afternoon off for prac-
tice, and take his hat off at every cross
street on his way 10 the park. Two OF
his lady friends hearing Of his determi-
nation, decided to witness the perform
ance. Accordingly they entered the
phaeton Of one Of them and drove out al
the time appointed along the road they
knew he would take. They kept rid
ing up an down, going around a block OF
two and back onto the same street
again, thus forcing the hard-pressed
Lothario to take off his hat every time
he passed them, in the accomplishment
OF which he invariably and in short or
der while attempting the polite salute
fell from his wheel At last his nibs
smelled a mouse and promptly left the
field thoroughly disgusted.
There is one lad, however, whom see
quite often, who is much younger thar
the aforementioned sport" who
smilingly lifts his hat with the greatest
ease possible, making it seem hard t
believe It any effort whatever.
At a meeting of the Missionary GuilC
of All Saints Church in Athol. Mass.
not long since, among other cOntribu
tlons for the benefit OF misslonarie:
was a bicycle, which was to be sent L
q Delaware missionary who had recent
~ lost his horse. Thus the bicycle en-
ters a new field and who shall say i
is not a useful one?
A prominent fashion magazine give
Us rather startling makeup for tht
bicycle rider-a sweater, Tam o Shan
ter and belt and stockings of four-folC
German zephyr!
Do you know Doc -? Here is a new
figure on his account. But for good
ness sake don't say 1 told you! A mu
tual friend was chatting with me th
other day and in the course of conver
sation startling events, difficult sit
uations," etc, came up for discussion
Talk about presence Of mind" sait
my friend, did you hear about Doc
experience in the alligator country
mo; when-how?" I asked immedi
ately, whetting my appetite for some
thing startling.
1T was like this" he began. "Whil
Doc was East-you remember, don
you?-weu, he had business that tool
him South, and while there he though
he'd combine business with pleasur
and have a pop at real live alligator
You know Doe always would be in
with anything going. Well, he fell int
a lagoon in an unguarded moment, an
one Of the biggest alligators you eve
saw made for him. In an instant poo
Doc was in the reptiles Jaw. and Il
another moment the life would hav
been crushed out Of him. But he wa
equal TO the occasion. The moment n
saw the creatures teeth all his prores
sional Instincts came into rapid play
and he pulled out a probe that he al
ways carries with him and pressing
into the gators gums he coolly asked
DO you feel that?' OF course, you know
the reptile screamed with pain, and o
course he spat Doc out as quick as
he had been a hot potato"
II shouldn't call that presence o
mind, exactly; call that rather
sample OF slavish devotion to ones pro
fession, but don't you think it sound
rather-er-?"
"Oh, WELL" my friend remarked. a