The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-12-04

chinery Of circus, 70 DO used only
by experts 30 amuao q crowd. as che
irapozo, or The balloon, gradually
worked ita way and from Toy has
come az length 20 be as practical ior
everyday use as The old.hahlonod
horse and buggy. Possibly there are
now Ia actual use more bicycles than
pleasure carriages Of oyory desorip-
ton, aud tho bicycle has como 10 be a
necessity Of the civilization Of our
day IL almost universal use In this
country Is a matter Of general remark,
and while at hrst The demand for 1t
was regarded as ''crazo" or "fad,
which would shortly die out, when
some new "fad" was started, the de-
maud continues 70 grow, not only
here, but throughout the civilized
world, aud presently, il would seem,
tho one Of either sex who docs
not ride the wheel will DO the ex.
ception, like the one In these days
who never rides tho trolley or
travels by railroads It's use
has also extended to the army, as was
noticed more than year ago, vhen
some OF our commanders tested its
availability for the transmission OF
dispatches from one army post to an
other. In France it was adopted for
this purpose some years ago, and now
we learn that it is being tested for uso
by combatanta To do away with the
objection that the bicycle can only be
used where there are roads, and good
roads at that, folding bicycle has
been invented, which in few seconds
the rider can fold mp and pack upon
his back when he comes to bad piece
Of road or has a field to cross, and
with his rife in hand may fight as a
foot soldier very moderately bur-
dened. Regulations have also been
adopted providing for tho drill Of
riders Sin attachments as scouts or
rapid marching partisans," and thus
"the fighting wheelman" is expressly
recognized. A folding cycle similar
to that of the French one has also
been under trial for the Austrian army.
IL is described as a small rear. driving
safety machine weighing little under
thirty-one pounds, with Pneumatic tires
and an ordinary saddle,so constructed
that one wheel closes upon the other,
and so folded that the rider can sling
it upon his back and carry it without
inconvenience, leaving both his hands
free to handle his rifle. When riding
there is a continuance near the axle of
the front wheel for holding the rifle in
a verticle position. In the German
army there is a regular system of
training the men for the use of the BIZ
cycle, and the practice with it is kept
up throughout tue winter. In connec-
ton with the wheel practice there is
also q system of training in the build
ing and repair of the machines, the
disposition of weights, the carrying of
the rifle and revolver, the precautions
to be taken with regard to heat and
cold, and to the care aud cleaning of
the machine. SO, also, during the re-
cent military manoeuvres in England
a bicycle carrying a telegraph instru-
ment which can run a typewriter and
reel of five miles OF fine, flexible
wire, with relays of reels extending
the service, SO that one wheel carries
thirty miles of telegraph wire and tbs
operating machine. the wire unwind
ing by the rotation of the rear whee
OF the bicycle.
From this it will be learned thai
the wheel has already become a prac
tical thing for army operations as vel
as for pleasure and business, and tina
instead of disappearing,from use upol
the introduction of some new "fad'' o
"craze, " it has in all probability b,
come,a permanent adjunct to our civi
lization. Possibly in short time W
shall see our troops mounted o
wheels-or at least corps of wheel
men trained for special duty, as scout
or fankers, performing their evolu
, tons on our streets, and quite a
much at home on their wheels as tn