Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-12-24
BREAKING A BIKE.


and rode right Oft believed him. Som
people are too prosaically clever to eve
half enjoy life, and Horton belongs t,
this class. l do not. When becam
possessed of a brand-new bike" kney
was going to have trouble, and nervet
myself therefor. ! was not mistaken
did have trouble.
Horton said he would come over ant
help me learn to ride. That's the troubl,
with clever people. knew how Hor
ton would help me to learn to ride. AL
clever people adopt the same methods
He would lead the wheel out into TIT
smooth road with an air Of supreme
mastery, steady it for me to mount
and, having enticed me to seat on The
treachcrous machine, deliver himself in
this wise:
"Now, take good hold Of the handles
no, not too tight-they won't get
away-just grasp them lightly but firm
"; now put both feet on the pedals
steady now-don't be afraid, and-keep
your balance" Then he tips the ma
chine over to an angle Of rs degrees,
gives me start, and away 60. Now
a bicycle that's well trained and knows
it's mounted by man who is it's master
would just as likely go at an angle Of
rs degrees as any other way-I know
because have since taken pains to ex-
pertinent. Not 80 green and stubborn
wheel that conceives it to be Its duty
to take the conceit out Of a novice. Such
machine must be ridden exactly up
right, both feet must sit exactly the
same on the pedals, the handle bars
must be grasped just so, and a thousand
precautions must be taken that would
cause that same wheel to feel insulted q
month later.
That's why my machine don't go the
way my clever instructor had salcu-
lated. Instead it makes one or two mis-
cradle wobbles, turns into the only
rough piece Of road in the vicinity,
shakes itself uncomfortably couple Of
times, and then smashes into the
ground with force entirely unwar-
ranted by the degree Of momentum 1t
has attained while comparatively up
right
Then my friend comes up with . look
Of panied surprise on his face, as
though I'd been going through all these
maneuvers on purpose to disregard bis
instructions. He shows me just where
the course I have pursued Is diamet-
retically opposed to his directions. Par
ticularly he remarks that must en-
deavor to keep my equilibrium. !
thank him, perhaps facetiously, because
q vigorous fall is not calculated to i'm
prove the temper, and remark that II
he had only suggested that before 1t
would have saved all the trouble. Then
he gets offended, and I have to apollo
gize. Then we try again.
This time am tired and Disguised.
Ny knowing instructor is perfectly cool,
but much more disguised than myself.
lie insists that I am about the worst
pupil he has ever seen. Then he dis
covers that he has an engagement and
must leave. I thank him presumably
for helping me with the wheel, really
for going. As he disappears from sight
| take the wheel back to the house, slam
the door on it viciously, and seek q
place where l can rest and reflect.
Maybe I did Horton an injustice, but
that's about the way l imagined that he
would help me to learn to ride. told
him didn't think I'd have any trouble;
BESIDES had almost decided to make
ny first trial at night. This moonlight
'ide idea of mine was one had thought
II long before purchased the wheel.
love the moonlight. To me it seems
most singularly fit that love-lorn youths
should swear "by yon pale moon"
There Is no truth in Luna. She lies,
he flatters and exaggerates. And yet
We all must love her, for her falsehoods
re OF kindness. She draws the veil of
harity over our shortcomings. The
rude, unsightly hooks and crevices the
un, truths mighty ally, delights to
how, she passes by or touches with
oft romantic light that makes the very
Kings we most dislike by day at night
eem beautiful. There Is no stretch Of
lature's handiwork SO mean, so rough
nd so devoid of charm but, touched by
his divine magician's power, may be
into fairy land.
| take my wheel out into the broad