The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-09
THEY'VE ALL GOT IT
With Full Dog Tenacity the Bicycle
Rattle Fever Hangs On.
LITTLE TICKETS IN THE AIR
After a Man Wins a Wheel He Does
Not Know Whether He Is VIM
ner or Not-An Experience I'm 81
a House-ouggestion

Missoula, March s.-The wheel fever
still RACES and to-day there are no less
than u bicycle raffles in progress. On
every corner there stands a man with an
innocent looking box inside Of which are
equally innocent looking envelopes of
pink or blue.
There are plenty of purchasers. how
ever and the rattle business continues TO
be brisk Two rival rafiiers ran against
each other this morning and there was
fun for a few minutes. The contact was
peaceable. There was no scrap, but the
contest was one which was enjoyed by
all who witnessed il. Each drew ticket
from the others box, and the one that
drew the lowest paid for the two. The
only trouble with the match was that IL
didn't last long enough. If 1t had contin-
ued a short time longer neither man
would have had any tickets left.
Once in a while there is a lucky man in
the rattle business. Opinion differs as to
whether he is the man who draws the
wheel or the man who does not. Chauncey
Il. Woodwork always thought that the
man who got the wheel was the lucky
one until last night. Mr.. Woodwork had
invested $3.50 in a rattle and one of his
tickets drew the wheel-a handsome one,
He still thought that he was lucky, but
his friends soon began to advise him az
to the accessories and attachments which
he ought to purchase for the machine.
He made a note of each one as 1t was
made, and when the list was complete he
footed IL up and found that $lsl would
be required to properly equip him for tie
road. He went home 10 figure 1t all out
ha 10 vTh
lucky or not.
After he reached his home in the FIRST
National Bank building he became pos
sessed with a desire to get upon his wheel
and try his luck at riding. Things had
been coming so smoothly that he felt
confident that he could ride. So he Climbed
on by the aid of a steam radiator and
gave the wheel a shove. The floor was
smooth the corridor was long and the
wheel ran easily. Down into the area ne
sped and there he turned the machine
back. He wanted 10 get off, but vas
afraid to try lest he should break his new
wheel. He shouted to his wife, but she
didn't respond, and he wheeled around
the area, calling at intervals, until ev-
erybody in the block was aroused-it was
1890 o'clock at night. Then the elevator
boy came to his rescue and he climbed
down. He is certain now that he is not
lucky.
There seems to be a growing prejudice
against the humpbacked bicycle rider.
He is certainly no longer the ideal
wheelman, but in his stead the man who
rides comfortably and in a healthful po-
stion has come to be considered as the
model The New York Herald, in COM
menting upon the recent bicycle show,
says: -
zone of the most salient features of
the show is that almost without excep-
ton the machines shown-those of the
newest type, that is-are evidently pro-
duced for the everyday, ordinary rider
The leading firms have seemingly given
up catering to the "scorcher," and in-
stead of the tendency being in the direc-
ton of lighter wheels, the makers are
looking after the interests of the greater
number
THE wheelman who places comfort be-
fore speed pleasure ahead of excitement
and who thinks exercise is preferable to
exhaustion. is at last having his innings
1.-THE day of the bent-back rider. ex-
cept on the race track, is over 1t is
easy enogh to infer this even by the most
hurried glance at the different makes on
view. Here and there. at the back of a
stall, you see the racing bike" with the
turned-down handles, but the great bulk
of all the machines that are placed prom
inently in view have the sensible turned
up steering bar"