Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-07-25
BURDETTE AND THE WHEEL.
He Denies That He Is Dead and Re-
 lates Some Experiences.

card was published from Mir. Il. H. Davis, editor of the Pulaski Inde- pendent, inquiring the foundation for the reported death of Mr Robert J. Burdette. As the Hawk-Eye had re- ceived a similar inquiry from else where, it published it's own denial of the story, and forwarded q copy of the article with letter to Mir. Burdette. The following reply in MT. Burdette's own happy vein, explains all, and is ample refutation of the runos' that he had shuff1ed of his mortal coil. His answer reminds us of the recent reply made by Mark Twain to similar in- quiry concerning himself; he said: My reported death has been greatly gerated!'
 "Bryn Mawr, Pa, June IA, 1s97.-My Dear Waite: Like the true friend and loyal comrade you ever were, you do right to protest against my burial prior to the autopsy
 'I aln indeed very much alive. Not only so I haven't been dead even little bit. Not once Could have been, had l wanted to be. Could be yet. But I don't want Maybe I ought to be, even now. But, as we make weekly confes- sion-s'we have left undone those things which we ought to have done.
 Possibly the rumor that have gone dead grew out of the fact that I have learned to ride bicycle. I say, have learned Not am learning Learned in one lesson. Ali by myself.
 Went out in the moonlight last Fri L q l.. T my family in the house and forbade them to look out of the windows. Led my bicycle out on the turnpike-the Bryn Mawr bikes are broader than the way of destruction, twice as smooth and much cleaner. It's young bicycle "a colt, foaled in or. Would give the name but for the fact that had to pay for the wheel Will only say, there fore, in accordance with the ethics of our profession, that it is not the wheel anybody says it is.
 II held him by the withers right in the middle of the road and mounted without assistance.
 T dismounted in the same independ- ent manner.
 "Got on again and proceeded to break him to saddle.
 Did I ride the first time2~
 "Well, say!
 sPeople had told me- of III oaea and both sexes-that eonl,nt a,b pi a1l fall ds if when l felt that vs{s vs,l falling. would stick out my foGS
 SUCK ou fboth feet and both hands, aA.r leIa yh my head.
 n on one side of that diabolical --fFheel and then on the other; fell on both sides at once; fell on top of it and underneath it, and I made dog falls with it. I fell between the wheels. I fell behind the hind wheel and before the front one at the same time, and don't know yet how l .1id it. II fell and thrust both legs through the spokes of one wheel. I met terrified man in buggy and drove him clear off the pike through Wheeler's hedge, and don't think he has come back yet. Every time I fell slapped the palms of my raw, swollen, throbbing hands on the hard inelastic pike, except the time I fell on my head. I fell harder and with greater variety of landing than any man could fall unless he dropped out of balloon and lit in a load of furniture. I lost my confidence, my patience, my temper, my clamps, lamp, bell and reputation. l broke one pedal the saddle and the ordinance against loud, boisterous and abusive language at night. I ran into every thing in sight except the middle of the road. l sat down on everything in the township except the saddle. Iscorched in circuit not 15 feet in circumference until you could smell birthstone. made more revolutions than South American republic, and didn't get ten feet away from where I started. haven't been so mauled and abraded, so thumped and beaten, so trampled upon and pounded, so bruised and scratched, since I left the army. But can ride.
 ssI don't say that do But can
 s'Do consider 'bilxing' good for the health?
 "For the health of some people, do, don't see how physician can bring up his family unless his children have something to eat
 "But in my own case, l reserve my decision. I will wait until I know whether am going to die or get well. And do you tell Brother Davis to keep his obituary on the standing galley until he hears from Slug Nine?' don't believe I've got '3o' yet, although friends who have called to see me break down when they say sgood-by' and walk out of the room on tip-toe. But wouldn't mind that if knew what became of my shoulder blades the time I ran under the hay wagon. Cheerfully yours, Rob- ert J. Burdette." "-Burlingto Ia.) Hawk-Eye.
 Grnndmother's currant Bread.
 Break two yeast cakes into one pint of lukewarm milk; add one teaspoon full sugar; set it in warm place till the yeast rises to the surface, then add three cupfuls of flour, and mix it into a fx.{ -~e..x |