The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-17
A BICYCLE FRIEND FINDER.
II is a Telescope That Can be Attached
10 a Bracket on Your Wheel.
INSTRUMENT SIGHTS The LONG PATH
Husband Finds Wife and Pleasure Parties
Meet Each other with It's Aid.
The Best Telescopes
Are Used.

You will soon eat, sleep and have your
entire existence on a wheel. Every day
they give us something new to adapt to
the wheel. To-day a genius invents
new lamp that throws . light forty feet
ahead, tomorrow It is a pedal that makes
you increase your muscular force without
muscular effort, the next day II is a tire
that can't be punctured.
But the latest adaptation is one that is
for comfort as well as use. 1t makes the
bicycle ride pleasanter. and that is the
important object Of the sport.
IL consists of a powerful telescope
mounted upon a bracket that holds IL
upon level with the eyes. AS you ride
through the lanes and woods you put
your eyes to the telescope and look ahead.
and it enables you to scan the path
half of a mile in front Of you, and to
distinguish figures at that distance.
This telescope is also made in the form
OF an opera glass, one glass for each eye,
so that you can look in comfort without
squirting up one eye. The distance which
you will be able TO see depends upon the
strength Of the glass. The more expensive
lenses give you o vision as far as the
horizon and upward to the stars, but
eyesight a mile or two ahead. which is
enough for ordinary use. This telescope
invention is useful for other purposes.
II you wish TO find a friend, and are in
doubt which way she has gone. you need
not ride a mile IN this direction and
mile In that direction. securing the coun-
try for her. but you can climb the near
est hill with your bicycle and pick her
out with your telescope. Or you can ride
TO the first elevation in the road and look
down to see II she is ahead of you. The
telescope will pick her out so distinctly
that that you can make no mistake.
Young LADY riders find it. useful for
many purposes other than that of meet
ing friends. The terror OF the girl rider
Is the tramp. She is deadly afraid OF
meeting one on the road. The very sight
Of his rugged outlines throws her into
such a spasm of fear that she can hardly
pedal past him.
More than one tramp has been COMPEL
ed to pick UP "a pretty wheelwoman ana
assist her to mount her wheel from which
she fell in fright at seeing him.
The telescope is guaranteed 10 pick out
a tramp quicker than anything that was
ever known. And when you see pretty
girl wheeling along IT, road with her
eyes 10 her opera glasses, you may be
sure that she is looking ahead for one
Farmers dogs are a terror TO men and
women alike. They are vicious and dis
trustful Of a wheel. Many riders carry
a little bulb syringe Of ammors& which
they press at the first onslaught Of the
dog This sends the canine away with
a ki-yiii But with the telescope you can
sight the dog from afar, and If you do
not like his looks you can turn back.
A bracket is not such pretty thing
upon wheel, but If it matches the frame
I'm material. ii is not unsightly. III Is
made in three parts, and can be folded
up. unscrewed. and carried at the back
of the wheel. or doubled down next to the
handle-bars.
on a tandem these glasses are very
useful, for the steersman can Keep
long watch ahead. He can see carriages,
smash-ups and beginners, and can steer
clear of them.
You will find it rather exp' nsive nttle
instrument but If you are careful OF IL,
IL will last a lifetime; and after all you
do not begrudge a few dollars spent upon
your favorite sport.