davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1897-09-26
The Family Wheel.

More novelties IN cycle construction have
been patented or brought out during the
present season than ever before in the his
tcryo the wheel, but " hlle other inventors
have been occupie q IN perfecting chainless
devices, or IN improving upon saddles and
lights, 70 has Rename for a New York man
10 bring forth family bicycle The new
invention, properly terIne dis an adjustable
bicycle frame, andif 1t possesses third of
the advantages claimed for il, viii prove
tc he "a radical improvement in cycle con-
struction.
The frame differs little in design from
those HOW iii vogue. save that it is praetf-
caIIy Gevoid OF hrazing The connections
are made by means OF adjustable inner
tubes ana screws, aud are light, strong and
simple. The easy manipulation OF the
screws VIII change the frame TO any size de
sired, so shat in half-minute il may be
made to fit any rider. The frame can be
lowered 10 suit a short boy or raiSed to ac-
commGdate a taIlmaR. The wheel base can
belengthenedor shortened in the saneman-
ner. Tbs crank hanger also can be raised
or low cred to any point desired.
If woman wishes to ride the machine in
skirts. the upper main tube can be low
ered 50 as To convert it into drop frame
bicycle Withal the wheel is devoid Of
complica tons, aud the style of connec-
lions adds to rather than detracts from its
appearance.
Among the advantages claimed for this
frame are tnat it win no longeI be neces
sary to construct bicycIes in different
sizes; that cue bicycle will DO for the use
Of an entire family; that the adiuStab bility
of the crank hanger Will render it equally
available FOR track and road use, ana
that in case Of injury any part can b. re
placed without requiring IN entire new
frame.
Another advantage is that it can be
taken apart quickly and packed in i box
thirty inches long and broad by ten inches
deep. The chain adjustment permits the
chain being tightened, loosened or removed
within: few seconds of tirue. The in
ventor claims that IL lightness, strength
and rigidity his machine compares favor
ably with any On the market.
The times., 1897-09-26
At Crns..purncses

Whenever q new soldier appe ared in
the guards OF Frederick the Greatof Prus-
Sia 1t was the habit of the King To ask
him the three following questions: How
old are you2 How long have YOU been in
my service? Are you satisfied with your
pay ana treatment" 1t once happened
that q young French soldier, who had
served his own country, expressed a wish
IL join the Prussian army, and. because
OF his splendid physical Development, he
was at once accepted. He was unable to
speak single word of the German Ian
euage, but his captain told him that the
King was certain to ask him questions in
that language TIE first time he saw him,
ard hc advised him, therefore, 10 learn
By heart the proper replies to the usual
three Questions Of mis- majesty. The
soldier lost no time in learning them,
and on the first day that re made his
appearance. III the ranks Frederick ap-
preached to interrogate him 1t 50 hap
peaed, however, that the King began with
the second question first, and asked him:
How long have you benin my service?"'
''Twenty-one years. answered the young
man.
His youth sufficiently indicated that he
had not carried q gun for any Snch length
of time as that and his majesty. greatly
aslonished, said:
How old are you?"
zone year, ant please you majesty"
The King, stiIlrurther amazed, exclaimed.
You or I must certainly be bereft of our
senSesl"
The soldier. Of course, taking this for the
third question, and glad that the ordeal was
over 50 easily, replied:
''Roth, ant please your majesty
This IS the first time / was ever treated
as madmsn at the head OF my army"
replied Frederick, greatly puzzled.
The Frenchman. whose stock OF German
was nov used up, stood quiet. Presently
the King spoke to him again, whereupon
the soldier LIurted out in French that ha
did not understand a single word of Ger.
man. The King, who had been much en-
moved, was now greatly amused, and after
urging upon him the necessity OF doing hig
duty, lett hnn.-Harper' Round Table.
The times., 1897-09-26
The Chainless Bicycle
tFrorn the New York sun. }

Since the announcement last spring
that the bicycle of sos would be chain
less. wheelIneG and wheelw0men have been
impa tient to know all about the new ma
chine. But wheel manufacturers have
been very rcticent on the subject, and little
information was forthcoming. A repre-
sentative Of the Providence Journal, how
ever. appears te have learned some inter
esting facts about the coming wheel anu
tile ideas of its makers.
II seems that the chainless models Of
1898 VIII lie a little different from the
wheels of that sort which have been on
exmhiti.n during the present year. PracJi
cal rests have resulted in minor changes in
the original design, but the shaft and
bevel gear remain, There are, however,
two distinct ways 3f employing the gear.
One is to have the main driving cOgwheel
ON the end of the crank aXlc close to
the bca ring, and another is TO have the
cegwhecl nlid way between tile Two bear
ings, OF ir, the center of the axle. BY the
latter arrangement an equal amount of
pressure is supposed to be borne by each
bearing. To add to the wheels rigidity
its lower forks and rear stays have been
REINFORCED. These notifications may help
to overcome the fear Of mechanics that in
chainless wheels the frame is too frail to
Withstand the strain imposed upon it,
In the chainless bicycle of 1898 the
question of frictiou is important. 4 rider
OF the ordinary bicycle must frequently
tighten lis chain because of the wear upon
it. whereas it is asserted that the chainless
wheel may be run from 10000 to 10000
being given to its adjustment. Little oil
is required, and, as the gear is wholly in
cased, no dust or dirt can interfere with its
movement. The weightof the new wheel for
road use VIII he about twenty-nine pounds,
or several pounds heavier than this years
chain variety.
1t is intimated that the new chainless
wheels will be sold for consid erably more
than 81 90, perhaps $l25. 1t viii be neces-
sary for the public to give the machines
The times., 1897-09-26
Bicycle for Ten.

The dPcentuple, or ten seated bicycle, is
the latest advance in bicycle building. It
WIS built by the Walthan Manufacturing
Co, Waltham, Mass, after designs by the
conpany's president, Charles H. Metz.
The frame forms a geonietrical figure
called Fhntnboid; the upper and lower tubes
are connected with tubes running parallel
with tic rear fork and the front tube, and
forming Il series of triangles on the apax
OF each of which is placed a satldle. In
other words, the design is that OF a War
rem truss, as may be seen on good man.
bridges
There is parallel lower tube, holding,
wi6hitsrritt, the adjustable crank hangers
which fully make up for the stretching to
which even the best claims are subjected
Thcreisa lateral truss or brace of steeIr DDS,
spread BY blocks running front to rear ana
preventing larger amoant of sway or
elasticity than is required. Some such
oscillation must exist but too much rigidity
would be Synonymous withimpractcability
The force of inertia any body requires
during motion so pulls forward each par
ticle of that body, that, all driving, SO TO
say, in the same direction, the whole body
becomes for the time being, practically
inflexible 1t is strongly exemplified by
the wslEknown experiment of shooting q.
candle through a wooden board.
The 0riten as 1T is called is Intended
prlna rily for use ON the track, but has
stood brilliant tests on average roads.
After several makers tests and private
tests In Waitham, it made exhibition runs
all last week at the Rhode Island State
fair, Providence, where it proved its prac-
ticability beyond question, and went past
the grand stand again and again at
rafting gait.
AS there has never been any bicycle for
more than seven men, of course, there has
been no opportunity to practice on the Ori-
ten. Yet it was absolutely necessary
for the team to acquire the hang of the
thing. In fact, at one of the practice
runs, there was a spill, owing to the old
truth that TOO many cooks spoil the
BROTH There We're too many willing
hands to help. But later when the starts
were made, with strict discipline the
team rode beautifully from start to finish.
The steering is comparatively easy. When
the multi-cycle covered the back stretch
at the easy rate of thirty seconds to the
quarter, it seemed to be manned by an
immense body of red like a .vigintipede,
or, in other words, the twenty-legged cen
tipede.
Tie difficulty of building such a wheel
can hardly be overestimated. The design
is SO novel, called for so many new tools
and SO much new machinery, that even
tie extended facilities of the Waltham
Manufacturing Company were none too
many. The oriten was built to create a
pacing machine, which, ridden by prac-
ticed team on well-banked, long track,
would uutrun anything else in existence
without offering any greater difficulties
or danger to the riders than those of the
seXtuple machines; secondly, to decide
The times., 1897-09-26

The great cycling event Of the local
season, the national meet, is now a thing
Of the past, ana it may be well 10 make
a few observations with regard TO 1t. No
one can doubt for a moment that cycling In
Washington has advanced steadily during
the past year, keeping pace in large
mea sure with the great national increase
III the sport In spite OF the unfavorable
Conditions prevailing on Friday the meet
was a brilliant success. Close, exciting
finishes marked the contests throughout.
Some surprises were sprung, and the
victories were popular in every instance.
The attendance was undoubtedly greatly
diminished by the general impression that
the e-dyy track would prevent good racing.
Those v no stayed away missed some Of
the best races Of the year in spite OF the
fact that slow time was made. Echoes Of
the national meet will doubtless prevail in
wheeling circles FOR many weeks to come
Tile presence of suchcracks as Bald, Cooper.
Gardiner and Mertens, and the old-time
champion Arthur Zimme rnlan, is rare
enough ~ rnmisn tviIcs OF interest Tor
all in nterested In racing.
The next event To- wnieh the locals have
10 Iopk forward is tie first OF the intercity
meets, which occurs on October 8
number Of races heside the main contest
between the interdivision event, Will be
run. They Will ali be of peculiar in
terest.
The times., 1897-09-26
Sprockets.

A watch cog attached to a chain is
likely to become wound up.
TO promote good government and Sc
cure good roads are the principles adopted
by a young mems Republican club In
Boston recently.
Crne of the first errors an uninStructed
beginner Will fall into is throwing his
whole weight forward ON his arms and
Clipping lhe fandle-bar as a last hope
between life and death, when, in fact,
the entire weight Of the body should rest
ON the saddle and pedals
After his experience with the running
horses at Columbus, Earl Kiser feels that
ne is now fully qualified to tackle a cy-
clone or the Empire State express.
II must have become lonesome OH the
has beens'' shelf, judging by the way
Johnson, Brown, Tom Butler, Randall and
others, rode at Springfield. 1t has been
a long time since these nen got their slice
OF the money.
SChade's riding continues to improve as
time goes on. With another years ex
perencs Oh the minor tracks the Southern
champion VIII be fit and ready TO go out
and tackle the big cracks of the circuit.
Next year will in all probability find him
in line with the ''profs''
George Balls Improvement is a big sur.
prise to even his most intimate friends
He has suddenly developed a turn Of speed
that will sooner or later carry him right
to tie top.
The Affair Cycle Club viii probably
hold their annual races on October Ia
They wiz probably take place at Inter
national Park.
The times., 1897-09-26
No Chinese Love Matches.

There is no such thing as love Itch
in China. OF course, there could not be,
where thare is absolutely no social inter.
course between men and women, ano where
it is, III fact, disgrace for a girl to he
seen by any man save her father and
brothers Absolutely separated by the in
surmAntable wall of inexorable custom
tie girl tutters around at her household
tasks, almost cripple, on her poor little
deformed feet, while the boy stoImly
goes about his daily tasks, either at school
or in the field until # is decided by their
parents that it is time for them to marry.
Then the parents Of the young man seek
a ''gO-bctween." OF regular matrimonial
agent, VINO, for fixed stipend, agrees to
find him 2 wife. Then she finds a girl
w hose parents are willing to sell (since sal Z,
1t lisp for the suIG offered by the family of
the vOuns man as a marriage portion
After the prelinlinary negotiations pres
ents are exchanged between the two fam
lilies and also between the two Young
persons. This exchange of presents CON-
stitutes the betrothal and it is so binding
that it cannot legally be broken under any
circumstances Even should the younr
girl discover (as she too often does, that
her future husband is cripple, or insane.
or even that horrible thing, leper, she
cannot be released; she must go to him
and obey his parents as his wife.
The times., 1897-09-26

Said tlie agent for May How ard. s he
drew up TO the table and started a talk
on one OF his features "Jaguarina, the
famous champion woman fencer, is the
only woman in the world who has met
and defeated trained sol3Iers ia actual
contests with the broaGs word, mounted aud
on foot In February, 1887, in san
Francisco, she defeated two noted fencers
who had, within year defeated Duncan
c. Ross, whOrn she had challeHged-Sergt
owen Davis, OF the United States Cavalry
then champion Of the Army, ard Capt.
f. y. Jennings. late of Eighth ROYAL Irish
HUssars, British A rmy, master-at-arms
OF the Olympic Athletic Club. OF san Fran
ciscC. Members of this famous orgauiza-
tion gave Eer a medal in commemora ton
or her defeat II Capt. Jennings, the master
alarms OF the club, in a foot bout with
broadsHords, IN the presence of the club
TWO years ago she met Sergt Walsh, in
Milwaukee,. and defeated him in twelve
attacks, he throwing up the sponge at the
conclusion of the twelfth attack, the
actual score then being 10 to points
in her favor.
"Jaguarina is wonderful military rough
rider as well as aI-round fencer ana
athlete, She weighs 1872 pounds, but does
noU appear To weigh over l59 pounds
Her Development is unusually perfect and
her strength phenomenal. The remarkabI
feature of her development is that she
has never used duInb-bellS, clubs or appar-
atus of any kind. She has confined her
self to natural free exercise, combined
with contraction and relaxation of the
muscles, which she has reduced to u
science. Her right and left side develop
ment is exactly the same, quite unusual
in d fcncer, as tie heavy work falls Oh
the right side.''
The times., 1897-09-26

starters, on a track from / . to 20 feet
wide, eight starters: for a track from 20
10 20 feet wide, ten competitors, aud for
d track 20 feet wide or more, fifteen com
petitors. This is, indeed, a wise measure
calculated Il diminish the number of ac-
cidents on the track. In these days of
ambitious anna teurs the overcrowding of
race tracks is one of the greatest evils
especially ia handicap events. Amateurs
are more prone to erratic riding than the
professionals. and when a large bunch
rounds turn the spectators always anti
cpate spill, resulting more or less Sc
riuUsly To some of the contestants. With
the fields limited as above, the dangers
of fouls and falls VIII be reduced to a
minimum.
Track racing machines have been barred
from road events by the Victorian Cyclists
= ssociation, owing TO the number ct
fatalities and serious accidents which hd q
been caused hy the practice of riding light
track wheels in road races. Such ma
chimes are obviously unfit for the rough
road contests in which they are exposed
to excessive jolts and strains, incident To
crossing car lIacks, bridges, stones, etc
Track tires on the lcad have also been de-
barred by the above-uen toned league. ana
the minimum weight OF twenty y-three pounds
for road racing machines appears to be eu-
tirely reasonable.
While road racing does not come within
the jurisdiction of the League of American
Wheelmen, the Century Road Club might
at least require that all road records be IS
tablished on machines of not less than this
weight, which would have tendency To
encourage Rad race promoters To deb,,r
track racers from the road.
Fatalities have been remarkably rare both
in track and road races in America, but
in these days OF big entry lists and keen
competition the racing men need sols
protection
The times., 1897-09-26
ROW TO CLIMB HILLS.
NVheeIwoman Tells Novice the Best
Way to Learn This Art.


Hill climbing if Of all particular de
partments Of cycling the one which re
quires the most learning. says the Wheel
woman. The novice will easily acquire
the habit Of proceeding along the level
ground without more wabbling than is
absolutely necessary, or of descending a
bill without losing more control of the
machine than is needful But hill-climb-
ing, is, IS one may say, quite different
matter, inasmuch as it requires to be
carefully learned, and in this, s III
most other mundane affairs, experience
is the greatest teacher. In the first place.
one should never be discouraged be-
cause hill appears to be steep. At the
top of one ascent the next hill looks a
regular wall 10 be surmuunted, whereas,
on closer acquaintance, it may turn out
TO be merely the gentlest of rises. And it
is no doubt on this account, namely, the
influence Of the mind over the matter of
the muscles, that most hills are much
mcre easily climbed in the dark than in
the daylight
In the next place, hills that one does
not know perfectly should not be shed
The hest plan is to start every ascent
with tie determine ton to get up as far
as possible, with as little exertion as
possible, and to do this adequately there
should be no fast pace at first. very
little practice will enable much to be done
In the way OF h1ll climbing.
The times., 1897-09-26
Another Exposed FalIacy.

mo" " said the soap fakir to a group OF
people hat / ad gathered aroundh him. there
is no use talking To me about heinnOcence
OF the cUuntryInan. He may buy a gold
brick occasionally. or sign a blank check
and lose his farm, but as a rule he can
take care OF himself Just as well as the
next one, and generally a little better.
IL knew as much as some farmers I
wouldn't he in this business, and you can
gamble on that.
Why, say, do you know " hat happened
to me the last time was downinthe coun-
try? / got punched, that's what 1 done
] got my satchel out in front OF the hotel
in 2 little town about thirty miles out east
here, and began 70 do a few tricks TO draw
"a crowd.
After I'd made an egg disappear and
pulled a few knots open for them, I says:
Now, gentlemen, I'm going TO show you
trick that notody on earth has ever at
tempted. You see my hat here? Well,
we'll Imagine for the time bein' that it's
d flower-pot. Out Of this hat I'm goin'
to make q bush grow up. and when I've
done that I'll make every leaf ON il turn
into f!ve-doIlar note
What? Did ! do it? Of course, I did
lut, say, Go you know what come Of il?
Blamed If they didn' t arrest me and fine me
So for raisin bills, which the justice u
the peace said was contrary to the statoots
made ard provided
We'll, ! sort of had hanke-in' to know
whether they done it in good faith, or Just
because they thought was easy pickin',
and what DO YOU think found out? Why,
the people of that town hadn't maid sny
taxes for eight years They'd actually
been runnin' things by plucktn' Just such
innocent fellows rs me.
Now, gentlemen, there's a 81 bill in
one of these little packages. Who VIII
give me 10 cents for the first choice?"-
Cleveland Leader.
The times., 1897-09-26

"A good story is told OF one of the
bOyhOOd experiences of Stuart Robson,
the Comedian" said d. Y. Arthur. 1T
was the custom Of his mother to keep a
scrapboOG OF household recipes, clipped
from newspapers. she came across one
that told how 70 make CASTLE soap, aud Ike
most good housewives started in Immediate
ly 20 spend over the recipe twice ds much
as the article would have cost ready made
The recipe for tnis soap called for tai
low, grease and fat combined with color
ing ma tler and lye, and the advantage
claimed for / was that it economical the
scraps Of the kitchen.
] fell to young Robson ; lot To he tie
first one TO try the soap sghile taking a
hath Early one morning he entered the
ba thrVm armed with a towel, scrub
bing brush, 9 I'D a huge cake of his mother 5
homemade soap. A few minutes after
wards wild yells were heard to issue from
the Rotscn residence, and they came from
the blthiOom The house was startled.
The neignborhood was aroused, and the
neigti5ors congrega ted Defore the door
After some eeffort, Mrs. Robson succeeded
in forcing an entrance and found her hope
fdl son IN state of serni-convulsionS,
iierCely dancing a fandangu in an inef
f'ctual attempt to rid his body of bright
tan-culored layer OF rat and tallow grease
1t seems That as soon as young Robson
had stepped from the warm bath the SOAP
which he had used plentifuny, had in u
most peculiar manner hardened on him
ike cold gravy upon a platter, clinging
10 him with tenacious tenderness, and
hiterly refusing 10 be wiped off. A that
moment re very much resemhled Cleopatrds
Needle after having undergone a thorough
coat OF paraffining- The combined ef-
forts of Robson's parents were utilized In
an attempt TO remove the greasy foreign
substance, and it is also said that the
now eminent comedian had to be held
over hot stove 10 melt the acquired fat
off him.
The times., 1897-09-26
century wheelmen's Run.

After waiting three weeks, the Century
Club has At last been granted a good day
lor their big century run TO Frederick,
which is taking place today. This run il
one OF tie biggest III the history of the
city over SEQ wheelmen entered the
event, and much interest has been mani
fe7ted In the affair. AS 1t was post
poned from week To week, the number OF
entries grew until the list reached it's
present gigantic proportions.
The heavy rain of Thursday gave the
roads good drenchiug, and they have
dried cut sufficiently since then to be
in perfect condition.
Those who participated in the big run
met ut Thirteenth and X streets at 6
clock this morning and started from that
point All of the survivors of the run
will he presented with medals.
The times., 1897-09-26
cRoss-coUNrRY CYCLE CLUB.

On October all the oolored cracks : i'll
compete at the big meet given by the
Cross CoEntry Cycle Club at the Inter
national Athletic Park The members If
the club re nntiringin their effortsto make
this meet q grand success, with the view
to repeating the same annually and from
the number OF tickets already sold -he
plospects for large attendance are very
encouraging.
ExtenlEe Improvements in the PARK are
now in progress. The seating capacity will
be increased, the riders quarters VIII he ie-
modelled SO as 10 give them every facility
possible, and a new surface will be put on
the track, making it one Of the fastest iE
the country. Many OF the contestants are
out not only for the prizes but also for
competition records, and they VIII have
the satisfaction OF riding on the trick
When IN better condition than it has ever
been before.
sharp contest VIII be seen in the five
Eile American championship event,
for which all the crack riders of the coun-
Try Will lie entered. The prize, q beau
tiful silver trophy, valued at $35, must
be won three years in succession, The
present holder, Mr. H W. Freeman, jr ,
will be in fine form to prevent this trophy
changing hands, while the local wheelruen
are determined that it shall remain cred
tied to Washington, H. c. The solid gold
medals iE tie novice and twn-Inile Dis
trict Of Columbia champion ship races.
vailed at SO apG SIS, respectively. viii
bring out many new riders. Considerable
speculation is gcing OH as to W no viii Jc
the winner Of the mile open event, for
which diamond scroll scarfpin, valued
at S25, wnl he. awarded to the first man
who crosses the tape.
En;ry blanks can he obtained from the
secretary, Harry w. Cornell 1922 Eleventh
street northwest. OF from any maInher Of
the club. All entries for open events will
close september Is, at p. M