Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-10-26
HIS LAST PUPIL.

"The best thing you can do" said my
doctor, sis to take to bicycling"
Sat present, of course, one bicycles, "
said the man of the world.
"You're missing the finest possible en-
joyment by not bicycling" said my ath
letic friend.
In fact, wherever went was met by
bicyolists who longed to make others BIZ
cycle. 1t was not for health, nor for fash
ion, nor for exercise that finally took to
the machine. 1t was simply from the
pressure of public opinion. When I had
finally given in and made up my mind to
spoil my clothes, bruise my body, and
ruin my temper by learning to ride I
sought out my athletic friend and asked
him to tell me if there was any instructor
whom he could especially recommend.
eyes," he said, "there is. There is one
man, Barkinstone by name, who has quito
a small shop in the Enderdown road. He
knows more about the bike than any two
other men in England put together. I
would not dream of buying new ma
chine myself without consulting Barkin-
stone about it, though he would charge
me guinea for his opinion"
said that that seemed rather a lot of
money.
My friend confessed that 1t was so.
"But If you want the very best you always
have to pay for it. Barkinstone's thor
ough, that's what he is. He never adyer-
tises and never makes any fuss, but on his
merits alone he always has more work
than he can do. He never employs an as
sistant-except, of course, in his work
shops. If he consents to teach you, he
will charge you e5, no matter how few or
how many lessons you may require. 1t
seems good deal Of money, dare say,
but then remember that If you pay for
Barkinstone you get Barkinstone. He
does not hand you over to some under
strapper who knows nothing of the real
science of the thing, and he will turn
you out perfect. Your style will be abso-
lutely correct. You will ride easily and
confidently. You will thoroughly under
stand the mechanism of your bike, and If
any trifing accident occurs be able to put
it right for yourself instead of rushing off
to repairer. Don't do it unless you like,
but If you do can guarantee that you
will get your moneys worth"
"Did he teach your" asked
"Well, I'll tell you. l learned to ride
all right, as thought then, from a friend
of mine. After had ridden for about a
year met one of Barkinstone's pupils, u
lady, and when I watched her felt dis
satisfied with myself and uneasy about
my riding. I got an introduction from
her-he won't take pupil without an in
PRODUCTION = and went to Barkinstone
Look here, said, 7 want you to try me
and see if ride properly He put me a
lot of tests, and thought got through
most of them fairly we'll. Yes,' said Bar.
kinstone, your machine doesn't suit you
and your saddles not right. You get
along anyhow and ride like the average
man.. What do I want?' asked. Two
finishing lessons at a guinea each, he said
took them, and never spent money bet
ter. gained in comfort, gained in speed
and got an understanding of the machine
that was alone worth the money"
That decided me- With an introduction
from my athletic friend / sought out Bar
kinstone in the Enderdown road. He
was tall, thin man, with loose lip and
inquirlng eye. He heard what wanted
and then looked up entries in notebook.
"I'm full up for fortnight" he said.
"You can take the course then if you like.
shall require the R5 in advance and a
written promise to keep my system of tut
tion secret. That is my usual custom. +"
I gave him the money and the promise
and said good morning
"Wait minute, SIR said Barkinstone,
II must have machine exactly right
ready for you to learn on. Step this way"
He took me into another room, weighed
me carefully, measured me frequently and
accurately and told me exactly what
clothes was to get. He had model suit
there and explained it to me- He had a
tame tailor, who was intrusted with the
making Of these suits. He would not risk
his secret by allowing you to employ your
own tailor.
At the end Of fortnight returned to
him.
paid altogether exclusive Of a moder-
ate charge for the olothes) 28 So. to Bar
kinstone, a5 for tuition, guinea for
choosing machine for me and Q guineas
for procuring, altering and fitting special
saddle. In four days could ride straight
up stiff hill without bending my back
and with my hands of. ! could take my
machine to pieces and put 1t together
again. On the fifth day rode 40 miles
without feeling particularly exhausted.
Now, am by no means an athlete, and
am particularly slow at learning any
thing In short, Barkinstone was expen-
sive. but he was also the most amazingly
clever and thorough instructor that the
world has yet produced. sent him four
pupils, and the last Of them had to walt
three months before Barkinstone could
take him.
At a rough guess should say that Bar
kinstone was making from ESQ to eco q
week clear profit. heard Indirectly that
he was investing largely In house property.
As
About q year after this was in fish,
ing village on the Yorkshire coast. I was
there for holiday, and (like most writing
,nen) found that got rather more work
done In my holiday than did any other
time. One hot day had been sitting out
In the garden most Of the morning and
afternoon doing bad reviews Of worse nov
els at my leisure. After dinner finished
the reviews and took them out to the post
observed that there was glorious full
moon; that the roads were In capital con-
dition, and / remember that ! had taken
no exercise all day. ! went back to the
house, brought out my bicycle, lita totally