The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-09-03
How the Bicycle Came to
Springdale.
BY MARIE F. GILES.

Springdale is little village in the
mountainous country of New England,
not far from one of the fashionable
summer resorts. 1t is quiet, pictur-
csque little spot, so sheltered from the
cold winds of the north that the wild
| flowers OF spring are always early to
/ bloom and fill the air with delicious
fragrance. Springdale is somewhat
scattered. 1t has main street, shaded
on either side by tall elms; two board
ing-houses, 4 drug store, post-oftice,
two general stores, and an apology for
a hotel, besides number of small
farms. There are two churches, Il
school-house, and town hall. The gen
eral stores keep almost every article
necessary for human sustcnance. They
also keep wheels, and the storekeepers
are gradually finding it necessary to
|
apparel and household gods to make
| room for the conQucror.
How the bicycle came to Springdalc
is the most remarkable part of it, but
it is there now. and it seems likely to
stay. Men, women, and children all
have the craze. The good persons go
around to pay their semi-annual visits
on wheel, the druggist finds his whec..
en- Indispensable necessity, and the
children are sure they would be late for
school without their cver-ready steed.
There are few who regret the
change from quiet monotony to bust
ling activity, but, being decidedly in
the minority, they keep their opinions
to themselves; those who disapprove
of wheeling in Springdale are at once
dubbed "antiquated fossils" and re-
garded in the ght of 4 museum curl
osity.
Until year ago very few wheels
had passed through the little village.
Occasionally during the summer
months bicycle parties from the hotels
would find their way to Springdale and
sit down to rest under the cool. shady
trees: to the disgust of the worthy in
habitants.
Among those who spoke very freely
upon the subject was Sarah Binks, 4
tall, sunburned spinster on the wrong
side of forty. Miss Binks always had
opinions; she considered it her distinct
i've privilege to air them about the vii
lage whenever she felt inclined; and in
! tbs a"ticular case she was very much
inclined. Though her voice was high
and irritating, it was nevertheless a
voice of Importance, for Miss Binks,-
well, she was Miss Binks, and that
| told volumes. She was rich, accord
ing to country standards, and the
daughter of a clergyman and sister Of
a deacon Her father and brother were
dead, but the fact that they had lived
and were men of means and standing
gave Miss Binks an assured position
in Springdale society. She was presi-
dent of the sewing circle, teacher in the
Sunday-school, and leader of fashion.
Miss Binks gave an ''at home" every
winter. She heard they were all the
rage in New York, and she adopted the
idea with such success that her pretty
little cottage became the centre of at
traction. Miss Binks's opinion, there
fore, was of great Importance, and
when she declared herself IN enemy of
the wheel, no one thought of express
ing Il different opinion.
Its downri ght disor.c2ful.' she
said, before Il group of admirng friends.
women that was made fur servin'
an cookin an prayin', Il dying over the
country like so many geese. What
are we cummin to?'
Miss Binks was well supported in
her opinion. The bicycle was Il mon,
ster of iniquity,-an enemy. OF course
it wou-d be impossible to prevent the
outside world from wheeling, but the
people of Springdale were fixed in their
determination that no bicycle should
come there to stay. No one there
should own or ride one. To transer .ss
this law would mean social death, moth
ing less; and so the wheel was doomed.
Towards the latter part of Il certain
March the bright particular star ofthe
village was called away. Miss Binls
went to Buffalo to visit her brother
and nieces
1t was blow t. SprinyLalc, and
every one felt it, They knew That
spring would not b. quite til, same
without her: but. in spite of tears and
entreatics, Miss BinI- departed. amid
IA shower OF h,wtrs and farewells