The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-03

ing Board enjoys telling a story, and
his delight in amusing Others is not
seriously dampened if he happens to
have been the victim of the episode.
AT the expense of a nickel he recently
added an anecdote to his entertaining
repertory. While the sun was she'd
ding heat in warlike style a few days
ago Mr.. Pitman was cutting straight
furroW in the dust of a suburban road
not far removed from the Borough of
Manhattan. When the racing authority
had ridden some distance a sign by
the wayside reminded him that he had
gone far enough without stopping. At
one side of the hOstelny We're number
of automatic bicycle-holderS, and Mr..
Pitman, dsmounting, backed his wheel
into the iron clasps, deposited a nickel,
as the directions admOniShed, and left
his cycle with a feeling thaat it was in
good keeping When he returned a
troop of tow headed urchins of I'M
graded sizes seemed greatly interested
in the wheel. Naturally Mr.. Pitman
felt a little proud that his wheel was
| receiving its due, although it was
little perplexing to find the rural youth
ranged in two lines diverging from the
holder and each urchin very anxious
to retain his position. The attention
of the boys was transferred to the Rae
ing Board member on his appearance,
which led him to think highly of the
opinion of the young chaps. AS he put
back the key and took away his wheel
each and sundry of the youngsters
made a dive beneath the rack and the
two lines resolved into a heap of strug-
Cling small bodies and kicking legs.
One little fellow finally squirmed out
of the pile and with a very dusty face,
contorted into smiles, ran away, tri-
umphantly waving a nickel in the air.
The coin was intended simply as a de-
post for the safe return of the key,
and was released when the key was
placed in the lock. AS Mr.. Pitman re-
sumed his blowing, he heard slangy re-
marks from the group that sounded
like waiting for some other fruit"
would you be kind enough to tack
down the corner of the rug where it
curls up?" his wife inquired. "Oh, I
suppose so. But it's pretty hard to
stoop for a man of my size. hate
getting down on my knees cit does
too ''How do you know I am ia
tigued?' 81 watched you from the win
dow initiating your bicycle tires with
a little hand pump"
The expense of pacing an hour race
is said not to be less than $3.50, and
this is the reason there are not more
such contest. The creation of pace
making teams for pace-making pur
poses, that will remain organized con-
stantly, is a possibility of the future.
Such teams viii consist of two score
or more men and will make regular
contracts to pace races, as is done now
in England and France.
The girl who wears leggings awheel
is getting scarce. Leggings have prov
en- themselves so warm, bulky and I'M
slightly that they have been discarded
for the high boot and now in turn
this is slowly but surely disappearing,
owing to the popularity of the low shoe
and golf stocking, so it is safe to pre-
dict that by this time next year the
high boot too, will have fallen into
innocuous disuetude.
The latest rule for amateur riders of
the feminine persuasion, who have ex-
perienced trouble in getting their sad
die set at the proper hight, is to have
the distance from the top Of the sad
die to pedal at it's lowest point one
inch more than the distance from hip
joint to the ground when the rider is
standing. It would seem a good idea
and those who had this difficulty would
do well to try it.
Talking of the number of bicycles
which are to be exported from this
country to Great Britain, an English
trade paper says: IF the American in
vasion continues, some one will have
to organize classes in London where
cycle repairers can learn the details of
American cycle construction. What
with two piece crank axles and other
Yankee ideas, some Of them who have
lately been called up to overhaul and
repair Yankee machines have had their
work cut OUT