Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-04-01
A BIKE FAIRY TALE

Once upon time there was a queen
who was so advanced that the king was
quite out Of it, She set an example Of
female independence to her subjects by
going long journeys on her bicycle, IN
incumbered by any court train. She be-
came so enthusiastic about female
wheeling that she built three bicycle
tracks. On the first there was hedge
100 yards thick, on the second a pond
100 yards wide, and on the third lad
der 100 yards high, and she decreed that
no girl should marry the crown prince
unless she rode her bike through the
hedge, across the pond and up and down
the ladder. Many girls tried, but all
failed; the crown prince remained sin
gle, and at last the tracks were over
grown with weeds for want of use.
One day the queen went ont on her
bicycle alone, as usual, and lost her
way. Night came on, and she was glad
to find shelter III a lonely cottage where
dwelt woman and her daughter. The
daughter was very beautiful-a wise
woman had foretold that she would ride
over the three tracks and marry the
crown prince, but she had once met
handsome young huntsman in the for
est and vowed she would never marry
any one but him, so she refused to learn
to bike at all.
The mother was Il clever and ambi-
tious woman. She knew the queen at
once by her profile, which was on all
the penny pieces, and besides she wore
the great seal on her finger to prevent
the king from misusing it in her alb
sence. But the mother kept her own
counsel and treated the queen as a
stranger, setting before her the best
food there was in the house for supper.
When the queen had finished her
meal, she noticed how lovely the girl
was and said 10 the mother, "Is your
daughter fit for anything The woman
replied, "She is the champion lady bi-
cyclist Of the whole world. " "Oh, in
deed, " said the queen, land, pray, why
does she not ride over the three tracks
and win the hand of the crown prince?"
Because, answered the mother, "she
is too independent to run after any
man. II never thought of that, OBJ
served the queen, and pulling ciga-
rette out Of her case she fell a-smoking.
When the girl went out to wash up
the supper things, the queen asked,
Cant you persuade your daughter to
ride over the three tracks just to show
how superior we women are?'
Yes, replied the mother, "but she
must have three things" Name
them, " said the queen. "She must have
a pavilion built, opening on to the
tracks, from which she must start and
tn which she must return after each
round, without any one being allowed
10 speak 20 her. "
'Why?" asked the queen. Because
every man that speaks to her wants her
to speak to him, and she despises such
waste Of time, >" replied the mother.
"OhP' said the queen. Next she must
have three riding suits, one for each
track, and each suit must have a veil to
match, for her to wear when she rides -
Why" asked the queen. Because
every man who looks at her and sees
how beautiful she is tries to make her
look at him." replied the mother.
HUM" said the queen. Lastly, /
must go with her, and so must her three
uncles -
Why" asked the queen. Because
she will have to ride so hard that she
will wear out a bicycle on each track,
and she must have always fresh one
ready, with an uncle to oil it and to
have it in good working order. "
Hal said the queen. do you
know, my good woman, that 1 am
your rightful sovereign" Il never
thought of that, " replied the mother.
"But it is So said the queen, and /
command You to bring your daughter to
my three tracks this day week, when
everything you ask for shall be granted.
lit shall be as your majesty com
mands, replied the woman.
So on a day the mother and daughter
started for the tracks, and the girl
walked first, singing as she went for the
very JOY of life.
Presently they met man riding on
bicycle with his eyes shut Good
morning. unclel' cried the girl. But the
woman asked, why do you ride with
your eyes shut?' And the man an
swered, because l am so keen of sight
that l cannot help seeing my way
through the tiniest crack on the ground,
and if / keep my eyes open l should &C
down to the very center Of the earth. "
"That is good, " said the mother "Will
you help my daughter to win the crown
prince for busband?" THAT will i, "
said the man, for no girl ever called
me uncle before.
Soon they met another man riding a
bicycle with his feet on the forks.
Good morning, unclel" cried the girl.
But the mother asked, why do you
ride with your feet on the forks?" And
the man answered, Because pedal so
fast that / skim over the ground, and
no one could get out of my way if put
my feet OH the treadles " THAT is bet
ter, said the mother. "Will you help
my daughter 70 win the crown prince