The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-11-09
BOYS WANT BICYCLES.
The Remarkable Results of a Clever
Schoolmaster's Experiment
with His Pupils.

The average schoolboy viii work his
fingers TO the bone Il he has reason to
think that a bicycle will crown his ef-
forts. By way of experiment, school
master once promised to give beauti-
full machine TO the boy who proved him
self most worthy of il, and stipulated
that all who entered the competition
should work hard for a whole week, at
the end of which time they would be
required TO submit an account Of the
way they had spent their spare hours.
Excitement reigned supreme during
the next six days, and many a home
was turned topsy-turvy by Jealous COM
petitors for the coveted bike. Every
lad chose a different method of show
ing his ability. and some of the claims
handed in were decidedly original.
One boy built substantial work
shop, but discovered when he had fin
ished il that he had forgotten to leave
a space for the window: another actu-
ally made a coffin-"Just your size, sir"
he told the master, naiyely; while a
third constructed a pretty gingerbread
model of the village church, the chances
of which were slightly spoiled by the
marks of some predatory teeth on the
spire. The majority Of the lads. how
ever, selected scholastic subjects, and
the most marvellous achievement in
this line was that Of a fifth boy, who.
without any previous knowledge Of
shorthand, tackled an old-estab lished
stenographic system, and mastered il
so thoroughly that at the end of the
week he could write 60 words minute
and translate hisn notes accurately into
the bargain. One musical genius con-
fdently claimed the bicycle because he
had learned the jews-harp, the tin whis-
tie and the trombone, and was indig-
nant when the schoolmaster passed
him over.
The prize was eventually awarded to
an athletic youngster, who, with mex
haustible patience and skill, taught 30
persons TO swim within the time stip-
ulated The verdict in favor of the last
named feat was practically unanimous,
and the disappointed competitors, gall
lantly crushing down their own feel
iIgs. gave the smiling winner royal
ovation.
The youngest boy of an aristocratic-
but needy family used TO feel dreadful
ly ashamed when his chums invited
him TO accompany them on their rides,
for he hadn't bicycle of his own. and
his father was utterly unable to pro-
vide him with one. Thinking that this
state of things had existed long enough
he one day resolved 10 make bold bid
for fortune. and daringly carried his
plan into effect. 1t was the beginning
of the cricket season, and the boy. hav-
ing completely hidden his identity by
his features and wearing
well-fitting but shabby clothes. went
day after day TO a popular county
ground and sold penny packets Of
sweets TO the spectators. There was
something in his easy. graceful manner
and refined accent which attracted gen
eral attention TO him, and in a very
short time it became quite the conven-
tional thing for the women in the pa
vilion to. hold converse with the little
confectionery vendor, who was often
given sixpence for bag of sweets cost
ing only halfpenny. AT this rate mat
ters prospered exceedingly with him,
and long before the conclusion of the
season he had purchased his bicycle
md confessed the deception to his pa
rents They were very angry. with
him at first, especially when he coplly
stated that he had on several occasions
'old sweets to his own relatives, but
after time they saw only the smart
hess Of their sons risky plan to raise
money. and graciously condoned lis
iolation of the family honor.-Chums>