The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-01
ON A STRANGE TOUR.
Siberian Boys Who Had Never Seen a
Bicycle.

(From st. Nicholas Magazine)
During bicycle journey through ST.
oena one summer, 1 had occasion to
travel several hundred miles along
what is called the Great Siberian High
way. You see by CHANGING at the man
that this road connects the Siberian
capital. lrkutsk, with European Rus
STA. The distance is some three thou-
sand miles, and along its course have
peen bullt nearly all the towns and viii
lagos of old Siberia.
through these towns and villages I
liid.'e my daily runs and usually with
cIamorins multitude of shouting bovs
and yelping dogs as my escort for, y
plcycle was as yet a novelty in that
part OF the world, and in some nf the
more remote districts even a thing I'M
hlloNIl' remember, on entering n
certain village just at dusk. when the
| StIeels were quite deserted | came sud-
denly upon two village bows yvaIl,ino,
IN the street. They did not SEE. me mn
IN l flashed abruptly past them. They
threw up their hands in bewiIderment
ana Shfleked out, "Chort eediott!" CThe
deVlIS comingD and fled in terror to
thelf homes. | rode on to the regular
post station, ordered a frugal sinner
ana prepared to pass the night in the
travellers room.'
IN the meantime, the news of tbe
aeVil arrival had spread like Wild
nfe through the village, and the nost
yard was soon swarming with viz 90
poys, Fostering the station master 10
ieI them have peep at the marvellous
ueVli carriage" With the '.deviI's''
Pei mission the carriage was finally ia
heII OUT 10 exhibit to the wondering
7 h11
Stole out unnoticed to observe The
group OF eager urchins gathered ro1Ind
the OBJECT of their curiosity.
one OF their number, more nresuD,r
tuous imam the rest, had taken hold of
tle wheel, and was endeavorine to on
Ilsnteh ms young congregation on BIZ
cycle philosophy in general and this
Wheel IN particular. The handle bars
ne KNEW were to catch hold of. and the
sea was 10 SIT on, but he did not ex-
dctly know how it wac nropelled
An inquisitive chap raised the oues-
Clon OF balancing-how the bicycle
could stand up without being held
ms question was Immediately second
eC oy the rest of the assembly, and mt
the self-eiected teacher on his mettle
lie asserted at once that that feat was
easy enough to perform: but the more
ne lrled TO show them how, the more
t'iiA'N lllS NlllllCulLN, until nn1llN
the bicycle got tangled up with his
legs, and both went spraying on the
ground This was the signal for a
shout OF derisive laughter from the
crowd; but the little fellow was not ia
De defeated so ignominiously He pick
ed hllnself up, rubbed his head for a
moment, and meditated. Finally q
HAPPY thought struck him. "Oh. !
Know how it isl" he exclaimed. as he
picked up the bicycle. you see. when
II falls over this way he puts down this
prop pointing to the RICH; pedal, land
When 1t falls that way, he puts down
the other Then the self-appointed
lecturer upon bicycles looked proudly
around for approval.
Why, of course" they all murmur-
ed and in tone of self-reproof that
| they had not thought of it before.
And so the little village wiseacre at
once maintained his reputation and i'm
pressed upon his associates how stupid
they were not to have solved the prob
lem for themselves.