El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-03
AWHEEL IN SIBEKrA.
Village Boys Who Had Never Before
Seen n Bicycle.

Village Boys Who Had Never Before
| Seen n Bicycle.
Thomas G. Allen, Jr., one of the
authors of "Across Asia on Bicycle, -
has written an article on 1.-THE Boys of
Siberia" for st. Nicholas. Mr.. Allen
says:
During a bicycle journey through ST.
IBERIA one summer I had occasion to
! travel several hundred miles along wha t
is called the Great Siberian highway.
You will SEQ by glancing at the map
| that this road connects the Siberian
capital, Irkutsk, with European Russia.
| The distance is some 8, 900 miles, and
along its course have been built nearly
all the towns and villages of old Siberia
Through these towns and villages l
| made my daily runs and usually with q
i, olamoring multitude of shouting boys
and yelplng dogs as my escort, for a
bicycle was as yet a novelty in that part
Of the world and in some of the more
| remote districts even a thing unknown.
| I remember, on entering a certain viii
lage just at dusk, when the streets were
quite deserted, came suddenly upon
two village boys walking in the street.
They did not see me until 1 flashed alb
ruptly past them. They threw up their
hands in bewilderment, shrieked out,
"Ohort eediottP' (The DEVILS COM
ing y and fled in terror to their homes.
I rode on to the regular post station, or
dered frugal supper and prepared to
pass the night in the travellers room.
In the meantime the news of the
"devil's" arrival had spread like wild
fire through the village, and the post
yard was soon swarming with village
boys Fostering the station master to let
them have a peep at the marvellous
"devi1's carriage" With the "devil's"
permission the carriage was finally
taken out to exhibit to the wondering
crowd. When I had finished my meal,
I stole out unnoticed to observe the
group of eager urohins gathered round
the object Of their curiosity. One of
their number, more presumpsuous than
the rest, had taken hold of the wheel
and was endeavoring to enlighten his
young congregation on bicycle philoso-
ply in general and this wheel in par
tioular. The handle bars, be knew,
were to catch hold of, and the seat was
to sit on, but he did not exactly know
how it was propelled.
An inquisitive chap raised the ques-
ton Of balancing-how the bicycle
could stand up without being held. |
This question was Immediately second
ed by the rest of the assembly and put |
tie self elected teacher on his mettIe. |
He asserted at once that that feat was
easy enough to perform, but the more |
he tried to show them how the more |
he realized it's difficulty, until finally |
ia fan oil
and both went sprawling on the ground.
This was the signal for shout of de-
risive laughter from the crowd, but the
little fellow was not to be defeated SO
ignominiously. He picked himself up,
rubbed his head for moment and medi-
tated. Finally happy thought struck
him. "Oh, know how it is!'' be ex-
claimed as he picked up the bicycle
&c You see, when it falls over this way
be puts down this prop" (pointing to
the right pedal), "and when it falls
that way he puts down the other.
"Why, of course" they all muir
INJURED and in a 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
my NOAO hoo W law oOANOo eAo PAODlOul |
Tor themselves.
Having Fun With the Eagle.
m writing this here in the old drill hall, |
which was built by the people to
shade
Dur brave volunteers who were called
out to fght-the time of the Fenian
raid.
we been reading 1.-The Truce Of the
Bear" and fancy it's perfectly legal ,
Cor me to express. with considerable :
eagle!
20 do that bird az injustice? Was I In |
the country of dreams 7
When I saw him clawing the lion, with |
the most blood curdling screams? q
low he shrieked for Mr.. Monroe! But | !
now he's looking quite pleasant. I
tell you. young Teller, you'd better :
watch out for the eagle that looks
like a pheasant! G
When the bear was very pugnacious, and v
the French and Germans looked wise. q
hat bird was bothering the lion and try
ing to pick out his eyes;
tut now he is learning to cackle, and he +,
looks quite friendly, but then .
'ou'd better watch out young Teller for
the eagle that looks like a hen!
lis voice is mellow music, it hath a q
most unctuous "quack."
nope 1t s all in good earnest, but / won't Z
take anything back.
m jollying you, Mr.. Canuck, hope you
will listen, my buck
-eep your nose to the wind and keep your |
eye skinned for the eagle that talks
like a ducki
Toronto World |