The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-24

his class because of congeniallty, not |
because he is unsociable. What the pub
lie calls injurious excess is to him en- /
joyment, because he has cultivated his !
resources and his active outdoor life is |
constantly adding strength to his |
muscles, Vigor to his constitution and |
his spirits and exuberance tell Of the /
great good he derives from the pursuit |
of his chosen pleasure. The century |
opinions of the 'wise'' editorial writer |
who tells US that cycling has had its |
day, and that the wheel is losing it's !
prestige as a vehicle of sport and pleas |
In his sleeve when solicitous friend |
gives him friendly warning and advice |
regarding his habits and the great in
jury he. is doing to himself, for he |
knows that what his friends call bag
gardness Is but the effect of sunshine |
air and exercise; and his keen appetite, |
vigorous circulation and supple muscles |
are evidences to him Of a healthy body |
and clear intellect.
There are those who have tried long |
distance riding who have not benefited |
thereby but it Is usually because tley |
entered into it in a half-hearted way |
and never properly prepared themselves. |
fatigue like other mortals, and he. is not |
the automaton he is popularity supposed |
| to be- This is one of the chief enjoy |
mentS of century ridiiig-fatigue and hum |
ger. The tired laborer of the tlelds or |
the care-worn worker in shop and fac |
tory, going home at night with visions |
"a d warm supper ana cne6rtul IIr6SiQ6 |
to tighten his heavy footsteps, is in a |
MT frame of mind to enjoy and appre- !
Gate the sweets of repose and good cheer. |
So also is the century rider after SDend- |
ing hours on the road, returning tired, |
dusty, thirsty and hungry, prepared to !
enjoy to the fullest extent a hearty meal |
and sound nights repose: He awakes
in the morning as refreshed as the dew |
sprlnkled dandelion, opening its petals TO |
absorb the cheerful rays of the morning |
sun. and goes to his days work re- |
oh ft,I =,
visions of another ride to tighten the |
cares of the day.
As contact with the things of nature |
brings one in touch with the beauties |
OF the world, so the hours and days /
spent on the road at all seasons makes |
the century rider q thoughtful student |
OF nature and a lover of the beautifuls |
Inc soft radiance of the moon, the dewyt |
fragrance of early dawn the warm rays( /
OF the sun and balmy breezes of even-S |
ing appeal to his cultivated senses as theS I
choicest things TO be enjoyed in life, and5 |
at such times he is close to nature and} |
reaping of the abundance of her gifts too
man. His ear is trained to catch the |
music of the birds, insects and frogs as |
their choruses blend with the soothing |
music of the swiftly rolling tires Of his |
silent Steed, the wheel and his Iips |
join in and his merry whistle blends with |
the chirpings of the cricket and grass |
hopper, the sweet tenor of the meadow |
blackbird, the resonant basso of the bull !
frog, and cheerful notes Of the hooking |
bird and whip-poor-will and all the |
myriad voices of natures songsters, |
while his heart beats keep time to the !
evenly revolving pedals, and the wlirring |
OF the wheels furnishes the accompani- |
ment to the concert Every breath is an
Inhalation of life and health and strength. |
ana every pulSat1ou one Of enjoyment. |
These are some of the things which make |
life enjoyable to the Wheelman and |
makes him an enthusiast. To him there |
| IS nothing gross, not even mud and rain,
for he learns to take even the mud as |
matter of course, as without the rain |
many of natures beauties would be lack |
ing;
1T has been well said that he who |
cycles well sleeps well; he who sleeps well
| into heaven; therefore, he who cycles well |
| Will get into heaven
| The speaker was interrupted by fire.
| qnent applause, but he was only half
conscious of that. His glance rested
| often on the face of the dignifed gen.
| tleman and his companion. who were
leaning forward in their seats with un-
| disguised intentness. After he had re-
tired to the rear of the platform a mes
| senger handed him g note, written on
| the back of an embossed card, as fol-
| lows: ri.
MY daughter and myself were much
impressed with your address. We would
be glad to meet you this evening at the
| --- hotel. Alfred H Montgomery"
At the hotel he was met by the gen
tieman who acted as master of ceremo-
mes at the afternoon meeting Let
me introduce you to Judge Montgomery.
OF Colorado Springs, one Of our most
| prominent wheelmen.'' After cordial
| Western handshake, Judge Montgomery
said.
| MIR W1es, let me present to YOU
! my daughter Eleanor. We are going in
| to dinner now, and as the POSTMASTER
! has me down on his list I will leave
| Eleanor in your charge for while AS
you are both good cycling cranks 1 guess
| you won't be lonesome"
Thus placed on an easy footing the
new friends We're soon conversing gaily.
Eleanor was of true Western type-cor-
dial, frank, and free from that affecta- |
ton which characterizes the ordinary So |
clety girl. Her talk was bright and in |
teresting, her humor broad and irresist 1
1ble. The whoIesomeness of mountain |
air and sunshine was suggested In her |
| sparkling eyes, rich complexion grace OF !
movement and sprightly demeanor Her
whole personality was an embodiment
Of health, purity and a thorough ell
Joyment Of life For the first time in |
his life Tom forgot his appetite and left
half OF the courses of his dinner untast- |
ed. For the first time in his life he had
met a woman who appealed to his inner
nature-whose every thought and emo
ton seemed to strike responsive chord |
In his heart. Il
what prize for some man" no |
thought, and blushed when he thought |
but he did not dare to think SO presume
tuously. The toasts passed unheeded by
them-they were busy talking and listen
ing to one another.
We'll, how are you children getting
on? Quite charming, eh? Even foreoh |
all about the old man, judging by
the way you both started" The Judge
took seat, and for half an hour pltea |!
Tom with questions pertaining to ROAD
riding and other matters of mutual in
terest BY the way, Why not stop over
week, or as long as you will, and let
US show you some genuine Western
scenery. the kind you read about. And
you can give Us some pointers on CEN
tury riding, zsN
ION. do. We should be so glad said
Eleanor and Tom did, not need any fur
Their urging.
The days that followed were the han
piest Tom had ever thought it possible |
for one to enjoy. The three companions
were thoroughly congenial, and when.
after long ride and hearty dinner thew |
! sat in the moonlightoon the hotel port |
co, telling stories. Tom felt that he was
enjoying the best part Of his existence. |
Ii was on one of these occasions that he |
| got brave and whispered a secret in the |
girls cara secret he had discovered that |
day. It was late in the evening and
! n ho5