New Uses for Bicycles.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6358, 12 September 1895, Page 1

New Uses for Bicycles.

It was only to be expected that the Yankees would discover new uses for the bicycles. California,- we learn, boasts of possessing in one Andrew Spence, the only cycling missionary in the world. Mr Spence is as inventive as the majority of his countrymen, and has designed a remarkable sail, which he has rigged on to his machine. On this sail are printed the Ten Commandments, so that he who rides by may read, and the masts and yard arms are hung with religious charts, which are said to show when time shall end. The moral effect of all this display upon human beings is not mentioned, but as every horse Mr Spence meets takes fright the resuk must be regarded as dubious. As far as the cyclist himself is concerned he gets great benefit from the use of the sail when the wind is favorable,but the inconstant breeze gives him a good deal of trouble on other occasions. Another use has been found for the bicycle which will tend to make riders at night very suspicious of each other. The gentle highwayman has abandoned Black Bess and has taken, not inappropriately, to a Rover. A lady and gentleman, riding on a lonely road in the State of New York, were met by two other cyclists, who asked questions about the way. The unsuspecting pair 'had no sooner alighted and commenced to give all the information in their power than they found themselves looking down two barrels of two revolvers. Under the threat of death they gave up their money and jewels, and then, in obedience to orders, they lay down face ddwnwards on the dusty road and were told to stay in that position for a quarter of an hour. The robbers then punctured the tyres of their victims' bicycles, so as to delay pursuit, and made ofE The unfortunate cyclists lay still until they thought the quarter of an hour must have expired and then dragged their disabled bicycles to the next village. At latest accounts the highwaymen had made such good use'of their long start that they were still at large. •