LONG AGO STORIES

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1935, Page 21 (Supplement)

LONG AGO STORIES

EDWARD CAUSES A GREAT STIR. Edward’s father was attached to the British Embassy in Paris, and Edward always went to France for the holidays. In Paris he saw the velocipede for the first time and he gave his father no peace till he obtained permission to ride one. The older man was not sure whether a young gentleman could keep his dignity oil a velocipede. It was all very well for young Frenchmen to fall about the street, and shout and laugh at the people who twitted them, but what would happen if Edward appeared on a velocipede in London? “I shall behave as the young Frenchmen do,” declared Edward. “I shall be gallant when opinion is with me, and give as good as I get if it happens to be against me.” Edward’s father-'coughed and pretended not to hear, because this declaration sounded most undignified. However, he had a velocipede made for the boy, who fell about at good deal because he found it difficult to keep his balance on two wheels and touch the ground with the pointed toes of his elegant boots at the right moment. Once .he went under an omnibus because the horses shied at the velocipede, but he was not hurt. When he returned to London he chose a fine day for his first ride in Hyde Park. This was in the year 1860. Wearing light trousers, a fly-away coat, and a top hat

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<«lllinHIHH'lHIIHHIIIIIIIHinin»llltlill1inHllllHII<lhHUHHIIt perched jauntily at the back of his head, Edward went wheeling down Piccadilly into the Park. What a stir he caused! People rushed to see him go by; carriages drew hastily to the side to let him pass; the rate at which he travelled was discussed by all the gentlemen; and the young ladies screamed prettily at the horribly dangerous velocipede and the elegance of Edward. “Oh, Mamma!” cried a charming girl. “How enthralling! What a pity that girls will never be able to mount a velocipede. Couldn’t something be done to allow for a crinoline?’!. Her mamma told her not to mention such things, but even she pressed forward to have another look at Edward' Who was coming back. He was wheeling along triumphantly—and throwing kisses! How very naughty! Who was he? Why, the Queen might.pass at any moment! Edward was a very wild young man, and that velocipede was a very wild young bicycle!