THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE 



to public attention by the users of bicycles and auto- 

 mobiles. 



THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BICYCLE 



It is rather surprising to learn that in point of time 

 the automobile antedates the bicycle. Yet such, as 

 we shall see in a moment, is the fact. Every one is 

 aware, however, that the bicycle came into popularity 

 at a time when the very existence of the automobile 

 had been practically forgotten, and that subsequently 

 it lost its popularity almost over night when the auto- 

 mobile came to its own. Viewing the subject retro- 

 spectively, perhaps the most singular thing is that both 

 vehicles were so long delayed in making their way to 

 public favor. There were, however, sundry very prac- 

 tical obstacles placed in the way of the larger vehicle; 

 and the bicycle was not at first a device calculated to 

 prove attractive to the average wayfarer. 



The very earliest bicycle appears to have been the 

 so-called hobby horse or dandy horse introduced about 

 the year 1818 by Baron von Drais in France. It was 

 a primitive vehicle, the user of which half rode and half 

 ran, propulsion being effected simply by thrusting the 

 feet against the ground. In effect the rider of the 

 hobby horse ran with a stride greatly lengthened 

 through the partial support afforded by the saddle, 

 and with correspondingly increased speed. He could, 

 of course, on occasion coast down hill or on a level 

 surface when considerable momentum had been ac- 

 quired, and supports ior his feet were provided to 



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