FOREST AND STREAM^ 
[July 18, 1896. 
The Improvement of Field Trials. 
Many men who have the welfare of field trials at heart 
are giving much thought to the improvement and pros- 
perity of them. There is no doubt that the sport should be 
made leas expensive. That it is too costly, considering 
the return given in the way of sport, it is easy to demon- 
strate. The expenses of running a dog in a field trial, on 
the one hand, may be anywhere from $100 to $200 above 
the cost of training the dog for private shooting, and in 
return the owner has the pleasure of attending the trials 
for a week or less and seeing his dog run two or three 
hours or loss. 
Subjoined herewith is an extract of a letter written us 
by Mr. Thomas Johnson, Winnipeg, Mani., a gentleman 
who has given the subject much thought, who has had 
great experience, and who is actuated by the most gen- 
erous sporting impulses. His words should be seriously 
considered by the field trial world. He says: 
"Any action I may take in the future will only be as to 
how field trials can be made popular. I have been think- 
ing of one plan, and if only to demonstrate its practicability 
I may endeavor next year to get the members of the 
Northwestern Field Trials Club to try the plan. Dog men 
know —and especially handlers — how some of their entries 
prove disappointing, and for obvious reasons they are 
unable to start them. Then again, there are numbers of 
amateur sportsmen who would, I think, make entries if 
they were assured of an opportunity of having a starter. 
My proposition is, charge whatever sum seems most pop- 
ular for a nomination, and then at a stated time the nom- 
inator to declare his nomination say a week, or, to be 
more liberal, the evening of the draw. Any person to 
make one or more nominations. Kennel owners could 
then run the dogs that were in form, and the amateur 
could borrow or buy a representative if his own should go 
'off.' The individual who has a world beater at home, 
but which he overlooked entering, would have an oppor- 
tunity of running his phenomenen under a friend's nomi- 
nation. I could go on ad lib. showing the merits of this 
plan, but a bare outline of the idea — which is somewhat 
similar to the Waterloo cup— will suffice at present. 
"I think, however, it would be a big incentive to all 
interested, if only that every nominator would have a rep- 
resentative in the race. I may be all wrong, but if no other 
club tries this plan the Northwestern — which is only dor- 
mant, but will resuscitate when necessity requires — will 
make an effort once more to 'popularize field trials.' " 
We would be pleased to receive from our readers any 
valid argument against Mr. Johnson's plan. We know of 
none, and believe that there is none. 
Kingston Kennel Club. 
Kingston, Ont, , July 4 — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Please find inclosed the dates claimed by our kennel club. 
I may add that we had a very enthusiastic meeting of the 
club last evening, when it was decided to once more try 
and give our friends not only a show, but a show for 
their money. We trust our old American friends that 
have shown here before, and always expressed themselves 
delighted not only with the treatment they received, but 
also the show, will again send in plenty of entries. As 
our show precedes Toronto by a few days, it will not only 
be a pleasant lay off for the boys, but also the dogs as 
well. I have only to add that Mr. C. H. Corbett, who so 
successfully managed our past shows, is at the helm. 
H. C. Bates, Cor. Sec'y. 
POINTS AND FLUSHES. 
A German sportsman once said to a well-known Scotch 
baronet: "Talking about doge with keen scent, I have 
one in Germany that will compare favorably with any 
you have in England." ''Very remarkable dog. I sup- 
pose," yawned the listener. "I should say so. The day 
after I left home he broke his chain and, although I had 
been away for hours, he tracked me and found me merely 
by scent. What do you think of that?" "I think you 
ought to take a bath," replied the Caledonian, turning 
calmly away. 
The American Dachshund Club has issued a neat 
brochure which contains a list of the club's members, the 
constitution, by laws, a list of the club prizes and the 
dachshund standard adopted March 12. 1896, Address 
Mr. Arthur Froembling, Secretary, 715 Farwell avenue, 
Rogers Park, Chicago, 111. 
Leavitt — "There is a woman who treats her husband 
like a dog." 
Bob— "Abuses him?" 
Leavitt — "Oh, no. Pets and fondles him."— New York 
World. 
The Derby of the Pacific Coast Field Trials Club closed 
on July 1 with thirty-two entries: eighteen English setters, 
twelve pointers and two Irish setters. 
It is rumored that Mr. J. Otis Fellows will judge at 
Kingston. 
Communications for this department are requested. Anything on 
the bicycle in its relation to the sportsman is particularly desirable. 
TRUING A WHEEL. 
The bicycle is a delicate piece of machinery, and re- 
quires constant oare and tuning up, lacking which it will 
sooner or later run hard or develop some dangerous weak- 
ness. This applies to the best bicycles, for there is not a 
wheel made that will stand rough usage and lack of care 
for any length of time, while a poor bicycle will break 
down with the best of care and is dear at any price. 
One of the common disorders to which a bicycle is 
liable, and which the average rider is apt to overlook, is 
the getting out of true of one of the wheels. This can 
easily be detected by revolving the wh^el and at the same 
time resting some object on the fork in such a position 
that it will just toucn the rim at the nearest point. As 
the wheel revolves the rim should touch this object at 
every point. If it does not it is out of true and needs 
attention. 
Frequently the trouble comes from loose spokes, in 
which case the rider is generally made acquainted with 
the fact by hearing a clicking sound from the wheel. 
This diflSculty may easily be corrected by tightening the 
spokes, care being taken to keep the wheel in true while 
doing so, and not simply tightening the spokes that seem 
to be at fault. The bottom bracket should be rested on 
something that will keep the wheel clear of the floor, 
and it is a good plan to hold a piece of chalk on the fork 
so that it will mark the rim in the parts out of true as 
the wheel revolves. Then with »». wrench at the nipple 
the spokes are set up at the points where the chalk marks 
show. 
When the spokes at all these marked places have been 
tightened, the chalk should be rubbed off and the oper- 
ation repeated till the rim as it revolves touches the 
clialk at all points equally. It is better not to tighten 
the epokes too much the first time, but to correct all 
inequalities gradually. Sometimes it is impossible to get 
the rim perfectly true owing to defects in construction or 
other causes, and it is always best in stubborn cases to 
consult a good repairer. It is also well to remember that 
a poor adjustment may be responsible when the wheel 
appears to be out of true, and one should first be sure it 
is perfectly centered before attempting any repairs. 
A New Swiss Bicycle. 
I TRANSMIT herewith the drawing of a bicycle which 
has been invented in Geneva, and which is to be exhib- 
ited at the Swiss National Exposition. It is claimed for 
this machine that the position which the rider occupies 
upon it is not only infinitely easier, but tha.t by means of 
the support for the bacK his forces are far more effectively 
utilized and with considerable less fatigue. 
"liA BICYCI.ETTB NORMALE." 
His position, as shown by the drawing, is held to be the 
normal position of a man in a sitting position, and the 
bicycle is therefore called "La Bicyclette Normale." The 
inventor says in his prospectus: 
The principle of the machine is the utilization of the 
considerable amount of force, very little known, which 
is afforded by a point of support. Without this point of 
support, the only force a man has is his own weight. On 
the other hand, if the back be well supported, he has in 
each leg a force more than treble his own weight, and 
which is, in fact, equal to the weight he is capable of 
carrying combined with that of his own body. The con- 
struction of the "Normal Bicycle" is intended to make use 
of this considerable amount of wasted force. The point of 
support is the back of the seat, by means of which the 
cyclist" 8 body is thrown back and his legs lifted up, owing 
to the position of the pedals. The body is thus placed in 
a "normal" posture (hence the name of the machine) — he 
is upright or leaning slightly backwards. The "Normal 
Bicycle" presents the advantages of greater safety, perfect 
comfort, healthy position, a greater power over the ma- 
chine, greater speed both uphill and on level ground, and 
Jess fatigue. 
It is also claimed for this bicycle that being much lower 
than the ordinary so-called "safety" bicycle, it is much 
easier to mount. 
It has been tried in the streets here and made a favor- 
able impression. The ease with which it ascended hills 
was particularly noticeable. — Consul Benjamin H. Ridgely 
in Consular Report. 
Cycling in Hot Weather. 
A TEN knot breeze is a pretty good breeze, and this is 
what the cyclist has at his command on a hot day. 
While other people ai-e content to lie still and swelter, the 
cyclist creates his own atmosphere and starts the breeze 
blowing more than any palm leaf fan, or even the buzz- 
ing electric fan that tries to rival nature between brick 
walls. 
On hot days the cyclist should take it easy climbing 
hills, and should not refuse opportunities to rest under the 
forest trees or to hold converse with the farmer's daugh- 
ter over the garden gate. His breeze is best created on a 
long down grade, where he can put his feet on the tjoast- 
ers and let the wheel fly at its own sweet will through 
leafy lanes and past cool hollows, where the brooks run or 
where the wayside spring starts bubbling from its barrel. 
Always, however, let the cyclist remember that his end 
is enjoyment and not work, and that even the bicycle 
rider is not exempt from sunstroke if he overdoes the 
thing. These are the days when the scorcher scorches 
actually as well as figuratively. 
Learning to Bide. 
It is a good plan for the beginner, who is learning to 
ride without assistance, to lower his seat and raise the 
handle bars. The handle bars should be set three or four 
inches higher than the seat and securely clamped, for it 
is an awkward thing to have them turn when riding, and 
a sure cause for a header; and the seat should be put 
down as low as the frame will permit, unless the rider 
happens to be a tall man provided with a low frame 
wheel, in which case he can set it at the lowest point that 
does not uncomfortably crook his legs. The advantage 
of this style of adjustment is that the rider can easily 
reach the ground in case of an upset, and that he is not 
n danger of losing his feet when he does go over. 
WHY THE BICYCLE HAS THE RIGHT 
TO EXIST. 
There are a great many good people in this world who 
still argue that bicycling is simply a craze — a passing fad 
as it were, on a par with roller skating^and they gay that 
at some near period in the future there will be a tremen- 
dous collapse, the bubble will be prick ed> bicycle manu- 
facturing will become a lost art, and bicycle riders will 
wake to their senses or take to some new form of amuse- 
ment. It is worth noting that people who take this side 
of the argument are generally non-riders. When a man 
of this class learns to ride his preconceived opinion fre- 
quently needs revision. 
Said such a man: "I always thought bicycling was a 
craze before a friend of mine persuaded — I was going to 
say bulldozed — me into getting a wheel. Now I am sur- 
prised that I ever held such an opinion, and I am using my 
influence to get my friends to ride. Bicycling is no more 
a craze than riding in a railroad train on the one band, 
or taking measures to build up one's health on tho other. 
"When I get on my wheel now I wonder how anybody 
can be content with the antiquated method of going from 
one place to another afforded by walking. The people 
who say bicycling is a craze are of the same class as those 
who clung to the stage coach long after its days of use- 
fulness had passed and who had nothing but censure for 
travel by steam. These people do not appreciate the fact 
that the same muscular effort they use in walking a 
block carries the bicycle rider three or four, and that he 
travels the longer distance in the same time it takes them 
to go the single block. So much for its utility. 
"On the side of its healthf ulness, one of the chief advan- 
tages of the bicycle is the easy means of exercise it af- 
fords in a city, or, for that matter, anywhere where peo- 
ple are busy and have their hours of recreation limited. 
When I come home at night wearied by the exactions of 
business I get on my wheel and half an hour's ride is 
sufficient to make a new man of me. The exhilarating 
effects are beyond description. The cup that cheers but 
does not intoxicate is at last realized. Bicycle riding has 
the same effect as champagne, but without its reaction." 
This man voices two strong arguments in favor of the 
bicycle. It has the right to exist because of its utility 
and because of*the healthfulness of the exercise within 
reasonable limits. The bicycle is too great a health pro- 
moter and too great a time saver to be shelved, at least 
until something vastly better is discovered. 
Exercise on the Bike. 
Jones, who lives on West Ninety-fourth street, has 
donned his bicycle costume and mounted his wheel for a 
little spin up the Boulevard. Smith, who lives on West 
Ninety-sixth street, has donned his bicycle suit and 
mounted his wheel for a spin down the Boulevard. They 
do this for exercise, and this is about what happens every 
day. Starting at the same time and riding at equal speed, 
it may easily be calculated that they will meet at Ninety- 
fifth street. 
Jones (as he stops) — Why, hello. Smith I 
Smith (as he does likewise) — Hello, Jones I 
Jones — ^Nice day. 
Smith — Yes, it's a beautiful day for this kind of work. 
Jones — Great! Why, I couldn't live without my daily 
spin on my wheel. 
Smith — Neither could I. Why, it has made a new man 
of me. Bv the way, I see you have a new wheel. 
Jones — Yes, traded off the America that I bought day 
before yesterday for this Stumbler. One of the bolts on 
this machine is nickel-plated and it wasn't on the othar. 
Makes a great improvement, I think. 
Smith — Yes, and then you kept the other one as long as 
you ought, I never keep mine more than two days 
Jones — ^Nor I. But in these days you could readily get 
a new and improved one every twenty-four hours — there 
are so many new inventions for wheels. 
Smith — Yes, that's so. Why, I don't spend more than 
an hour at business a day. All my time taken up looking 
for the latest thing in wheels. It's great for the health. 
Jones — I should say so. In fact, I have been contem- 
plating giving up business altogether, and just spending 
my time looking for new wheels. A fellow ought to, if 
he wants to keep up with the crowd. I see you have an- 
other since yesterday? 
Smith — Oh, yes; this is the third I have bought since 
then. Got an improvement every time. If I keep on for 
a few years I'll have the best wheel that's made. What 
are you geared? 
Jones — Three hundred and sixty-six — it's leap year, you 
know. What's yours? 
Smith — Oh, 4-11-44; but I think I'll try a new combina^ 
tion the next time I go out. 
They converse for sm hour or more about sprockets, oil 
cans, mud guards, pants guards, lanterns, cork handles, 
double and single tires, weights, bolts, bars and cranks, 
to say nothing of many other things, after which they 
mount their respective wheels and go home. They have 
ridden about two blocks apiece. — Tom Hall in Munsey's, 
An Incident. 
The other day on the Boulevard in New York a trim- 
looking cyclist in bloomers coming in from a side street 
cut across the bows of a cyclist in knickerbockers. Mr. 
Knickerbockers rang his bell a trifle petulantly, but in- 
stead of getting out of the way the girl leaned forward 
over her handle bars and struck a gait that carried her 
down the smooth street like the bullet from a rifle. The 
man in the case interpreted her action as a challenge, and 
heedless of cops of all varieties he leaned forward too, 
and scorched for all he was worth. 
But though for a short distance he strained every nerve, 
the girl managed to keep in the lead, and after the first 
spurt he fell back, realizing that she was more than his 
match. 
Though she never looked around Miss Bloomers was 
evidently aware of her victory, for without slacking her 
speed appreciably she suddenly threw her body back, let- 
ting go the handle bars at the same moment, and began 
arranging her hair with all the freedom and grace of a 
lady before the mirror in her boudoir. And as she sped 
out of sight down the long straight vista, poor K, , who 
never could learn to ride hands off, regarded her with a 
feeling of admiration that was akin to awe. 
T%e Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach u* at . 
atett by Monday, and at much earlier ja$ practioaiU, 
