A hundred years ago From the 'Spectator', 2 October 1869—The
Chancellor of the Exchequer, we are told, is devoting part of his vacation to active exercise on the velocipede or bicycle, It is a very characteristic amusement. The velocipede is an instrument of progress, and Mr Lowe likes progress. It is rather alarming to timid way- farers. and Mr Lowe likes to alarm timid way- farers. It gives a good deal of uphill work, and Mr Lowe always likes uphill work.—witness his valiant attempt to convince the "invincible ignorance" of the City that a smaller gold coin with a charge for mintage will be as costly, and therefore, as valuable, as a somewhat larger one gratuitously minted. Now, the velocipede is, we believe. alone among conveyances in this, that it increases the uphill work of the rider, instead of lightening it. Finally, it seems to be a rather dangerous steed for the rider. if we may judge by the number of riders it throws. and whose brains it fractures, and Mr Lowe likes dangerous riding.—quite lately he used to ride a very dangerous horse in the perk. Still, we trust he will be as careful as it is in his nature to be ... Everybody would lament Mr Lowe. He is the cayenne-pepper of political life. Parliament would lose its pungency without him.
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