The negro cyclist Major Taylor in Paris, preparing for the series of encounters which he is to have with the principal fliers of an effete Europe. On Ascension Day, May 16th, he will try conclusions with the French champion, Jacquelin, and on Easter Monday he will appear at Berlin. He has at present only two other engagements, at Bordeaux and Nantes. Taslor is a strict Sab-bavarian and will not race on Sunday, the only day, except public holidays, on which Continental crowd can attend races in anything like large numbers. _Consequently, Taylor is considerably out of pocket by adhering to his principles, but [it is satisfactory to note that he shows no of giving way. Another of the flying negro's characteristics is his liking for the number 13. When he took up his quarters at the velodrome to begin training, Taylor was very anxious to have the dressing-room bearing this number, but he was obliged to give up the idea, the room in question having been so invariably rejected by riders that it was turned into a mere receptacle for brooms and wheelbarrows. Taylor has repeatedly worn the fatal number in races and thinks it brings him Inck.
23rd March.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.