Evening Star Newspaper, February 6, 1897, Page 13

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, . FEBRUARY 6, 1897—24 PAGES. ——— _Y spain IP a SEW DEPARTURES IN CYCLOMETERS. SOME CYCLE CHAT} Though has been in use in the city ten s, there are ill wonder how it is people can ride what kind of machine— To a person not ac- 3 ine looks d there are a good 1 tell the mae of a a glance. This is cited only to people use their powers of while others do not. In fact, are many who cannot tell any ence between bicycles. manufactured Yn sizes. ame e squatty with = 1 On the other bh safety. t some on, h © twenty-six, twenty-eight and thirty-inch wheels, the sizes in the frames are more numero' graduating every two inches from twenty inches to eight, and even | rger on a special | wheels for adults. | ce in s is measured from the designed for the crank axle up t vint beneath the sad- die post, the Whatever 4 is made up by raj fitting down im the of being raised fully w t of the diamond. nce there may be in reach he saddle post, this | apable How- ever, It is poor fo tension of the saddie 1 ward for a person to sit on a saddle or twelve i 2 the frame. He is far y from the frame as to give the being sud- he handie ch high riding, | cle the rider pd form to ride | on the top bar of | pears as though | shrunk, and lett | of riding in d from the urs have to t i that adds make Net add) with the th frame limbs the using too sm the latter ins’ too large a frame nt a good > saddle post to | riding should | net mor t style of wheels are looking ordinary person like a child's wheel. The frame is smali and | the main sprocket is dropped low to in: asn yssible with light machine neh frame. a wheel it the construct! is published last Sat- here were several recoré that were hour records, | ly held by one man. hour record is held by little James Michael, | the Welsh wonder, who rode ] ack from isit to this coun- wonderful riding wo and three-quarters | w-mile road rec ith of Chic fifty-six sare held by Lou who in our record, i brings to m of records ved lly believing ht, attribu error to t le was were some Ww ank Wal- rect. Yet there not see how it was © were some who, after tak- » reach this résult, came to | could ride that s is true. The » miles in a day | on. Waller did not | for every one of the | start sufficed for the | He rode only 106 old, yet in covering existing records given. His | ery mile, and at the | that he had broken a | for which he was given r is how he came ords in one day boon ome branches | e the wheel | there are | ‘oven that a ang up ling § in- ‘ of nearly wreat figure, and to the credit of * usiress. The cost of is the main figure. and even yy $0 is al- machines. Then have a lamp, un- | Cost of wheels. | 200,000 | in itself is a big figure. der the regulations, and also a bell, and for this suppose an average of $2.50 be allowed for the former and only 25 cents for the latter—a very low figure, indeed. Then there is the oil used for lubricating and burning, and also what material is needed for the chain in working easily. The small sum of 25 cents per annum will be allowed for that. Most all of the riders wear uni- forms, the prices of which vary. A cycle suit costs every bit as much as an every- day suit, and an average of $15 will be al- lewed for each rider. Then comes the shoes, which cost anywhere from $2 to $5, but on an average $2.50 will be taken. Stockings will come next, and golf stock- ings and leggings wiil vary in price, but $1 per pair will be an even figure. Every wheel is subject to more or less damage, but allowing $3 per year for keeping a wheel in repair is a just sum. The inci- ental expenses of each rider during the iding season will average fully $3 per, er, and this sum heips swell up the to- tal. With a basis of 40,000 wheelmen and wheel women in the city, the following would represent the aggregate cost of bi- cles In the District of Columbia alone: -$3,200,000 100,000 Cest of lamps. Cost of bells... 16,000. ‘cst of cil and wick: 10,000, st of costumes and caps 600,000 of shoes. 100,000, lest of stockings 40,000 st of repairs. 120,000 Cost of incidentals 200,000 Total outlay for cycling.. 1,000 3 In Chicago it is estimated that there are cle riders, out of Its million odd population, which at that rate would give a proportion of the riding population to the non-riding population equal to that of this city, which is har Like all other figures put out by city peo- ple, they can be subject ion, and about 50.000 can be taken off the list as phantom riders, which would make the total riding population equal 150,000, which The facilities of the city for the wheeimen are not near as good as those of this city, and in view of this the revised number seems astoundingly large. Thos who have visited Chicago find the | ee block or wooden pavement predom- | inate This style of street paving was fa- miliar in this city in the days of the old lic works, though the last of isappeared about ten years ago. 1 uses this kind of pavement, and in the current report of the city fathers it is found that the total mileage of s of “greater C is equal to 1,02. 1 miles are cedar block pay sheet asphal of this be taken suit and be near correct, which is in con- trast with the riding facilities of our city. The ones arou local authorities are not the only that are drawing a tighter noose ad the necks of the bicycling frater- While the riders of this city are kick- about the new police regulations af- = them, the riders in the monumental city have a fight of some sort on their hance all growing out of some new or- Ginances passed by the park board. To the v ston wheelmen r who visited Balti. more last June it will be remembered that | the mounted police in Druld Hill Park ob- to a speed of more than eight o| n hour. ten That was an old regulaYion. new regulation over which so much kick is being made grows out of the pro- hibition of coasting in the parks of the city, which has been promulgated by the park board. In fighting this the Baltimore Imen brought up various other things. objection availed to some extent, and at a hearing given by the mayor the wheelmen of the city were allowed to have one member on the park board, who will endeavor to have the new order rescinde and regulations protecting wheelmen mad I call to the leg tance. : The announcement has been made of the n of New York man makes it unnecessary to use a toe ¢ ip to Keep the toe from slipping off the pedal whi in motion. The account of the new Jescribed, states that it looks like ordinary pedal, weighing a trifle more. he foot touch the pedal the clamps on the side contrac and hold the oe so tig! ly as to make it imp ‘ible for it to move. The moment the pre: 1 from the pedal, the pressure of lamps relaxes and the foot can drawn away. The side clamps are ad- justable, and can be made to fit a woman @s well'as a man’s shoe. While this an- uncement is given due prominence as a thing. it will be well to look back to- ward the cycie show held in this city last almost constructed on bed above. The things worked like the clamp on a skate, only automatically, and have been received with success by the cycling fraternity. p 1 Lonelyville Expediency. From Puck. Mr. Hermitage (of Lonelyville)—“How did the dance in the school house come off last nigh Mr. Isolate (of ditto, enthusiastically)— “Oh! the hot water hecter pipes had burst, flooding the hall in the morning, so we anged the dance to a skating carnival in- From the New York Tri Jinks—Johnson wants to borrow $50 from me. Do you think he is good for that amount with proper securities.” urities would you sug- ain and padlock, a icuffs and a dog. 1 , to hold him. pair of hat would be enough, ‘a NOVELTIES IN LAMPS FOR THIS SEASON. It looks as though the old Wlief about the ground hog is true. Since Tuesday the weather has been as mild as could be de- sired for bicycling, and many riders have taken advantage of it. The weather was equal to the best spring product, and the heart of the cyclist would be glad if it con- tinued that way, giving an extra early sea- son for cycling. A sure indication of the increase in cycling during the past week is evidenced by the sudden jump in the num- ber of arrests by the members of the bicy- cle squad for scorching. The executive board of the League of American Wheelmen of this division held a meeting Tuesday evening at 429 10th street, at which the welfare of the organization was considered. The board was ufianimous in the opinion that a crusade for new mem- bers should be inaugurated, and the wavs and means of accomplishing such were de- vised. I- was decided to send to each mem- ber of the local division a letter, inclosing five application blanks for the organiza- tion, with the request that all of the ap- plications be returned to the secretary- treasurer properly filled out with new names. The road book of the division is now ready for publication, through the efforts of Mr. Degges, the chairman of the com- mittee in charge. The cost of getting the book out will be greater than the division treasury can stand in its present condition, and it is on account of this that the cru- sade for an increased membership will be made. The board also decided to publish a circular, which will be posted in conspicu- ous places in “and around the city, which will read as follows: “Join the League of American Wheel- men for good, roads. The league, with over 70,000 members, is the largest and most powerful athletic association in the world. Every privilege enjoyed by the wheelmen of America was obtained for them through the united efforts of this organization, at ihe expense of the league. It has succeed- ed in securing the passage and enforce- ment of many laws for the benefit of ail wheelmey, whether members of the asso- ciation or otherwise; it has spent thousands of doliars in this work; it has carried many long legal fights through various courts to the Supreme Court of the United States, obtaining decisions that have given wheel- men rights and privileges that ‘could not have been otherwise obtained. It has not stopped on obtaining these rights, but has spent many thousands of dollars in the agitation of the cause for good roads, for the benefit of farmers, wheelmen and all travelers upon the highways. It has done more good work in this direction than any other association or organization in Amer- ica—in fact, it has accomplished more to- ward the building of permanent good roads than all the other good roads associations combined. It shas done these things at great expense to the league, and now asks you to join the ranks and lend your assist- ance toward the protection of its works. We are particularly desirous of interesting it has been a hard matter to have a full attendance at the meetings, and the oyster supper is expected to draw every member. The affair will be held at the residence of Mrs. Hunt, on 32d street extended, and the evening will be filled with merriment. A business meeting will first be neld, at which officers will be elected. The supper w'll follow. President Weaver will preside, and “Uncle Francis,” the éhab mascot, will offi- ciate as toastmaster. The evening will close with a musical and literery program of an impromptu character, the club having an abundance of good talent within its ranks. There have been several new members add- ed to the club of late, and things look flourishing. Through an oversight the name of the club was not printed on the ballots distributed during the week at the Acad- emy qf Music in the contest for the most pcpular bicycle club in the city, and on this acccunt the club did not enter the contest. , Capital Bi. Club. The only cycle show that will be heid in this city this spring opened Thursday even- ing at the club house of the Capital Bi. Club, on 15th street, the show being given by the club, to give its members and friends a chance to inspect all cf the high-grade wheels that will be used this year, and give them a chance to decide upon some make. The entire second floor of the club house was thrown open to the use of the dealers, and the parlor, hall and reading room presented the appearance of a full- sized cycle shop. There were wheels of ali colors and all makes on every side, lining the wall and standing in the platform in the front bay window. No’ were wheels visible, but cycle sundries were all around, wiih catalogues and other printed matter, furnishing any information that the man in charge of the exhibit might forget to say. To fill in the blank spaces, and adding considerably to the appearance of the room, are cycling costumes on dum- mies, furnished by the local dealers. For the past two evenings the club house has been thronged with members of the club and their friends, making a tour of inspection. Admission is by card, and many curds have been given. The show will close tcnight in a blaze of glory. Ail of the dealers have liberally responded to the re- quest that they place wheels on exhibition ard nearly fifty wheels are shown, of all makes, to say nothing elge of the other di play and decorations. THe wheels and ex- nibitors are as follows: Clevéland cycles, represented by the Metropolitad Cycle Com- pany; Lyndhurst, West,End Cycle Com- BIGGEST BICYCLE EVER BUILT, residents of the country and farm districts, whether wheelmen or not. The initiation fee is only $1 and the yearly dues $1. Will ycu come in and help us? You are an American citizen and as such Go not want, rer can you afford, tc be classed as a ‘sponger.’ Join the L. A. W. and help the good work along. Give us your moral, men- tal, physical and financial support. The ecst is too small to sey that you cannot afford it. Hand your application to any member and secure your membership card. You will be surprised and grateful to find how. much the league can give you in re- turn for your dollars. For further infor- mation regarding the important work of this division, apply to William T. Robert- son, chief consul, 429 10th street; W. K. Larrimore, vice consul, 417 9th street. or Charles E. Wood, secretary-treasurer, 1325 14th street. ‘Phe national assembly of the league will be held next week at Albany. Though the local division is entitled to no. delegates, it is entitled to three representatives, one for evch of the main offices. Chief Consul Robertson will be the orly representative, and he will leave the city on the evening of the 9h, carrying with him the proxy votes of Vice Consul Larrimore and Secretary- treasurer Wood. Altair Cycle Club. The Altair Cycle Club held a meeting dur- ing the week at their headquarters, 1208 42d street. The main business of the even- ing was the consideration of the matter of a new club house, to be kept up perma- nently. While the club has pienty of mon- ey in the treasury, the committee in charge hardly thought that the expenses would come within the regular receipts of the or+ ganization and the project was abandoned. It is not likely that permanent club quar- ters will be established fcr some time. It was decided at the meeting to hold the arnual club banquet, & marked feature and cevetom of the club for several years past. No date was selected, though it was under- stood tha: the affair will come off the lat- ter part of this month. A committee, con- sisting of Messrs. Walter T. Weaver, Allie Craig and David L. Reynolds, was appoint- ed to take charge of the matter. The ban- quet will be held in Masonic Hall, directly over the present club quarters, and every member Is entitled to bring .his best ‘girl. ‘The affair will close with dancing. : Mr. F. Baker Weaver, formerly captain of the club, will leave the city next week to attend the national cycle stiow, which will open Monday in New York city. 3 $ Naugautuck Cycle Club. The Naugautuck cyclists have a feast on hand for the near future in the shape of an oyster roast. During the cold weather pany; Sylph cycles, Sylph-Winton bicycle agency; Columbia bicycles; the Trinity cycle, Sylph-Winton bicycle agency; Barnes’ White Flyers, Diamond Cycle Compang; the Olive Wheel Company; Capital City Cycle Company; Jones & Burr; Warwick, Charles E. Miller & Bro.; the Winton bi: eyele, Sylph-Winton agency; Victor bicy- | cles, Cline Brothers; Remington and Orient bicycles, Bradbury Piano Company; Envoy and -Pleetwing, Jones & Burr; the Owen | Wheel, the Eclipse bicycles, the Cushion Frame Hygienic Wheel Company; the Ra- cycle, C. G. Van Hook, agent; the Sterling bicycle, W. Roy Mitchell. Misfit Club. The Misfits, while they did not win the banner in the voting contest gt the acad- emy, feel much encouraged ayer. the re- sult, beating out many clubs much older. The club hardly expectedsto’ be in the con- test, and the result wasia’ fiezsant sur- pce. ax fo! ‘The club held a meeting, $vedfiesday even- ing, when it was decide'to give a straw ride some evening next week. The ride will be to Takoma Park, and the date will be announced tomorrow. st Thovgh somewhat early,the members are planning a relay ride tg; Baltimore this spring. The plan has jusigbeem brought up and received the club's approval, and the details will be arranged lgterjithere being an abundance of time forsucie: A pool table has been added to the club furniture, and the inembers tre enjoying the novelty of its auvontt ‘Various minor improvements have }een,imade, and the club rooms now are in exgcildst condition. Queer Wheefmen. ‘The members of the <tueer Wheelmen are considerably elated over thair victory in the voting contest at the Academy of Music, which closed Thursday evening, ard which resulted in tie presentation of the banner to the club at :ke performance last evening. The Queers 25 mted upon winning the banner, and started in for the contest Several days before the voting commenced. Last evening the club was present at the theater in full numbers, occupying nearly all of the private ‘boxes, and orchstra chairs. It was bicycie night at the Acad- emy, and the boys made itso truly. © Mr. Paul Von Boeckman} the well-kn club member, leaves attend the New York cycle show, partly on business and partly on pleasure. BICYCLE BRIEFS. The latest thing attributed to the general use of the bicycle is the decrease ‘in ‘the sales of cigars during the past year. It is claimed that riders do not care to smoke while mounted on the wheel. If this is so, what can account for the large increase in cigarette consumption during the past year? Last year there were 28,000 application's filed for patents in England alone, and of this sum more than one-third were for im- provements in bicycles. The highest estimate of the number of bicycles in Philadelphia is 190,000, while the lowest is 30,000. An average of these fig- ures would probably give the true riding population of the city of brotherly love. There were exactly 120,000 bicycles ridden in France in 1893, when the tax on wheels first went into operation. Last year the number of bicycles taxed equaled 322,000, the city Mxt week to” or a gain of 202,000 for the three years. According to the estimates of a number of people, fifty miles of cycle path can be built for the same cost of one mile of a well-constructed macadam road. ‘The exports of bicycles from the United States, according to the figures of the Treasury Department, for the last half of 1895, ‘amounted to only $243,721. For the first’ six months of 1896 the aggregate value of the bicycle exports was $1,654,201. In June alone the exports amounted to $515.- 788, or more than double the total exports of the preceding six months. It_is estimated that 750,000 bicycles were made In England last year, worth over £11,- 000,000, equal to $53,426,000, The export of English wheels for the first nine months of last year amounted to £1 077, OF $6,452,691. For the corresponding period of export trade equaled £1,147,146, or While the cyclists of this country kick about the regulations which are made against them, the wheeling fraternity of Etrope have a worse time. The regulations in Germany are minute and carefully en- forced, many places prohibiting the use of brakeless wheels, while the name, rank, profession and residence of the owner has to be exhibited on the machine. —_—.__—- AROUND THE CYCLE PATH. John Ruth, an eastern rider, has been making plans for a tour around the United States borders, which will commence as soon as the weatker opens up. He will go along the northern border of the country, down the Pacific coast, along the Mexican border ard gulf coast, and up the Atlantic coast to the point of starting. He calcu- lates finishing the trip during the summer months, the distance being probably 10,000 miles. W. W. Hamilton, the western crack, who has made a number of records, has an- reunced his intention of retiring from the path. He made a number of fast rides last season, and was the first raan to cover a mile, unpaced, in 2.00 1-5, though the record was allowed tc Sanger, who made the same time in a later attempt, owing to some ir- regularity in the exhibition of Hamilton's. Aceording to Lord Charles Beresford, an eminent authority, ‘he inventor of the bi- cycle has knocked more health into the world than any other individual, for which all cyclists should be glad. Albert Mott, formerly chief consul of the Maryland division of the League of Amer- ican Wheelm-n, has a little thre girl by the name of Margaret. who, it is es- timated, has tr: 4 on ithe carrier att e. Lesna, the h rider, with wonderful staying powers, is bound for a visit to Australia, where he will partici- of paced races. The has encouraged the Frerchman. Harry Wheeler says he has retired from the racing path for good. This may be so. has done some good riding in his e enovgh to see that he days. is determined to again win the intercollegiate cycling champion- ship. Last year the coilege secured twen out of a possible forty points for cycli Yale coming next with eight poiuts. representing Columbian Universi city, managed to re five poin' Owen Kimball is said to be the coming man on the track this season, This is the opinion of Dad Moulton, the veteran bicy- cle trainer, whe brought out Tom Cooper and looked after Arthur Gardiner last sea- son. Moulton expects to see Kimball leave all of the circuit riders this year. Fred J. Titus, who was connected with the Cabanne-Murphy-Titus race business at St. Louis last season, is seeking reinstate- ment, considering the fact that the other two riders have been taken back in the passed his be: Columbia Colle fold. @saac Potter, at the head of the New Yerk division of the League of American Wheelmen, has taken hold of his coat, svecessful, Titus will ride for an eastern manufacturer, and be under the care of Billy Young, who handled Maddox and Waller, in the recent six days’ race in this city. The return of Arthur Zimmerman to the track next year means a big revival in cycle races. He had the faculty of winning a race by such a good margin that there was no disputing his place. Since his re- tirement from the American track, there has been a big souffle for the championship honors, and while Bald was king for 1895, there is a dispute between the champion- ship honors the past season. Irving A. Powell and Ray Dawson have entered the fold of Columbia College at New York city, and are expected to sweep everything in sight. Last year, out of six- teen races on the circuit, Powell won thir- teen. He fell in the sixteenth race and broke his collar bone, which prevented his continuing riding. Dawson was a close sec- ond to Powell in most of his races, and managed to win many races and cham- pionships in amateur circles. Bald has issued a challenge to Zimmer- man for a series of races this coming sea- son, which the latter has accepted, so it is stated. In the event they come off they will be of more than ordinary interest, as the result will practically determine the championship for this season, The report of the wonderful performance of Sager and .Swanbrough on a tandem in establishing six professional records, if true, is only a forecast of what can be ex- pected this season in record-breaking per- formances. The three-quarters of a mile record is lowered to 1.25 1-5, while records were completed from six’ to ten miles inclusiye, as follows: Six miles, time, 13:22 2-5; seven miles, time, 15:36 4-5; eight miles, time, 18:51 3- nine miles, time, 2:06; ten milés, time, 22:16 2-5. The intercollegiate records are held by the following, though it is expected that they will be lowered considerably: Quarter mile, J. T. Williams, jr.; half mile, W. H. Gene oes and as K. Bird; one mile, reorge Ruppert—all representing Columbi College, New York. : 2 —————— A Homer's Feat. From the Churchman, One day a wonderful bird tapped at the window of Mrs. Nansen’s home at Chris-" tiania. Instantly.the window was opened and the wife of the famous arctic explorer in another moment covered the little mes- senger with kisses and caresses. The car- rier pigeon had been away from the cot- tage thirty long months, but ft had not for- gotten the way home. It brought a note from Nansen, stating that all was going well with him and his expedition in the polar regions. Nansen had fastened a mes- ae is @ carrier pigeon and turned the ird loose. The frail cor into the blizzardly air. it flew fixe an re row over a thousand miles of frozen waste and then sped forward over another thous- and miles of ocean and plains.and forests, and one morning entered the window of the waiting mistress, and delivered the message ‘which she had been awaiting so anxiously. We boast of human ‘ourselves up to the amazement and admira- tion which must overwhelm every one when the marvelous story is told. Mrs. Nansen’s pigeon is one of the wonders of the. world. TP Ar racwmeny Sours GRIP. a (‘es be ey UPTURNED (woo AG | ( Woven Gane Covert Cre SS = fp ay S Dovm.E GRIPS Rup 0 LEATHER HANDLE COwER ) Bisow Beano” 1S DoOveLE GRIPS Nie re se pA TEXAS STEER" ZZ OME Bos stage ——> Re SS > Nae SOME NEW FOR WOMEN CYCLISTS The bicycle Nas eirancipated woman. As seme woman writer has put It: “If you are a woman it is your bounden duty to call down blessings vpon the head of him who first made a whee! which a woman could ride.” These blessings would fall either upon the head of the late Mr. W. E. Smith or Bert Owen, both of them being given the credit of making the first woman's wheel. The bicycle gives the woman more open air and sunshine than ever before in their lives. It means that their flabby muscles vill grow firm and strong, their eyes bright and quick, and their cheeks will glow with life and lose their sickly cast. It means that woman is given a chance to improve her health in an easy and pleasant man- ner, and enables those who are naturally blessed with good health to remain in such. The Cy ing Maiden of Today. It means that she is afforded a chance to see things she never would have seen. It means that it will bring her to »laces where she never would have visited were it not for the wheel. It means that she has a certain freedom never before dreamed of. In fact, i: means nmiany things which those who do not ride can hardly think of or ap- preciate so long as they keep away from the bicycle. The feminine cycling costume is some- thing which has much to do with the pleas ure obtained in riding a wheel. The use of the rational costume is in its infancy as yet, but the day will come when the female will dress to suit her own ideas; when Dome Fashion will make a sudden swerve nd style of dress suitable for cycling de creed to be the rage. Then will the women dress. At present the unqualified approval of the medical fraternity and the commo’ sense people in general is toward the of the loose corset. It is impossible for a woman wearing a tightly laced corset_to ride either comfortably or gracefully. She must have a perfectly free respiration; her lungs must be permitted to expand without let or hindrance, and her heart must be unconstrained by any artificial means. ight lacing will produce shortness of breath and palpitation ef the heart, which lead to illness if not to death, Then the simple skirts in use permit the unimpeded of limbs, which conduces to the development of the whole frame. a woman bending over the handle bars like a male scorcher There are some in this city, how who are acquiring this forward bend, caused mcre by lowering the handle bars than by anything else. It looks badly enough for a man, but many times worse for a woman. As a rule, the ladies ride more erect than men. It may be attributed to the fact that the pride of the woman prompts her to make as good an appearance as possible. Most women would rather be graceful than ast riders. For these reasons, which con- duce to moderation in the sport and pre- vent excesses, bicycling is doubUess of greater physical benefit to women than to men. It fs natural to conclude, too, that a weman, after enjoying freedom from the constraints of tight lacing while on the wheel, will not torture herself with small cersets while on the street or in the house, Lut will give to her vital organs on all oc- casions that freedom from repression which is imperatively demanded while she is hav- ing a spin of a few miles over some favor- ite driveway. One seldom see While some women may strive to make a graceful appearance on the wheel, there are many who do not succeed. It is easy enough if properly tried, but a good many women think that they can get more power by sitiing as close to the pedals as the frame of the wheel will admit. In this po- sition they are nearly doubled up. Ed. Plummer, who is manager of Teddy Hale, Tom Linton, and the other English racers, says they look like apple dumplings. The combination frame tandem is coming out in greater variety than ever. By com- bination frame is meant a frame that will permit a lady and gentleman using it, one seat having a drop in front, while the oth- er has the regular diamond frame. ‘The question comes up as to which position the lady should ride. Inasmuch as most wheels are made with the drop part of the frame in front, it would seem as though the man- ufacturers had settled the matter by hav- ing the lady ride in front. This is without a doubt the proper thing. There are cases in this city where females have been known to ride a diamond-frame tandem, and then again there are other cases where the fair rider occupied the rear seat. Tha: this is wrong is proven by the fact that it !s the rider who occuples the rear seat who mounts last and gets the machine under way. This is plai the duty of the man. ‘The only important question remaining is that of steering. A woman acustomed to riding a single wheel is naturally ‘nclined to steer when she first mounts a taadem, but after a little experience she becomes willing to trust to the stronger hand in the rear, although it is obvious at times thac } 1 GRIPS AND BARS. she may see an obstacle that might escape the other's eye. If the drop frame;half of the tandem should be placed in thé rear it would become the woman's duty to hold the machine while the man was mounting, and then to mount herself an@ make the start, which would certainly be an awk- ward and inconvenient arrangement. The female rider is apt to impose too much upon her male escort, mostly due to her ignorance of the machine she rides. In everything else the girl would be ashamed to confess ignorance, but in the matter of the bicycle she seems to think that it is something with which she need have no knowledge. Of course, all will agree that it is not the place of ‘the woman to clean her wheel, but does it necessarily follow that she should let it be dirty and have her escort clean ft before he takes her out on a ride? Does it necessarily follow that the escort should overhaul the wheel, string the lacing, ofl the bearings, tighten thi nuts and do a number of other things pr paratory to starting out on a ride whe the machine has been unused for a da: If the woman is married then is perfectly justified In having her husba clean and attend to the bicycle, or lei him get some one to do the work, but where the young lady is single it is ‘another thing. Thi re only some stiggestions to the fair riders, who may perhaps do this uninten- tionally. Out of the large number of female riders in the city, there is a lamentably small per- centa, is who can repair a puncture. son why this should be ‘There almost equally as large a number who break the lacing which protects their iress from the chain, but who find it tc difficult a matter to lace the themselves. This should not be sc there appea to be almost too ma riders of the fair sex in the city who know noth- ing at all about the wheel th ride, and, who in case of a breakdown or damage of some sort, are like a parcel of children This may be putting it strong, but it is the truth, nevertheless. The construction of yele is simple, and it does net take a course of several years’ study to und stand the rudimer tal features. suffic give an insight in case of an accident. The question of the position of the lady when riding with an escort, is often f plexing, yet is simple enough. The la¢ shouid always ride on the right side of the street, next to the curb, while the gen- tleman sition to her left. It is ed that the gentleman is not as nervous as the woman, and when a ve- hicle passes to his left, as It should, he will be between the moving wagon and his ce panion. He should always assist the lat to mount her wheel, and allow her time arrange her skirts, and when she is he should mount and catch up to her as soon as possible. If she is timid about the use of a bicycle he should get off first, and then assist her to get off, holding the ma- chine, if nothing more. In case It is de- sired to pass vehicles on the street, the gentleman should always lead, and if in his opinion there is any danger he should dismount. He might possibly be able to get through a jam all right, but the lady may not be so fortunate. There to started Physicians have all along claimed the use of that the sewing machine ruins the health of women, and on account of the similarity of such to bicycling, the i was deemed to be equally bad for health of the female. Dr the physician in charg rt of Rippoldsan ny, has this Whoever has told y ments were really the either does not sewing machine, or is not the bicycle, ar belongs jo the e who knew nothing about therefore are the more tena- ot in the Black © say of the maiter: u that the two move- ame. y of and either, Cycling Maiden of the Future. cious in cpinion. To refute in detail, upon an anatomical basis, a prejudice so’ wide- spread, not only among the laity, but among physicians also, would take tuo much space. I will make but one assertion, with which every one who comprehends the subject will agree—that the p motion m using the sewing machine is in the ankle, while in cycling the work is done by the joints of the Kips and the knees, Moreover, there is a wide difference in tne circumstances under which the two pursuits are followed. Gne. invcives ting for hours In a bowed pos contracts the lungs and wearies the doc in a room pourly ventilated or perhaps not ventilated at all, while pursuing a pur. mechanical occupation, which allows th free entrance of the spiritual poison of i dreams—nay, perhaps, by the monotony posture and employment during long hour: actually evokes them., The ovher, an ex: cise which strengthens the muscles of the trunk and lower extremities, is practiced in fresh air and in an erect attitude, caus- ing the breathing to deepen, the pulse to beat more strongly, and the blood to im- prove by the increased admission of oxygen, and necessitating constant attention, pr: tice in watchfulness, and presence of mind Here is a little sharp stone, which might injure the rubber of the pneumatic tire; yonder a reugh piece in the road, w must be quickly avoided in order not to expose* the machine to unnecessary jolts; again, the rider must be on the alert in passing carriages or other wheeis. There is no ifme to wake from a reverie and ask: “What shall be done?” The sweet dreamer is suddenly in the ditch by the roadside. Thus the use of the bicycle is a powerful means of training indiv‘duality.”