Evening Star Newspaper, May 8, 1897, Page 20

‘The weather of last Sunday inclement prevented a number of riders from going out un the road. The steady rain of the previous day and the showers of Sunday left the roads in anything but a good rid- able condition. Though all of the clubs in the city had runs scheduled for the day | probably few went out. In fact, so far as knewn the Century Club was the only erganization in the city that carried out hedule for the day. Most of the other postponed their run, and some of the f last Sunday will be taken tomor- rding to the conjecture of the Weather tomorrow will be fair. This will mean that the day will be suitable for cy- cling, though it does not mean that the roads will be in prime condition. The ex- cessive rain fall of the past ten days has had anything but good effect on the roads, especially the dirt highways, which abound in this vicinity. The water has soaked through the ground, and some of the high- ways leading into the city are a mass of mud. Warmer weather is predicted for next week, and it will take three or four days before some of the roads are passable for cyclists. It will be fully a week before all traces of the rain disappear. The Con- duit road is perhaps the least affected of any of the reads. ‘The racing prospects are becoming bright- er and prighter every day. The opening Trace meet of the season will be held next Saturday afternoon at the International Athletic Park. The following Saturday another meet will be held at the same place, which will be followed by the Deco- ration day races. While these are all of the meets so far in prospect, not counting the circuit race and the intercity races, a number of other events are being project- ed, which will occur at regular intervals, and which gives this season the promise of the banner year in racing. Club Runs for the Week. League of American Wheelmen, Wednes- day, trip around the city. Start at 7:30 p. m. from Franklin Square, 13th and K streets. Century Cycle Club, tomorrow, for Sur- Fattsville, Md. Start at 8 a.m. from club avarters, 1420 New York avenue. Washington Road Club, tomorrow, for Brandywine, Md. Start at 9 a.m., from club rooms, 1224 F street northwest. Columbia Athletic Club, tomorrow, for Suitland Park, Md. Start at 10 a.m. from club house, G street between 17th and 18th. Arlington Wheelmen, tomorrow, for River View, Md. Start at 9:30 a.m. from 219 Oth street soytheast. Altair Cyéle Club, Monday evening, for Chevy Chase. Start at 7:30 p.m.. from 1208 82d street. . Young Men's Catholic Cycle Club, tomor- row, for Dickey’s at Great Falls. Start from club house on Ist street at 10 a.m. Queer Wheelmen, tomorrow, for Balti- more. Start from club house at 1023 12th street. May 22 Race Meet. As stated in The Star last week, the en- ary blanks for the race meet on Saturday @fternoon, May 22, at the International Athletic Park, made their appearance. The blanks came out Thursday morning and ‘were immediately distributed. There are Bix events on the program, the total value of the prizes amounting to nearly $225. An excellent list of events has been pre- pared, and the public will be treated to ‘ome fine racing. The races will start at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and the heats will be run off in quick succession. The list of events and prizes are as follows: First event, one mile, novice. Prize, hand- wome gold medal. Second event, one-third mile, open; pro- fersional. Prizes, first, $15; second, $10; third, $5. Third event, one-mile handicap, amateur. Prizes, first, diamond ring, valued at $20; second, diamond scarf pin, valued at $15; third. pair link cuff buttons, with diamond petting, valued at $10. Fourth event, one-half-mile handicap, Professional. Prizes, first, $20; second, $10: third, $. Fifth event, two-thirds mile, open: ama- teur. Prizes, first, gold-filled watch, valued @t $25; second, silver watch with gold trim- Mings, valued at $2); third, pair peari opera glasses, with gold trimmings, valued at $10. Sixth event, one-mile open, professional. Prizes, first, $20; second, $15; third, $10. ‘The entrance fee to the amateur races is one dollar for the first race, and fifty cents for each additional race. For the profes- sional races the entrance fee is one dollar for each race. The entries for the handi- cap races will close on May 17, whiie for the open events the entries will uot close wrtl May 19 | The Opening Race Meet. Entries have been piling in for the open- ike racc meet to be held at the Athletic Park next Saturday. On account of the Yuin of the last few days the track has not heen in condition for the riders to train on, it was expected that by today it be ready for use, barring rain. Applications are being received daily from pew riders for training quarters at the ‘ack, and the outlook for this season will bring fo: AY surprises. Charlie Churea of Philadelphia has been expected to arrive in the city all of this Week, and he will start in training at the Park. In addition there will be John Law ton, Frank Waller, the ‘flying Duichma: Fred mis, the speedy local professional, and many others. The event of the day | w be © one-mile race between Lawson, we Sims and Ball. This race is the last on the program, and the time set to start it is 5 p.m. ‘The two-third-mile open, professional, Will be another fast race, in which are en. tered Lawson, Sims, Ball, Mudd, and other | fast ma from Baltimore and Philadelphia. corgetown University will enter four ers in the meet. Billie Sims will try for the one-mile ama- Ur record, flying start, paced. Young Sims is in fine trim, and Schade and he may b> watched closely for first honors. | Clum is training hard, and expects to be in | with the star riders. Wilson may also be looked upon to carry off some of the honors. Another rider who may be placed on the unknown list is Griffith Holstead of Dayton, Ohio. who makes his first ap- pearance in the city at this meet. This Season the Washington and Great Falls Blectric Rallway Company have put down extra tracks, and will, on all race days, run cars every five minutes, which will be greatly appreciated by the crowds that will @ttend the bicycle races this year. The en- tries to the race will close Wednesday night, the date being quite late, owing to the fact that there are no handicap events. it is understood that Frank Waller and John Lawson have decided to ride @ tandem while in this city training, and they will shortly issue @ challenge to race any pro- fessional team in the city. The only two men who will consider this challenge will be Fred Sims and George Bail, but whether these two will ride tandem is not as yet known. ‘The Decoration Day Meet. Manager William Gettinger, with custo- Mary energy, ‘s hustling things for the big meet of the cycle board trade, May 31. There are a vast number of details that remain to be done, and he Is attending tc these as rapidly ae possible. So far the entries received number about @ dozen, ™mostly local men, but as there is abundance of time no attention is paid to the matter. The outgide entries are not «xpected untf! a few days before the cios- Ig of the same. thé sale of reserved seats for the meet will open Thursday. All of the boxes have been sold, and the preparations made are ta view of a large crowd, This will be tie main ettraction of the day in the q as the Washington base ball team wi with Prod’ win tiaiey’ wheranee ne att wi Wil Haley, whereby he will furnish the music for the occasion. ‘The lithographs, which will be used on the bill boards to advertise the meet, ar- | for competition | championship of the District. rived during, the week, a sufficient quantity being ordered to last for all three of the races whici will be held under the aus- pices of the board. These will be posted around the elity next week in all conspicu- ous places. Arrangements are being made to bill a number of southern towns, extending as far south as Richmond. C. M. McKenzie, the local consul at Charlottesville,.Va., was in the city during the week, and made preparations for the billing of his village. He will ride a tandem with Bayard Wrenn of this city in the meet, and will also bring a delegation of Charlottesville racers and spectators with him. One thing which will make quite an im- provement at the International Athletic Park will be the neat officials’ stand, which will be erected directly at the tape in the infleld. This will* house the officials, and all other persons will be kept away from that portion of the track. This will be a decided improvement. Last season the privilege of standing on the infield was abused to a considerable extent, and the large number of people there interfered with the view of the spectators. The Intercity Races. The intercity races will be held this sea- son the same as last year, and the gen- eral hop? is that this city will be as for- tunate as last year, and carry off the honors. Arrangements are being made by the management of the International Park to pick the riders for the team to repre- sent Washington in the contest this sea- son. There ts one thing certain. There will be very few of the riders of last year to uphold the honor and reputation of the city. as Mudd and Ball have turned pro- fessional, and are, therefore, barred from the contest. Just who will be on the team is hard to say, and no attempt will be made to select a team until some time later. Billie Sims, who rode on the Washington team last year, will be a member this year 80 long as he remains in the amateur ranks. Schade cannot ride on the team, on account of his claiming Virginia as’ his home, though if he does not Participate in the Virginian championships end win, he may have a show. Wilson is spoken of as a member of the team, as is also Clum. Har- dester is also another man mentioned. Nothing will be done in the matter until after the Decoration day meet. The management of the park dispatched a letter to the chief consul of Maryland during the latter part of the week to as- certain if the races will be run this year. In a statement to The Star Mr. Conway W. Sams, the chief consul, states that the Baltimore-Washington races will be held this year under the contract made last season between the parties. This means that instead of being an intercity race it will practically be an interdivision race, as the Baltimore people want the whole of Maryland from which to pick a racing team of three members. During the winter there was some talk of having Richmond represented in the Taces, and make the affair a tri-city con- test. Mr. Sams states that he does not see how Richmond can get in this particular contest, as the championship cup was given between Maryland and th District of Columbia. 2 vee Century Cycle Clab. The Century Cycle Club made a Tun to Surrattsville, Md., last Sunday, and the trip was enjoyed by all those who joined in the run. The club members had as their Buests Messrs. John H. Glover, Harry Glover and Joseph Atkinson, three well-known Balti- more century riders, who spoke in the highest terms of the roads around Wash- ington. The club took the route to Sur- rattsville via Marlboro’, thus putting in thirty-six miles on the whole trip. It was scheduled to make the trip to Great Falls, but the captain decided to change to the above place, where the boys have a nice elegant time and the roads are superior to the ordinary. Messrs. Maury Posey, Dick Posey, A. E. Weesner, Frank Hourigan, Hy Noordzy, George Wright and Capt. Ed. S. Byrnes composed the club contingent on the run. The captain desires to call attention to the fact that on the last century run of the club to Frederick, George Wright, one of the swiftest riders of the club, ‘finlshed with the first bunch of riders that arrived in the city, and was undoubtedly in the best of condition of any. The club has received an invitation from the Century Cycling Club of Baltimore to participate as guests on the run of the Maryland club next Sunday. The invita- tion will perhaps be accepted. The run of the club for tomorrow will be to Surrattsville again, and Capt. Byrnes desires all of the members to turn out, as special arrangements have been made for the comfort and pleasure of the boys at Wheatley’s hospitable place. The start will be made from the usual place at 9 a.m. ‘The members of the club have missed the smiling face of Sam Barnhardtt, the popu- Jar vice president, who has been unable to ride lately, but who expects to be in shape for the journey tomorrow. Arlington Wheelmen. The regular monthly meeting of the Ar- Hngton Wheelmen was held Tuesday even- ing. It was a banner meeting, and over twenty-six members were present, with Mr. William Gettinger, the president, in the chair. | Messrs. G. S. Wells, W. H. McCauley, William Clark, James F. Broadbent and Lopez Quesada were elected to active mem- bership. The applications of three other candidates were read and referred to the proper committee. The run of the club tomozrow will be to River View, starting at 9:30 o'clock from 9th street soutpeast. This trip was scheduled for last Sunday, and the mem- bers were prepared for an enjoyable day, but the rain spoiled the program. The club has gotten its base ball aggre- gation into shape and an attempt will be made to win the wheelmen's base ball The Queer Wheelmen team will be challenged for a match game next Sunday, most likely at Suitland Park. ‘The club took a very enjoyable ride last evening to Suitland Park, starting at 7 | o'clock from 14th and I streets, Capt. Potts being in charge. Mr. Eppa Coombs, a popular member of the club, who was the valedictorian in the graduatirg cless in dentistry of Columbian College, the exercises being held Wednes- day evening at Columbia Theater, was the recipient of a hearty ovation at the meet- ing. = Altair Cycle Club. The members of the Altair Cycle Club will take a short spin Monday evening to Chevy Chase, starting from the headquar- ters, at 1208 32d street, at 7:30 p.m. Recently five members of the club started out for a century ride to Frederick, four finishing, and one meeting with an accl- dent, which barred him from the ride. The starters were Messrs. F. Baker Weaver, David L. Reynolds, William Britt, George Weaver, John Lynch and Frank Shallue. Mr. Shallue met with a mishap near Nor- beck and was forced to return to the city, while the other members of the party com- pleted the ride, and finished the 100 iniles in less than thirteen hours. The regular monthly meeting of the club was held Monday evening. Century bars were distributed to the above members who rode over the prescribed course. The question of holding a strawberry run in the near future was brought up and fa- vorably acted‘ upon. A committee con- sisting of Messrs. W. T. Weaver, Samuel Darby and Charics Weaver was appointed to make the necessary arrangements for the entire club. Though not stated the run will be held some time within the next fortnight. The question of holding the annual club races was brought up and discussed, but owing to the earliness of the season no definite action was taken on the matter. Cciumbia Athletic Club. The C. A. C. cycling contingent did not take the run to Alexandria last Sunday as expected, owing to the atmospheric con- ditions. The run for tomorrow wag o-' inally echeduled for Rockville ‘gut Gare Stiles has changed the r'_ =, Sut Capt. Park. The * to Suitland Fock. Zhe start wil". (age at i o'clock the club Monday Columbia Theater, in which r Thany of the cyclist members were pants, fully came up to expectations. THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1897-24 PAGES. ‘With the rehearsals over it is expectél that the run tomorrow will be the most largely attended of any of the club since the opening of the season. Next Sunday the club is scheduled for @ trip by wheel to Baltimore. The return ‘will be made by rail. The journey prom- ises to be a very pleasant one. An easy pace will be taken all the way cn the ride over, and a step will be made at Ashion for dinner. The entire day will be de- voted to riding the forty-odd miles, and many riders are looking forward with much pleasure for the trip. Washington Road Club. Capt. W. J. Prince has revised the sched- ule of runs, issued earlier in the season, and sent out copies of the new schedule to ell the members. According to the new schedule the run for tomorrow is to Ash- ton, Md., starting at 9 o'clock in the fore- ncon, from the club house, at 1224 F street northwest. The new schedule is as follows: May 16, Sbady Side; May 23, Dickey’s at Great Falls; May 30, Laurel. June 6, Washington Grove; June 13, Cab- in John bridge; June 20, Frederick, Md. (club century); June 27, Fairfax Court House. July 4, Chevy Chase; July 11, River View; July 18, Occoquan; July 25, Marshall Hall. August 1, Brookville; August 8, Bull Run post office; August 15, Colonial Beach, by beat; August 22, Ashton; August 20, Spen- cerville. September 5, Rockville; September 12, Bal- timore; September 19, Frederick, Md. (club century); September 27, Washington Grove. October 3, Pig Point, Md.; October 10, Benedict; October 17, Dickey’s at Great Falls; October 24, Brandywine; October 31, Frederick. All of the runs, except centuries, will leave the club house, on F street, at 9 o'clock in the morning, with either the captain or one of the Heutenants in charge. All club mem- bers are expected to attend, and a cordial invitation is extended to all other unat- tached wheelmen to join in the runs. The new schedule is conspicuous on account of the limited number of short trips which are planned for the year. These short runs will be taken up when the club inaugurates the evening rides during the warm weather. Capital Bi. Club. Twelve members of the Capital Bi. Club went out to Gaithersburg last Sunday and partook of the hospitality of Mr. Din- widdie, a member of the club, who lives there. Twenty-eight had signified their in- tention of going, but the bad weather kept most of the number away. The party found the roads to be in anything but good condition, though the trip was enjoyed in spite of this. No run has been scheduled for tomor- Tow. Capt. J. Barton Hills, who has held the position for the past two years, did not call any run on account of the election of officers, which will be held at the meeting of the club this evening. No run has been called and the destination of the trip to- morrow will not be decided until this evening. The election of officers, which will be held this evening,will not be sv closely con- tested as was expected. The only contest will be for the presidency, there being two nominations. ‘The nominations are: For President, Norris Macdaniel and Alex. Britton; for vice president, Dr. W. D. Wirt: for secretary, Dr. J. Bart Hills; for treas- urer, A. J. Henry; for captain, C. J. Al- len; for executive committee, Joseph Leam- irg; P. J. Coston, W. F. Roberts, Lembley Fogg, W. C. Allen and Samuel E. Lewis. Club Notes. The Levant Cycle Club was scheduled last Sunday fcr a run to Marlboro’, though the inclemency of the weather interfered with the trip. ‘The trip of the Eastern Athletic Club to Baltimore, via the cinder part along the tracks of the Pennsylvania railroad, was not made last Sunday, and has been post- pened until a later date. The annual road race of the club is expected to be held some time this month, while an excursion has been arrranged for the fore part of next month. The run of the Queer Wheelmen last Sun- day forenoon to the club house of the Spa Athletic Club, near Bladensburg, was not made. -The newly organized c yeling club of the Young Men’s Catholic Ciub, the headquar- ters of which is on Ist street, near North Capitol street, will take a run tomorrow to Dickey’s at Great Falls, and there perma- nently organize for the season. It is ex- pected that on this run a large attendance will be brought out, and things made more easy for a permanent organization. Ss WITH THE RACERS John Davidson, the brother of Harley Davidson, who claims the amateur cham- pinship of Canada, has forwarded his entry to all the amateur evenis in the world’s championship, to be run at Glasgow, Scot- Jand, in August. Teddy Hale will start in a twenty-four hour race in London this month. He is quite a hero in the eyes of the Britishers since his recent remarkable performance in this country. The racirg board has allowed the follow- ing records, made on Washington’s birth- day at San Francisco by W. BE. Baker: Competition, standing start, one mile, 1:58; same, two-miles, three miles, 5:55; same, four miles, same, five miles, 4 s Stocks, the celebrated Erglish rider, cal- culates on using a wheel this year geared to 120 for his trials against tim: Harry Wheeler, who, it reported, had left the track, has announced his intention of taking up racing again. Lesna, who was in America some years ago, and who is one of the crack riders of France, is continuing his record-bri aking: Performance in Australia. He expects te come to America this fall and compete in long-distance events. Fred Titus visited Baltimore recently, and in a conference with Chairman Mot! 1e- quest2d that he be placed in the profession- al ranks. Titus stated that he will start in training immediately, and feels confident that he will come out as good as ne ever was, though his friends must not expect too much of him at first. England has a racing parson by the name of Rev. T. J. Jarrett, who scems tc enjoy racing as much as any of the riders, and he is quite a successful amateur. Jaap Eden 1s expected in this country in a few weeks. He is now in training on the Bordeaux track in Paris. He is not ex- pected to follow the national circuit, but will make arrangements to meet some of our fast professionals in match races, Tom Linton is expected back in America in September, and he will bring with him an electric motor to pace him in one of his attempts against American records, M. T. Faulkner, the trainer, is making arrangements to take an American racing team to Europe some time next month. He contemplates taking Tom and Nat 1: ler, Charlie Murphy, Owen Kimble and Otto Zeigler. Cabanne, Scnger and Gardiner are also spoken of as probable travelers. According to an English cycling paper, Jimmie Michael cannot race in America un- til _he has applied for a new license to the Nattonal Cyclists’ Union and had the same granted. Charley Murphy, who has been in training at the Thunderbolt track in Savannah, has been suffering from a sore throat, though otherwise he is in fairly zood condition. He says he will be in winning form when he begins racing. Advices received from Paris announce the establishment of an annual fixture called the “Prix de Zimmerman,” which will be one of the greatest races in France this year. It is named after Arthur Augus- tus Zimmerman, the former champion American cyclist. Eddie McDuffie, the long-distance racer of Boston, has challenged Little Michael for a match race some time this year, at the Charles River Park, Cambridge, Mass., for $500 a side, each rider to furnish his own pacemaker. McDuffie defeated Michael in @ ten-mile race last year on the same “Touls Gt ru! imm, the well-known long-dis- tance racer, and Fred Schinner, the winner of the Chicago six-day race, are matched for a twenty-four-hour contest, place at Grand Rapids, Mich. The Cleveland Wheel Club applied to the Glenville, Ohio, authorities for Permission to use a street in that village for its annual road race on Decoration day. Mayor Jemmes granted permission, adding on the Sudorse- ment that “anything the officie%s of Glen. ville can do to ald in me‘ing tn, road on that day @ suor-25 will be ly Arthur G--ainer, it’s underst shortly issue a chall with Hachen! 3 ng-distance crack of Denver, who has defeated Senn, Hamil- sony Soote and a number of other good men. e suateire st cage Sins Bh yaies ee thrown in a great state ex ent re- cently by the sudden appearance of Herbert Ww. Oss meenbee of the national racing board, wi district embraces Tennessee. He investigated the status of a number of amateur riders, a good many of whom now paced, for a ma’ expect ta beijthrown in the professional usr Ax i ris-Bord: road rac in the Paris-. jeaux se. Rivierre,Whods expected to win it, will be pacet by five motorcycles, besides a regular cycle crew. Se is a devotee of motorism. James Michaei, the fast Welsh rider, who Was under suspension of the National Cy- cling Unjen of;dingiand, has received notice of the pemovgl of the suspension, and Chairman; Mott has cleared the way for him on I, A..;W. tracks in consequence. Michael will aegin racing at once in the south, x» (© District of Columbia Division. Washington has hot felt the power of the wheelmen and does not appreciate to what an extent this power is in other sec- tions of the country. In almost any state in the country any reasonable request is granted them by the different legislatures. A few years ago the wheelmen found very hard work to secure their rights, and victories were secured only after the hard- est kind of. work. Every one but a rider was prejudiced against the bicycle, and against those who were thought to be so foolish as to risk their necks on the wheel, but as time wore on this has disappeared to a great extent, and it has continued to grow until all quarters of the earth show the triumphant march of the wheelmen’s power. The opponents of the wheel are now in the minority, and to such a pitiful extent that the wheelmen no sooner ask for a wish than it is granted. Grasping corporations bend their proud necks and grant rights, which, years before, they would have fought to the last inch. Good roads bills have been passed, cycle paths built, railroads compelled to carry wheels free as baggage, convicts put to work on the road, and toll gates thrown open to the cycling public. This is due to the efforts of the League of American Wheelmen, who have spent money in every direction for the causes of good roads and the cyclists’ rights. Possibly the district less affected by the wheelmen is the city of Washing- ton and the District of Columbia, and this is solely due to the fact that the city has no governmental power to be affected by the wheelmen's vote. But its effect will soon be felt here, as the District member- ship is rapidly gaining, and is now one of the largest organizations in the city, and it will not be but a short time before the organization intends to ask the support of other states in asking for the rights which should be accorded the wheelmen of Wash- ington. New Members. Paul G. Brock, Congressional Hotel; W. N. Cogan, 1754 M street northwest; R. H. Ford, United States coast and geodetic survey; Wm. G. Greenwell, 308 4th street scutheast; Ross P. Hunt, 202 4th street southeast; Carl F. Mayer, general land office; R. C. McKinney, United States geo- logical survey; George A. Malley, 207! Pennsylvania avenue; Thos. J. Reed, 14th and H streets; E. H. Shuster, Interior De- partment; Wm. Stranahan, United States geological survey; Wm. M. Stockbridge, 1330 W street; H. L. Thompson, United States coast and geodetic survey; C. G. Van Hook, 1139 14th street; R. C. Williams, sixth auditor's office; Jerome N. Bonaparte, 1627 K street; Benj. Bevan, 1315 Corcoran street; Miss M. Barrow, 912 19th street: F. 8. Emmons, 1533 ‘New Hampshire avenue; $. A. Staunton, 1405 41% street. Renewal of Applications. 8S. F. Hahn, 233 Pennsylvania avenue southeast, Richard Ware, city. Heague Runs. Rain has prevented the last three league runs. The next will be on the 12th, start- ing from 13th and K streets, and will be a city rah, and is one which is most en- joyed by. the members. The next Sunday run will‘take place on the 16th, and will be to Rockville, Md. Eastern Division, L. A. W. A. Gireuard,' the consul for the eastern division “has begun his work by writing the following Jétter to the Commissioner: “I beg;to call your attention to the bad condition of the crossing of the Belt line at Ist and -F streets northwest, which crossing {s not only dangerous to the peo- ple riding bicycles, but also to carriages. The cobble stones vetween the tracks at said crossing should be replaced and the repaving done in accordance with the law and regulations governing the paving be- tween tracks of street railroais in this district. “I beg further to call your attention to the bad paving outside and inside of the Eckington Street Railway Company at 4th and C streets northeast, which paving is so much used up as te make the crossing over said tracks dangerous. “On behalf of the large number of wheel- men who every day have to travel over the streets referred to above I am in the hone that your honorable body will consider this matter favorably, and order the crossings mentioneé to be repaired.” FOR WOMEN CYCLISTS With the advent of cycling women came an evolution in wheeling costume worn by men. Prior to their-entering the field little attention to dress. was paid by the male cyclists. With them the most important factor was to secure the particular make of wheel which they fancied the most,while the women, at once paid the most attention to their costume. The whcelwoman is settling for herself what she shall wear when she gees out on-her wheel. Throughout the country the short skirts and the golf stockings are the favorites. Bloomers are worn underneath. Some gf the former bloomer fanatics, seeing that their idea would not be adopted, have taken another turn. Many are riding the diamond-frained wheel in short skirts and woolen tights. The divided skirt is also popular, and prop- erly made, it cun be used on either the drop or the diamond frame. Bicycle costumes huve become # department in the wheel world. And the credit for the great_im- provement belongs to the women. If 2 census of the women riders in the United States were taken, it would probably be found that they are as numerous as the entire army of cyclers five years ago. Then the women made vp but two or three per cent of the entire bicycle population. This year it is likely that they will comprise 20 or more per cent of the cycling population; so that if their number should increase as rapidly in the next four years as it has since 1893, the beginning of the twentieth century may find the female section of cycledom nun-erically in the ascendant. By the adoption of en intelligent series of progressive efforts the woman of aver- age physical vigor can ultimately fit her- self for a century run, or the long tour, without making any inordinate demands on her mustular'equipment. To these wo- men, ané@thefr' number will be greatly in- creased Before a year has passed, the bloomer ‘thaked!a strong appeal. On long journeys the 'fractical drawbacks of the skirt are Many, and the counter attractions of the bloomer -great. There ib not%éne woman in fifty who will deny the'#uperfority of the bloomer to the skirt, so*far ‘és comfort and adaptability are concéfned, when long distance riding is in quest shall have both skirts and bloomers‘this year. We shall see occasional combinations that will make our souls weep, but the proportion of such to the main body of bloomer exploiters will not be greater *han'Yhe proportion the woman without fiste*bears to the whole body of femininity, > 48 Covert ?loths‘ are playing a large part in the make-up 6f costumes for lady riders, and the high-laced shoe, which fits to & nicety, is another thing that is “just right. Buttons large and small will figure co- piously in the finishing of the modish cycle suits this season. Every angle on cuff an revere will be made the abiding place o! one or more of these shining articles, for they mugt be either metal or pearl, the cloth button being no longer used. Many new costumes this year will be made with the Hton jacket fitting closely to the band of the skirt, there held in piace bE Pag oe epeepans . nt are but eee natonepie. changes this season—one costumes are yr, aad in many instances vie in loudness with those worr by the other sex; Peet able, and even the leather -cut boots are not the most delightful in the world, especially upon @ hot day, so that gradually the golf stocking and the low- cut shoe seem to be coming into style. A cod proportion of the fair sex now think noth! of appearing in such a costume, and y should they hesitate? It is cer- tainly much more adaptable, much more comfortable, and as for appearances it is much more modest and far less objection- able than the average summer resort bath- ing costume. The long versus the short skirt is having just as big a controversy as the bloomer Question. “It is evident to me,” says a female writer, “that the woman who states that the skirt made down to the ankles is just as comfortable and more suitable for riding hardly. knows what she is talking akout, or, to put it mildly, has-not had experience and fs not competent to judge. Possibly she rides a few rniles occasionally in the city streets, or the parks, while some of us, who like to go out for an outing of fifty or a hundred miles, with our hus- bands or brothers, in our comfortable and neat and stylish bloomer suits, run the risk of being called all sorts of cdious names by some persons. who, for reasons lest known to themselves, are unable to adopt this most comfortable and suitable dress, and can know nothing about the de- lignt of being able to spin along without the swinging skirt spread to catch every breeze. 1f bloomers are truly undesirable and unnecessary, then they will die a nat- ural death. “Is it the fear that they will make the woman immodest that is causing so much agitation? Let us trust that true modesty can never be affected by one’s dress. The fictitious article can never have been much of value. A lady of taste would scar ely appear at church or theater in her bicycle dress if it could be avoided. But for the purpose for which it was designed, the bi- cycle bloomer suit can have no equal. jome of those who are loudest in de- nunciation of bloomers, on the score of im- modesty, advocate the skort skirt, reach- ing just below the knee, with knickerbock- ers underneath. I leave it to any person who has closely observed the subject and feels competent to judge wiich looks neat- est and most inconspicuous, the well-made rather full bloomer, terminating just below the knee, with well-fitting leggins, or the short skirt, raised and flopped about by ihe Pedai motion, blown and twisted by the wind, displaying the knickerbocker under- garments in a way that must be painful to the sensitive ones who think bloomes so immodest. “Of course, one must consider the ‘fit- ness’ of things. What is becoming and suitable for one often looks absurd on another. But why should not the fortunate ones who can wear that style of cycling dress and be comfortable, be allowed to do so without being called names? The un- pleasant feature of bloomers is that they attract attention, and that is always un- pleasant, but so ald the first women to ride the bicycle attract attention. But they aid not abandon the wheel for all that. There are plenty of people, even now, who say that ai woman who rides a bicycie is im- modest. The full-fledged cyclist will wear regula- tion bicycle shues more generally than ever before.” This is a pretty severe test of her vanity, for if there is anything which de- tracts from the comeliness of a woman's “understanding,” it is this particular style of foot apparel. Its low vamp and rounded tip are trials which one hesitates to adopt, while the almost flat heel is the last straw toward breaking down the ideal ensemble of a graceful foot. i Many middle-aged women often remark that if they were only younger, they would try to learn to ride the bicycle. Every now and then some one, more venturesome than her friends, takes a few lessons, learns to ride, and immediately does missionary work in her circle of acquaintances. To Tide a bicycle it is not necessary to pick a crowded thoroughfare, like Pennsylvania avenue, nor to climb hills as steep as Capi- tol Hill or 14th street. A great deal of pleasure may be obtained in wheeling along the splendid streets and avenues of the city, and no one is too old to learn to ride the wheel. — THE NATIONAL MEET PHILADELPHIA, May 8.—The work for League of American Wheelmen meet goes merrily on. ‘The executive committee in charge of the eighteenth annual L. A. W. meet, which will be held in this city Au- gust 4, 5, 6 and 7, got together today and appointed the transportation committee which, next to the race meet committee (mow actively at work), is one of ihe most important in the roster. S. Spencer Chap- man, president of the Wissahickon Whec!- men, a prominent lawyer, and thoroughly Posted in the matters of which he will have charge, was selected as chairman. His associates will be William R. Tucker, ex-president of the Assoc.ated Cycling Clubs of Philadelphia, and secretary of the Phil- adelphia board of trade; Gordon Cham- bers, ex-president of the South End Wheel- men, and president of the Norwood Athletic Association; William Harper, Joseph Db, Bicknell of the Pennsylvania railroad, Geo. D. Barrow ard H. Parks. This is a strong committee, made up as it is of gen- uemen well qualified to take care of the manifold detaiis of the transportation work of the meet. The executive committee, pending the se- lection of the transportation committee, has been in communication with William Flem- ing, secretary of the Trunk Line Associa- lion, and is already assured of a rate of one fare and a third for the reund trip from all sections of the country to Philadelphia on account cf the mect, but it is hoped that a more frvorable rate may be obtained as a result of the labors of the transportation committee in this direction. Mr. Burley P. Ayers of Chicags, chairman of the trans- pertation committee of the L. A. W., assisting in the matter, and the prospects of making a dicker satisfactory to league members all cver the country are extreme- ly_favorable. Similar arrangements will also be made with the Central Traffic and Western Pas- senger Associations, and the passenger de- partinents of ail the railroads belonging to these different organizaticns will then pro- ceed to boom the meec in an adverusing way throuzhout their entire systems, ‘That the entire country will be represent- ed at next August's meet is apparent from the numerous inquiries received at head- quarters from prominent league officials and others in all sections of our broad land. From Boston and Omaha, Chicago and At- janta, Denver and Cincinnati—from Canada even—and so on, ad infinitum, come re- quests for information regarding hotel and railroad rates, good routes to Philadelphia awheel, side trips, etc. In reply to these communications we will say that all these “pointers” will be made public in good time through the medium of this bulletin, ani, where the questions asked call fer more ex plicit replies, Mr. Joseph Estoclet, chair- man of the press committee, will furnish the desired information. The subscription committee, which has been at work for nearly a month, has been canvassing the principal business kovuses of the city, and the success which has attended their efforts up to date augurs well for the completion of the $15,000 fund which the executive committee considers necessary for the prcper entertainment of next Avgust’s visitors. The local mer- chants have been brought to realize that the meet will be a big thing, not only for the bicycle interests, but for the city at large, and the majority of them are taking @ patriotic interest in the affair. Philadel- phians have always been noted for their local pride, and that they will do their ut- most to make the 98 meet a pronounced stccess goes without saying. ‘The big run to Atlantic City on the Sun- day following the meet has been definitely decided upon. It will be a combiration af- fair—that is to say, these who feel disin- clined to wheel to the city by the sea will have an opportunity of participating in the run through the medium of a special 70- minute fiyer,.over either the Reading or Penneylvania railroads. The majority will, however, ‘naturally prefer to cover the straight-away level of fifty-nine miles on their wheels, and special arrangements for their entertainment en route will be made. The wheel section will be started at such an houf as will allow of the run reaching Atlantic City about the same time as the official train. Professor Paul Eno, a prominent 1oChl wheelman and banjo instructor, has made a@ suggestion, which the entertainment com- mittee has wisely decided to profit by. He poses to gather all the banjo clubs be- ging to the various cycling organizations in the city into one vast banjo orchestra, % and perform numerous iy kind ever published, and its arrangement is entirely different from that of the ma- Jority of similar publications. The book is the work of Messrs. Randall, Taylor and Gossler of the road book committee, and is in four sections, with maps of the best- known routes in each section. Section 1 covers Philadelphia and the surrounding covnties, in addition to the New Jersey and Delaware riding districts. This book will be invaluable to visiting wheelmen who in- tend to spend some time in this city and its environs before and after next August's meet. While the book is free to all mem- bers of the division, wheelmen from other states may secure copies at a nominal ex- pense, FOREIGN _—— CYCLE NOTES A new English saddle is supported by three ordinary rubber balls, which do away with the slightest jar, It is alleged. The annual vyciing contest’ between the Oxford and Cambridge universities will be held this year Tuesday, June 29, at the Woodgreen track. The international championship races will be held this year at Glasgow, Scot- land, July 30 and 31 and August 2. The meeting will be held under the auspice¢ of the Scottish Cyclists’ Union, and a cement track, measuring three and a half laps to the mile, will be constructed and preparations made for the aceommodation of a large crowd. In the suburbs of Paris every police sta- tion is supplied with one or more bicycles for the use of the force. In an experiment with a military bicycle in France, a zouave rode at a rate of twelve miles an hour, went through his part in a sham battle, then folded his ma- chine compactly, placed it on his back, scaled an 8-foot wall with a ladder, fired his gun repeatedly on the other side, un- folded his bicycle and rode off. According to the Irish Cyclist, the Brit- ish Isles may only be a “back garden” of the Yankee cousins, but they are able to more than hold their own in the matter of bicycle exports. The most recent esti- mate of American trade in this depart- ment places the figures at £850,000 sterling, which still leaves them something like £1,011,000 sterling behind British figures. The best months for cycle touring in Europe are from May 1 to July 1, inclu- sive, in Great Britain, and until October on the continent. The’ three most popular and interesting routes are: 1, England, Scotland and Ireland; 2, France, Switzer- land and Italy; 3, Norway and Sweden. Owing to the ignorance of the native servants who clean them, bicycles have a rough time in India. The servants mean well, but deluge the machine. There are laws in India compelling cyclists to carry lights, but, as most of the riders are white and the majority of the constables natives, the number of arrests is small. When the machine was first introduced in the coun- try the natives would fall down and wor- ship it. Hunting on bicycles seems to be a popu- lar pastime in the south of England. Ac- cording to the latest departure the “hare” is a rustic cyclist mounted on an ancient crocklet. He has a quarter of an hour's start of the hounds, and trails behind him a rabbit's skin soaked in oil of aniseed. A pair of beagles are then laid on the “scent,” and with half a dozen terriers and the cycling huntsmen start off in hot haste. The “hare” checks the course at intervals with paper, and if he be at all cunning can cut out a very exciting “scent” | by going through a wood, crossing a hedge, or wading a stream, thus at the same time giving the dogs a “breather.” The increase in English imports of India rubber is strikingly similar to the in- crease in the exports of cycles, thus ex- rts of cycles, 1595, £99,420; 1895, £141,225; SOT, £137, imports of rubber, 1895, 27.- 212 hundred-weight; 1896, 41,296 hundred- weight; 1807, 40,311 hundred-weight. A patent has been secured in England for an invention to protect cyclists against thieves. It consists of a metal dise built in the machine, on which are engraved the owner's and maker's autograph, and a number. The names are so engraved that it is impossible to obliterate them without making a new frame, which, of course, would make cycle stealing an un- profitable occupation. — MARYLAND NEWS BALTIMORE, May 8—The question of the state meet is beginning to become in- teresting, and next Monday the successful town securing the meet will be announced. There has been a good deal of rivalry for the honor, and at the last meeting of the state division of the League of American Wheelmen it was decided to let all of the towns make a bid for the meet, and then have a mail vote of all of the members of the division to determine the location. The members will be given until May 10 to vote, and on that day the ballots will be counted and the result made known. It seems as though Frederick may get the meet. The wheelmen and cycling or- ganizations of the place entered the con- test with a vim. Committees have been ap- pointed, and a program of much merit and attractions and inducements has been ar- ranged. Prizes that excel any ever offered at a meet in the state are promised with the assurance that they will materialize, A formal reauest for the celebration was torwarded to Chief Consul Sams last week. and a crusade has been inaugurated to se. cure votes for the city. The roads in the vicinity of Frederick are claimed to be the best in the state, and the mountain scenery the prettiest. The management of the Electric Park is anxious to have the national circuit race at that place some time in August, and will offer $2,000 in purses for such an event, which, it is expected, if it comes at all, will follow the Philadelphia national meet. If possible several days of racing will be se- cured, and an effort made to have them in- ternational in character, The wheelmen of Annapolis will hold a good roads meeting in the near future, the plans for such being nearly completed, though the date has not as yet been fixed Gen. Roy Stone of the Agricultural Depart ment and Chief Consul Conway W. Sams will be among the prominent people present. The local consul at Elkton, Mr. Charles G. Wells, is arranging for a similar meeting in a short time, having secured the promise of the attendance of the chief consul at the same. Louis Wetherill, chief centurion, and F. Howard Harvey, recording centurion of the Century Cycling Club of Maryland, have is- sued a letter asking the members to con- tribute to the cost of surveying the twenty- mile course on the Shell road. “This course,” they say, “will conduce to bring- ing many records to Maryland that are now held in other states, if it be completed. With $60 we could put up wooden post: with $150 we could place stone markers.” The fifth annual spring run of the Cen- tury Cycling Club of Maryland will be held Sunday, May 16. The route will leave the tewer, Druid Hill Park, at 5:30 a.m.; thence via Reisterstown, Westminster and Littles- town to Gettysburg, Pa. They will return the same way, arriving in Baltimore at 7:30 p.m. Lunch at Reisterstown and dinner at Gettysburg. The Lawson and Sims bicycle heat race and Waller's effort to lower the one-hour unpaced record will be run over Electric Park track May 11. Chairman Mott of the L. A, W. racing board, Tuesday, issued the sanctions. a BICYCLE BRIEFS ‘The Seaboard Air Line has issued notice to its agents and representatives through- out the south that wheels when accom- panied by their owners are to be carried free when a first-class ticket is presented. The authorities in New York city are be- ginning to talk seriously about what they are to do with the cyclists. They are fair- ly over running the streets of the metropo- iis, and the lack of proper facilities for get- ting to the good suburban roads in West- chester, on Long Island, and in New Jer- sey, is causing the wheelmen to howl with | si3.477 wan for bicycles and the balance sundries, According to Wheeling, a representat cycling paper of London, there are som thing like 40,000 unsold American-ma-! machines at present in England Cyclists have been informed from time to time of severe tests on pneumatic tires, but it is doubted if any make ever withstood such a crucial trial as has been just: ported of a Crescent single tub Thix was attached to a wheel to the axle « which 150 pounds was suspended. It w then run over a rough wooden drum the rate of 3.129 miles. During that tin the tire had to be pumped up once, and « > cept for wear in several places was as Ko as new after the test Mayor McKisson of Cleveland, Ohio. vetoed the ordinance giving the wheeln of that city the privilege of riding or sidewalks of the un) The Lenox Librar of the public institutions to p modations for bicycles. An Sei aside in which wheels m visitor in the matter of kk passed the lower house of t legislatur nder the bi local counc * boards cannot compel cyclists to. « lamps at night, without making all « vehicles do the same. A severe case of destitution at Gloucs Mass., was reported to a church « mmit two Although the family was in bicycles were purchased by the boys on installment plan, which took nearly their wai ‘ Saturday night church committee, it is needless to 5 did not extend any aid. PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS Gustay Schmidt, a New York sculp! has conceived the idea of making life-siv wax figures of riders. There is a growth. demand for such among cye | be used for advertising pury ally it affords a Tucratiy the sculptor. emp It is understood that the new chairman « of the racing board, Albert Mott, closely follow in Mr. Gideon's policy « strictness and impartiality, without nar rowness or bigotry, Col. Charles W. Pickett, the editor the New Haven (Conn.) Leader, owes t life to the bicycle. He is a sufferer from dyspepsia, and in taking a dose of me cine throvgh a mistake swallowed 100 drops of nux vomica. Hastily ing his wheel he scorched to th: doctor's office, where he received ment for the poison. Uncle Joe” Cannon, representative from Illinois, is as enthusiastic a rider as at young man, and though he has not adopi- ed the regulation knickerbocker cycling costume he may do so in the near futur: He has a way of fastening his trousers about the ankles so that they will not get tangled up in the chain that looks for ali ~ the world as if he had tucked them into his boot legs just prior to starting out w | plow a ten-acre lot. it is announced that Cornelius Vanier- bilt will shortly join the ranks of the .y cling fraternity. Since he was stricken with paralysis last July he has been usin @ machine, the exercise of which was equivalent to riding a wheel, with the ica in view of palliating the ‘effects of +) shock An old-fashioned two-wheeled velocipy said to be forty years old, proved a riosity when placed on exhibition Providence cycle store. The velocipe the property of Superintendent. Wat | of the Corliss Engine Company. Th jchine was built by Mercer & M. Williams street, New York, and is still i g00d condition. Mr. William Crossley of Bloomsburg. P's Was another visitor to the elty during week, making the trip for business reaso: He is the inventor of a bicyle rim th. does away with the usual hole for ti. | Valve stem, the tire being pumped up t ; means of an attachment directly on tread. trea Racing will be a lively game in the east this year. Base ball has lost much o popularity abcut the metropolitan dis! and wheeling is all the rage. Golf is aiso coming up with a boom. One and jw sibly two more new tracks will be located about New York this year. AN the elvis are arranging for meets and several of them will run two out of three meets du the season. The New York state cir Will furnish scme excellent sport, w many other circuits are being arrang::| Ohio will alsc have a state circuit. The Charles River track, Boston, is af the Bald-Cooper race. The managem has written to the men, though so fa has made no offer. Grand Rapids, M! offered a purse of i” for the Bald me match. As the side bet is $1,000, this pro; sition will not be considered. A sanction has been granted to the Inte ycle Racing Association for a rel ago, during the week between teams beginning representing ¢ 17, it srilfied eh New York und St. Louis. A for $1,000 has been forwar to HOS Dixon, the member of the racing boa fo that district, to secure the prize mones The Associated Cycling Clubs of Moston will hold a race meet on Decoration Day at which the total distribution of - prizes and gold medals will > about $1,500. The on sist of exhibition and record-breaking at tempts, and the following events for ‘ prizcs: Half mile, $75, $0 and $25; one 1 open, $100, $75 and $; one mile, handi: 1 $100, $75, $0 and At the Vienna winter track ishteen mort- ings were held, with 110 races, in which sixty-eight professionals, including ine women, tcok part. Of these, thirty-s are Austrians, nineteen Germans. tive Frenchmen, five Italians, one Dut and one Hungarian. There w four amateur competitors. There | 13.395 crowns given in prizes, of Eros won 6,280 crowns and Lanfra’ oe, 680 crown: Without a doubt the largest bat« netions ever granted at one time place by the new chairman of the r board were those granted recently t management of the Charles River 1 « at Cambridge, Mass. Two meets ar a lowed for this month, ten for June. ten more for July and two fer September, » ak- ing a total of twenty-four race mevts for the place. The wheelmen of Cleveland, Ohio. hold a fifteen mile road race in the fi noon, and a race meet of eight even's on the afternoon of May 31. These will only races of the dey in Ohio. Cinc will celebrate Decoration day with a on May 29. The first meet held in Philadelphia th year will be at Willow Grove on Ma: under the management of Richard H. Kai: STOLEN WHEELS With the return of warm weather the stealing of bicycles increases in proportion The good weather seems to turn the at- tention of the thieves to the pleasures of cycling, with the result that the police de-™ partment is kept more busy. Within the | past fortnight the total number of thefts of wheels reported equals and exceeds the total number reported stolen during the whole of this year. The victims of the past two weeks are R. M. Pollock, 445 Massachusetts avenue northwest, Eclipse wheel No. 28,829, stolen from in front of the Post dairy lunch room. Albert Anderson, 1307 D street northwest, Rambler bicycle No. 15,572, stolen from iu front of National Hotel. Arthur 8. Brown, 1842 9th street north- west, Fowler wheel No. 22,229, stolen from 138th and E streets. Harry 8. Gaither, 425 @th street north- ‘West, rented Fowler wheel No. 26,044 to white m:n, who failed to return it. G. B. J reported theft ~ wheel. fohnstcn, Brookland, of entire kit of tools from his C. Thomas, 119 lith street northeast, zenith bieyole No. 2275, stolen fron howl ‘M. Dobbins, 1425 Pennsylvania avenue. canon @ lady's man's Barnes bicycle 10 failed to return them.