Evening star. [volume], February 06, 1897, Page 13, Image 13

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
S"
NW DEPARTURES
SOME CYCLE CHAT
'hough the bicycle has been In use in
the city for nearly ten years, there are
some nersens who still wonder how it Is
that long and Fhort people can ride what
appears to be the same kind of machine
the squatty safety. To a person not ac
quainted with bicycles every machine looks
alike. fin the other hand there are a good
many persons who can tell the mqe of a
machine at a glance. This is cited only to
show that some people use their powers of
observati-n. while others do not. In fact,
there are many riders who cannot tell any
difference between bicycles.
All bicycles are manufactured In sizes.
While th-re are twenty-six, twenty-eight
and Inirty-inch wheels, the sizes in the
frames are more numerous, graduating
every two inches from twenty inches to
twenty-eight, and even larger on a special
order. ihis applies to wheels for adults.
The difference ir6 siz-s is measured from
the part of the frame designed for the
crank axle up to a point beneath the sad
dIe post. tne widest part of the diamond.
Whatever difference there may be in reach
Is made up by raising the saddle post, this
fitting down in te frame and often capable
of being raised fully twelve inches. How
ever. It is poor form to ride with any ex
tension of the sadle post. It looks awk
ward for a person to sit on a saddle ten
or twelve inches from the frame. He is so
far away from the trame as to give the
appearance of riding in the air, being sud
denly raised from the b.iycle. The handle
bars have to be raised for such high riding,
and that adds to the soectacle the rider
makes. Neither is it good form to ride
with the saddle directly on the top bar of
the frame. The rider appears as though
his limbs had suddenly shrunk, and left
him in the lurch. In one instance, the
cause is using too small a framed wheel,
wLile in the latter instance it is the use
of too large a frame. The saddle post to
preso-n' a good figure while riding should
he between three anti four Inches from the
frame, not more.
In racing a different style of wheels are
used. looking to the ordinary person like
a child's wheel. The frame is small and
the main sprocket is dropped low to insure
as much rigidity as possible with lightness.
There is one thing that is worth knowing.
The smaller the frarn.-, the less vibration,
at..d consequently th.- greater rigidity. A
person using a twenty-eight-inch frame has
more vibration on h:s machine than one
wth a twenty-four-inch frame. This being
ce ease. in purchasing a wheel it is the
At plar to take the snallest size of frame
that will suitably fit the rider. The con
stunt vibration tells on the construction
and often results disastrously.
In the list of records published last Sat
urday in The Star there were several
American and world's records that were
left out, particularly the hour records,
which were mostly held by one man. The
hour record is held oy little James Michael.
the Welsh wonder, who rode a fraction
over twenty-nine miies within the sixty
minutes. L. S. Mein:je, the crack from
Africa. who on a recent visit to this coun
try demonstrated his wonderful riding
powers, rode sixty-two and three-quarters
miles in .I.l2 3-5. The fA5P-mile road ree
ori is claimed by A. E. Smith of Chicago,
who covered the distance in fifty-six hours
aid five minutes. All of the hour records
above tive miles are held by Louis Ilmm,
the American rider, who in the attempt
against the twenty-four record, in Chica
go, September 24-2- of last year, estab
lished .ie following records:
H.,urs. MIl.- Ydc .urs. Mie. Ydi.
6..........1u 2"> 11..........344 1,361
7..........i7. 1.214 17..........il; 1.ti1
$1.......... 1 1.:0 1 1 ..........3,g tt13
'e. .. .... '3 1.-4 : i t ..........410; 64i
1,,.. ......."24 1.WM6 2...........4,,3 7Tie
11 . ........243 l.. 6 21..........44. 3
1,: ..........i6-, 1.3- ..........0 1.3.50
13...........7" 1.745 23..........477 ..7
14. .........:A9 K. I.5 1 2 ..........4,0: 1,I1
i;..........to S- ,;
Speaking of records brings to mind the
fact that in the table of records published
last we-k many people rireeivel the same
with a ,.ood deal of doubt, hardly believing
that the figur.s were right, attributing
what they thought a big error to typo
- graphi.al mistakes. The article was per
fectly correct. Yet there were some who
could not see how it was that Frank Wal
ier established all of the reenrds from :0n
to 1414 miles on the same day. He was
given the credit of seventeen recorei.. the
aggregate distatnce of which were l.1lei
miles. and there were some who, after tak
ir.g the pains to reach this result. came t o
the conclusion that no man could ride that'
distanice in one day. This Is true. The
rider who could cover l,,5N. miles In a dayj
is certainly a phenomenon. Wailer did not~
make a separate start for every one of the
re:ords. In faet, one start sufficed for the
entIre batch of records. He rode only 1ew5
miles oni that day, all told, yet in covering
that distarnce he broke all existing records
for the intermedliate dlistances given. His
time was taken on eu.ry mile, and at the
end~ it was found that he had broken a
number of records, for which he was giveni
the due credit. That Is how he came to
make s. venteen-t records In one day.
H-as the bicycle prov'en a b-oon to the
<!iy' While it is true that some branches
of 1 osir ese have puffe red sirnce the wheel
h..s comi into general u.e. there are
other brarshies that have sprung up
-at plriSp. red. The Iccal cycling ir.
terests re-pr'-ent an outlay of neatly
3-, .f-.t~. which is a arreat figure, andl
that mu-h has gone to the credit of
it "fer.-t biranc-hes ofi hutress. The cost of
tie whi.'is. of cours., is the main figure.
.Vany hi- whe-whe- .mia for Ills, and even
ni ore. lit irn these statistics enlyf $0Is al
low.d S the est *.f the machirnes. Then
esry rI ier is obliged to have a lamp, un
K E/'ESEjEAP
s *
fit*
IN CTCLOMETERS.
der the regulations, and also a bell, and for
this suppose an average of 2.51) 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
f rms, the prices of which vary. A cycle
suit costs every bit as muoh as an every
day suit, and al average of $15 will be al
Icwed 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
irgs and leggings will 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
dental expenses of each rider during the
riding season will average fully $5 per.
rider, and this sum helps swell up the to
tal. With a basis of 40,00)M wheelmen and
wheel women in the city, the following
would represent the aggregate cost of bi
cycles in the District of Columbia alone:
Cost of wheels..........................00,0tio
Cost of lamps.......................... 100.0151
Cost of bells............................ 10,1M1,
Ccst of oil and wicks................. 10.MN)
Ccst of costumes and caps.......... 90,m)t
Cost of shoes.......................... 100Mi
Ccst of stockings..................... 40,011
Ccst of repairs-................,..... 120,1110
Cost of incidentals.................... 20,15)0
Total outlay for cycling..........4.380,010
In Chicago it is estimated that there are
20),1fmt cycle 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 hardly correct. Like all
other figures put out by the windy city peo
ple, they can be subject to revision, and
about 50t.sjM) can be taken off the list as
phantom riders, which would make the
total riding population equal 150.0, which
in itself is a big figure. The facilities of
the city for the wheelmen are not near as
good as those of this city, and in view of
this the revised number seems astoundingly
large.
Those who have visited Chicago find the
ccdar block or wooden pavement predom
inate. This style of street paving was fa
miliar in this city in the days of the old
board of public works, though the last of
its kind disappeared about ten years ago.
Chicago still uses this kind of pavement,
and in the current report of the city fathers
it is found that the total mileage of streets
of "greater Chicago" is equal to .I0!r2.49,
of which T2tM01 miles are cedar block pav
ing: :tt.4 macadam: 30.75 sheet asphalt:
3.51 block asphalt. If half of this be taken
as suitable for bicycle riding it will about
suit and be near correct, which is in con
trast with the riding facilities of our city.
The local authorities are not the only
ones that are drawing a tighter noose
around the necks of the bicycling frater
nity. While the riders of this city are kick
ing about the new police regulations af
fecting them, the riders in the monumental
city have a fight of some sort on their
hands, all growing out of some new or
dinances passed by the park board. To the
Washington wheelmen who visited Balti
more last June it will be remembered that
the mounted police in Druid Hill Park ob
jected to a speed of more than eight o( ten
miles an hour. That was an old regulaTion.
The 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
wheelmen brought up various other things.
Their objections availed to some extent,
and at a hearing given by the mayor the
whtelmen of the city were allowed to have
one member on the park board, who will
endeavor to have the new order rescinded
and regulations protecting wheelmen made
and enforced. In case they are unsuccess
ful in this, they will call to the legislature
of the state for assistance.
The announcement has been made of the
invention of a pedal by a New York man
which makes it unnecessary to use a toe clip
to keep the toe from slipping off the pedal
while in motion. The account of the new
lp.dal, as described, states that it looks like
an ordinary pedal, weighing a trifle more.
The moment the foot touches the pedal the
clamps on the side contract, and hold the
shoe so tightly as to make it impossible
for it to move. The moment the pressure
is removed from the pedal, the pressure of
the side clamps relaxes and the foot can
b drawn away. The side clamps are ad
justable, and can be made to fit a woman's
as well as a man's shoe. While this an
nlouncement is given due prominence as a
new thing, it will be well to look back to
ward the cycle show held in this city last
year. Fred Owen. the local inventor, had
on exhibition, pedals almost constructed on
the idlentical plan described above. The
things worked like the clamp on a skate,
only automatically, and have been received
with success by the cycling fraternity.
LemnelyvIhe. Expedieney.
Fr'm Pt.
Mr. Hermitage (of Lonelyville)-"How did
the danme in the school house come off last
night?"
Mr. Isolate (of dItto, enthusiastically)
"O)h! the hjt water herter pipes had burst,
tiooding the hall in the morning, so we
changed the dance to a akating carnival in
stead!",
Str'ong Securities.
Fromi the New Yoak Tribune.
Jinks--"John~son wants to borrow $50 from
me. Do you think he is good for that
amount?
lRinks-"VYes, with proper securities."
Jinks--"What securities would you sug
gest?'
Binks--"A chain and padlock, a pair of
hande-uffs and a dog. That would be enough,
I think, to hold him."
wona ea -a
WHEELS
It looks as though the old lMllef 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
tncrease' 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 Wiyselmen of this division held a
meeting Tuesday evening at 42) 10th street,
at which the welfare of the organization was
considered. The board was unanimous 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 secretarv
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
took out will be greater than the division
treasury can star.d 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 postea in conspicu
ous places in land 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
the expense of the league. It has succeed
ed in securing the passage and enforce
ment of many laws for the benefit of all
wheelmeg, w'hether members of the asso
ciation or otherwise; it has spent thousands
of dollars in this work; it has carried many
ic.ng 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 Chas dome 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
i1i
1 "' Y J
JIGGEST BICYCLEI
rrsidents of the country and farm districts,
uhether 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 do not went,
rnor can you afford, to - be classed as a
rponger.' Join the L. A. W. and help the
good work along. Give us your moral, men
tal, physical and financial support. The
cest is too small to soy that you cannot
afford it. Hand your application to any
member and secure your membership card.
You will be surprised and grateful to finil
how much the league can give you in re
turn for your dollars. For further inafor
mation regarding the important work of
this division, apply to William T. Robert
son, chief consul, 421) 10th street; W. K.
Larrimore. vice consul, 417 9th street. or
Charles E. Wood, secretary-treasurer, 1325
14th street."'
The 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
each of the mrain offices. Chief Consul
Robertson will be the orly representative,
aind he will leave the city on the evening of
the 9*h, carrying with him the proxy votes
of Vice Consul Larrimore and Secretary
treasurer Wood.
Altair Cycle Club.
The Altair Cycle Chib held a meeting dur
ing the week at their headquarters, 128
32d street. The main business of the even
ing was the consideration of the matter of
a new club house, to be kept up permas
nently. While the club has plenty of mon
ey in the treasury, the committee in charge
pardly thought that the expenses would
come within the regular receipts of the or.
ganisation and the project was abandoned.
It Is not likely that permanent club quar
ters 'rill be est~ahhd fcr some time
It was decided at the meeting to hold the
arnnual club banquet, a. marked ieature and
cuetom of the eiub for several years past.
No date wee selected, though it was under
stood that the affair will come off the lat
ter- part of this -mouth. A oommittee, coa
sisting of MeisaWalter T. Weaver, Ali~e
Craig and David L. Reynoih was appobht
ed to take charge ot the Uatter. The bena
guet will be held in Mm.. Hail, directly
theelub swielab and every
..eJs .r to .~ghis b st grl.
ask w =l0is0 with
Mt.'."E Uahe Wqeg.er, el
die etqb gil leveb aye ~
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 wll be filled with merriment. A
b siness meeting will Dist be held, at which
officers will be elected. The. supper w'll
follow. President Weaver will preside, and
"Uncle Francis." the 6lub mascot, will ofil
clate as toastmaster. The evening will close
with a musical and literary 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
pc.pular bicycle club in the city, and on
this account the club did not enter the
contest.
Capital Dl. Club.
The only cycle show that will be held in
this oity this spring opened Thursday even
ing at the club house of the Capital B1.
Club, on 15th street, the show being given
by the club, to give its members and friends
a chance to inspect all c> 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 all
colors and all makes on every side. lining
the wall and standing in the platform in
the front bay window. Not only were
wheels visible, but cycle sundries were all
around, with catalogues and other pr!nted
matter, furnishirg 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
cards have been given. The show will close
tcnight in a blaze of glory. All of the
dealers have liberally responded to the re
quest that they place whleis on exhibition
and nearly fifty wheels shown, of all
makes, to say nothing e4eof ne other dis
play and decorations. w 'gels and ex
hibitors are as follows: tlev nand cycles,
represented by the Metrog1iji Cycle Com
pany; Lyndhurst, West %nd Cycle Corn
.,
Nr
EVER DUILT.
pany; Syiph cycles, Sylph-Winton bicycle
agency; Columbia bicycles; the Trinity
cycle, Syiph-Winton bicycle agency; Barnes'
White Flyers, Diamond Cycle Conmpang;
the Olive Wheel Company; Capital City
Cycle Company; Jones & Burr; Warwick,
Charles E. Miller & Bro.;. the Winton bi
cycle, Sylph-Winton agency; Victor bicy
cles, Cline Brothers; Remington and Orient
bicycles, Bradbury Piano Company; Envoy
aind -Fleetwing. Jones & Burr; the Owen
wheel, the Eclipse bicycles, the Cushion
Frame Hygienic Wheel Company; the Ra
cyceC. G. Van Hook, agent; the Sterling
bic ole, W. Roy Mitchell.
MluiIt Clb
The Misfits, while they .did..,not win the
banner in the voting coq~eat igt the acad
emy, feel much encouraged .gver. the re
sult, beating out many clubs much older.
The club hardly expected93oa b' in the con
test and the result ws a ant sur
The club held a meetingV' esday evera
ing, when it was decdd %4 ie a straw
ride some evening next wee . he ride will
be to Takoma Park, and the date will be
announced tomorrow. *e
Though eomewhat early,the members are
planning a relay ride tgk B timore this
spring. The plan has juaubeentbrought up
and received the club's apprqval,- and the
details will be arranged letenhere being
an abundance of time toru~
A pool table has been addect to the club
furniture, and the mnembbre ltre enjoying
the novelty of Its auvott: -Verlous minor
improvements have been Jaune, and the
club rooms now are in excesidst conditio~n.
* Uee Whee d.
The members of the Q'ueer Whbeelmen are
conaiderably elated over their vilctory in
the voting contesjt at the Academy of
Miusic, which closed Thmrsday evening, andG
which resulted In the presentation et the
banner to the club at the performanlce last
evening. The Qdeer. to antd uapoawjining
the banner. .and starte4 ider the contest
several days before the votin omed
last mevg the clerb Wa sas U bte
theater. In ut ,numbers, .eplgUSb
all 6!f the pivte boK6.agl rear
bblr. It wan bieee sih 4Ut t ~end,
eastno the be~a mad~ k~@en
IMr. Paii Vsane
uea he Uv3 ste~
-------
MRDERS.
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 applicatiods
filed for patents in England alone, and of
this sum more than one-third were for im
provements in bicycles.
The highegt estimate of the number of
bicycles in Philadelphia is 100,000, 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,
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
1.95, 'amounted to only $241,721. For the
first six months of 1896 the aggregate value
of the bicycle exports was $1,654,291. In
June alone the exports amounted to $515.
798, or more than double the total exports
of the preceding six months.
It is estimated that 750,0(0 bicycles were
made In England last year, worth over ?11.
000,000), equal to $53,42.,000. The export of
English wheels for the first nine months
of last year amounted to ?1316,477, or
$6,452,691. For the corresponding period of
1895 the export trade equaled ?1,147,146, or
$5,582.012.
While the cyclists of this country kick
about the regulations which are made
against them, the wheeling fraternity ' of
Europe 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 weathser 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 distarce beirg probably 10,000
miles.
W. W. Hamilton. the western crack, who
has made a number of records, has an
r.cunced his intention of retiring from the
path. He made a number of fast rides last
season, and was the first man 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.
According to Lord Charles iUeresford, an
eminent authority, the 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 three-year-old
girl by the name of Margaret. who, it is es
timated, has traveled over 4,1441 mile. on
the crrler attached to I er father's bicycle.
Lesna. the celebrated r'rench rider, with
wonderful staying poe .rs, is bound for a
visit to Australia. where he will partici
pate in a serits of paced races. The suc
cess of the American riders in the antipon.
has encouraged the Frerchman.
Harry Wheeler says he has retired from
the racing path (or good. This may be so.
Wheeler has done some good riding in his
day, but he is wise enotgh to see that he
has passed hin best days.
Columbia College is determined to again
win the inte"collegiate cycling champion
ship. Last year the coilkge secured twenty
out of a possible forty points for cycling.
Yale coming next with eight points. Schade.
representing Columbian University. of this
city, ranaged to score five points.
Owen Kimball is said to be the coming
man on the track this season. This is the
opinion of Dad Moulton, the veteran bicy
tle trainer, who 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
fold. #saac Potter. at the head of the New
Ycrk division of the League of American
Wheelmen, has taken hold of his case. If
srecessful, 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 was lowered to 1.25 1-it, while
records 'were completed from six to ten
miles inclusive, as follows: Six miles, time,
13:22 2-5; seven miles, time, 15:38 4-5; eight
miles, time, 18:51 3-5; nine miles, time,
2:06; ten miles, 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.
Fearing, Jr., and H. K. Bird; one mile.
George Ruppert--all representing Columbia
College, New York.
A Homes". Feat.
From the Churehmen
One day a wonderful bird tapped at the
window of Mrs. Nansens home et Chris
tiania. Instantly, th'e window was opened
and. the wife of the famous arctic explorer
in another moment covered the little mnes
senger with kisses and caresses. The cr
rier pigeon had been away from the cot
tage thirty long monthas, but It had not for
gotteii the 'way- hame, It brought -a note
from Nansen, stating that al -was going
well--with him and his expedition in the
polar regions. Nansen had fastened a mes
sage to a cars'ier pigeon and turned the
bird looe. Thew frail courier dayted out
4ato the bih=emmdly air, It flqwelike an ar
row over a thousand mitles ef r emn waste
nd then ed*rau ver thess
and unde of ocea oipaasu brgents,
and one meth .iu e wimnerast time
Cow NO "'
UpfyR---O
A DJ'JSTAFLe WOO
DOULt 6D*5
6/SON 64W U i L
somu wmw on
FOR WOMEN CYCLISTS
The bicycle lias en-ancipated woman. As
some woman writer has put It: "It you are
a woman It is your bounden duty to call
down blessings upon the head of him who
first made a wheel. 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
v ill 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 imtrove
her health In an easy and pleasant man
ner, and enables those who are naturally
blessed with good health to remain in such.
1
/
The Cycling Maiden of Today.
It means that she is afforded a chance to
see tlings she never would have seen. It
means that it will bring her to olaces
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 many things which those
who do rot ride can hardly think of or ap
preciate so l3ng 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 tne day will come when the female
rkio r will dress to suit her own ideas; when
.mn-e Fashion will make a sudden swerve
aind 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 common
sense people In general is toward the use
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.
Tight lacing will produce shortness of
breath and palpitation of the heart, which
lead to tillness if not to death. Then the
simple skirts in use permit the unimpeded
action of the limbs, which conduces to the
perfect development of the whole frame.
One seldom sees a woman bending over
the handle bars like a male scorcher.
There are some in this city, however. 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
rnen. 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
fast riders. For these reasons, which con
duce to moderation In the sport and pre
vent excesses. bicycling is doubtless of
greater physical benefit to women than to
men. It is natural to conclude, too, that a
woman, after enjoying freedom from the
constraints of tight lacing while on the
wheel. will not torture herself with small
ccrsets while on the street or in the house.
but 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.
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 sitting 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, &nd the other 'English racers,
sys they look like apple dumplings.
The combination frame tandem is coming
out In greater variety than ever. By comn
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 frqpe. The
question comes up as to which position the
lady should ride.- Inasmuch as most wheels
are mada with the drop part of the frame
in front, it would seem as though the man
ufacturers had settled the matter by haw-'
lng the lady ride in front This is without
a doubt the proper thing. There are oases
in this city where females have been known
to ride a diamond-frame tandem, and then
again there are other cases where t~he fair
rider occupied the rear seat. That this is
wrong is proven by the fact that it is the
rider who occupies the tear seat who
mounts last and gts the machine under
way. This is plaiI the duty of the man,
The only important question remaining is
that of steering. A woman acustomed to
riding a single wbeel is naturally enclined
to steer when she first mounts a tsadem,
but after a little oxperience she becomes
willng to trust to the stronger hand in the
rear, although it is obvious at times that
P s tT mas.
[PS AND DAMS.
she may see an obstacle that mign escape
the other's eye. If the drop fra of
the tandem should be placed ha tb -r ft
would become the woman's duty to hold
the machine while the man was mdinting,
and then to mount herself aa mnake 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 It before he takes her out on a
ride' Does it necessarily follow that the
escort should overhaul the wheel, string
the lacing, oil the bearings, tighten the
nuts and do a number of other things pre
paratory to starting out on a ride when
the machine has been unused for a few
days? If the woman. Is married then she
is perfectly justified i mhaving her husband
clean and attend to the bicycle. or let him
get some one to do the work, but where the
young lady is single It is another thing.
These are only some suggestions 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
centage who can repair a puncture. There
is no reason why this should be so. There
is almost equally as large a number who
easily break the lacing which protects their
dress from the chain, but who find it too
oifficult a matter to lace the machines
themselves. This should not be so. In fact
there appears to be almost too many riders
of the fair sex in the city who know noth
ing at all about the wheel they 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
the bicycle is simple, and it does not take
a course of several years' study to under
stand the rudimer tal features sufficient to
give an Insight In case of an accident.
The question of the position of the lady
when riding with an escort, is often per
plexing, yet Is simple enough. The lady
should always ride on the right side of
the street, next to the curb, while the gen
tleman takes a position to her left. It is
to be supposed 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 com
panion. He should always assist the lady
to mount her wheel, and allow her time to
arrange her skirts, and when she is started
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 ggt 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 be should
dismount. He might possibly be able to
get through a jam all right, but the lady
may not be so fortunate.
Physicians have all along claimed that
the use of the sewing machine ruins the
health of women, and on account of the
similarity of such to bicycling, the latter
was deemed to be equally as had for the
health 'f the female. Dr. Martin Siegfried.
the physician in charge of the health re
sort of Itippoldean in the Black Forest of
Germany, has this to say of the matter:
"Whoever has told you that the two move
ments were really the same, either does. not
ur-drstand the sewing macline, or is not
fcmilir with the bicycle, or b.elongs to the
category of those who knew rauthing about
either, and therefore are the more tena
\ .
Cyco~me Nudism et the Petuse.
clous in opinion. To refute in detaiU, up'.n
an anatomical basis, a prejudioe so wide
spread, not only amopg the laity, but
among physicians also, would take too
much space. I will smaile hut one assertion,
with which every one who comprehends
the mtbject will agree-4hat the principal
motion mn using the sewing machine is In
the ankle, while in cycling the work is done
b~y the joints of the tips and the knees.
Moreover, there is a wide difference in tae
circumstances vander which the two pursuits
are followed. (are- involves continuous sit
ting for hours in a bowed position, which
contracts the lungs and! wearies the body,
in a room poorly ventIlated or perhaps not
ventilated at all, while pursuing .a purely
niechanical occupation. a hich allows the
free entrance of the spiritual poison of idle
dreams-nay, perhaps, by the monotony of
posture and employmaent during long hours,
actually evokes themt. The other, an seer
clse which stre~ngthens the muscles of the
trunk and lower extremities, is practiced
in fresh air and In an erect attitude. cas
ing the breathing to deepen, the pulse to
beat more strongly, and the blood to Im
prove by the increased adguisteion of oxygen,
and necessitating csatant attenitlon, prac
tice in watchf-alness, and presence of mind.
Here Is a little sharp stone, which might
injmure the rubber of the piesni tire;
yonder a rough plece in teroad, which
must be quIckly avoided in order not to
expose' the machine to ounneceseax y jolts;
.again, the rider must be em the alert In
passing carriages or other wheels, There Is
no time to wake from a reverie and ask:
'What shall ho .done" The sweet dreamer
is suddenly Is the. ditch by thme soadaide.
Thus the use of the hicycle is a powerful
means of training- lndiv'daty." "