Newspaper Page Text
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." "