Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-18

ere beautned A bicycle, small head light
Ss night and an = about
out Ii he joins club he Will be compelled,
In addition to paying fees, to purchase COS.
tune, which usually consists of knee breaches,
stockings, CATERS, woolien shirt and Cap.
THE ORDINARY RATE OF SPEED
of the bicycle is about a mile in four minutes
Under particularly favorable circumstances
the mile can be done under four minutes. The
bicycle races which have become q feature of
every summer season, shows this Much faster
time than any recorded on the track was made,
took to descend a spur of the Alps on his
vehicle. 1t was all down hill, the grade was
very steep and the road very rough. He went
op ae 5Hes 560m o5ag to a
I'LL he reached the level at the bottom. BE
made the distance at the rate OF about mile a
minute; but even the cleverest bicyclist would
hardly det \ these the most favorable circum-
stances. level ground and smooth surface Is
what the bicy c1st wants.
THE BICYCLE DOES NOT SCARE HORSES,
that is the experience or Washington. On
this subject an article in the Baltimore Anleri-
can says:
1T has been very upIustly said-unwittingly
SO, 10 dGuoj-that large percentage OF
horses frighten at The bicycle, while the fact
land II is beyond all controversy-that not
one horse In hundred pays any attention to
II.
The experience OF the Baltimore riders has
teen Obtained, AID OF those VINO have ridden
ffCm ], 900 to 800 % e It Is thai they have met
as many horees as miles Travelled, and have
each On an average, caused rrigaz to not more
than one horse for every 500 miles, while
some who have ridden hundreds OF miles.
have never frightened a single horse.
ally acknowledged courtesy OF blcyclers On the
road. 1t is law OF nearly all cluos-lnd one
stringently adhered to-that whenever and
wherever the slightest occasion may require,
tn
ness, especially until every ve5tige Of prejudice
Is obliterated from the minds of the well mean
Ing public. 1t Is the custom for riders, on meet
lDg horse that gives any sign OF uueasness,
to dismouDt and stand by hts wheel until the
horse IS safely by IL is suggested that the
raised hand should be understood By bicyclers
as signal from solicitous drivers to use eau
ZION, and when repeated, to dismount. Any
such signal will De cheerfully obeyed by all
wheelmen until the few horses In as many
thousands have become thoroughly accustomed
10 their useful delightful, but harmless and
GOOD natuTed rival. Ii The bicycle was suited
only to the track or public hall, II 1t had
place only In ornamental athletics, it might
then be said to be a mere fashion-a manly,
humane and healthy one, TO be sure. but of no
practlcal moment to busy Americans; but since
IL Is also vehicle ready at all times to the
hand and foot, conserving time and energy,
reducing distance. more economical more at
talnaDle than horse and buggy, suiung the
needs OF business and professional men OF va
riouS sorts, IL takes on the dignity of a mod
tablished
In England large percentage OF the country
cergymen and physicians have either sold Jleir
horses or sent Them TO grass, and now make
their professional rounds upon this silent steed
OF STEEL being always ready, far more swift
requiring no groom, nor grass. nor Stake of
thirst. Apropos. the latter class Of persons
have pronounced Its use beneficial and health
fuI, and often recommend 1t In lieu OF walking
or horseback riding. In London and other
CUES me lord and laDorer. he OF the surpllce
and laymen OF every sort. may be seen wnirl,ng
along the streets as though this had been Their
mode OF iocomotion from time immem orlal 4"
BICYCLING AT TIE HUB.
The Boston Herald thus eulogizes the good
points OF the machine: Some years ago, when
the bicycle was reintroduced in this country
for our fathers tell US that 1t first appeared here
and had an extensive run, as the shOpmen
W E0an IS say, more than generation ago-but
was the wonder Of the town. though even those
who never grew tired or looking at its peculiar
proportions and OF observing the skillful ma
neavers of expert riders of 1t regarded it as a
vehicle OF doubtful utility. to say the least. In
fact, the general opinion OF it is and was that it
is or no account as labor-saVing machine. but
rather the opposite. In other words, that a
mile may be Travelled on foot at less cost of
bodily energy than is required TO travel the
same distance On the bicycle. Hence few peo-
PIE Deneved that the prediction by the lovers
OF this untamed, II not fiery steed, that it
would very soon become "a joy for ever"
in every household, and the general means
OF Of loc com for The male members OF
ne contrary. they regarded iU as very
pretty Toy, and one that would remain "a toy
tor ever, aid tnis parapnrastic Judgment has
been confirmed by the experience OF these ten
or twelve years. Tney do not observe the
dashlng broker mounted on the top of the
little Saddle and sailing onward 10 l!s Office
aEh hurried ease, or the thoughtful minister
taking his morning exercise On the country
roads, gathering meanwhile. "Secmoa5 from
stones" and"thonghts from The running brooks
passed by The way side on his daily round, as
thing tossed aside ia dlsdaIn. or relocated en-
tireIy 10 the region CT boys playthilgs, as some
expected. Ga The contrary 1t mas held It's own,
ana and Is To-Day as Popular as ever with those
wbo from their mode OF life or for their
health'S sake, are lmpeled to seek some kind
OF amusement that combines work vita play.
VI course IL never can become the cnosen
vehicle OF rheumatic patients or OF people
whose joints are stiffened With age; but
LIKE A SPIRITED HORSE,
IL affords means OF going from place to place
which recommends Itself to those who possess
love OF adventure, there being Just risk
enough about it to keep the senses alert and
fhe muscles In active use. And this PROBABLY,
Is what constitutes the chief pleasure wnlcn
blcyc ilsts find in the use OF their vehicles:
though, doubtless. there are many who exhibit
themselves on the revolving wheel mora from
vanity than any real pleasure they derive from
Der, and the genuine bicycllsLs are about as
enthusiastic over the performance of their
swiftly moving machines as horsemen provero-
Tally are over that or their petted steeds at all
events, the use OF the bicycle Is not confined to
mere boys, as many thought it would be. but
the instrument Is the pride Of we'll grown Ia Is
ana well developed men. It Is, In fact an I'M
handy article for the use OF reckless boyhooi.
and requires the active strength and steady
WatenIulneSS OF young manhood to manage
properly, as any one can judge who sees then
80 glldlng along the streets with the swift ana
noiseiess movements OF a spacter. There are
In this city, as elsewhere, q considerable num-
Der OF bfcycliStS associated together In clubs
located In different parts OF the city, and those
VINO reside On or have occasion to pass through
certain streets, especially In the early evening
or at night, VIII see them performing those
dexterous eVolutionS which are the delight OF
cnlldnood aud the wonder of the physically
cecrepit to witness. The ordinances require
them TO carry a headlight when travelling
abroad at night. because OF the quick move
mentS OF the riders and the noiseles, ness of
their approach, fact due to the rubber tire
With Which the large wheel is provided"
BICYCLING FOR HEALTH.
4 bicycle rider OF EnglanG has recently Issued
d COOK describing trip he and friend had
made through England and Wales on bicycles,
and In referring to the effect of bicycle riding
on the health he says:
The bicycle Is peculiar thing; 1t Is at vari.
ance with our preconcelved ideas: it sets at
naught what We believed. The general opinion
outsloe or bicycle riders Is that the exercise
merely develops the legs, especially the calves,
anu tnat IL Is Injurious to men. These are I'M
ioTtanate errors. because they deter many an