Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-23
CAPITAL PECUIIaKtrIEs.
THE Riding OF Bicycles and Tricy
Giles Over Washington Asphalt.
Eron, tha -Ne.o l.ark SIR

3SHS WAS AAAumiuGQ p9 idhtG 0hAbC ''s'''
amounted upon a dIngy and rafting til
tcycle, she was the object OF rather marked
attention. But she bore undaunted the
small boys jeers and the proud mans
contumely, and cheerfuly trundted
around the streets on her primitive
machine, which involved no small amount
Ot gymnastics and brave display of red
stockings. Now, no dou0t. she feels the
serene self satisfaction OF the pioneer, as
she sees the multitudes of ali sorts and
conditions of men and women VINO spin
lover the asphalt on tricycles, as well as
the more risky and graceful bicycles.
Indeed, ON pleasant afternoon 10 90 down
ON the Mail, or out on the Soldiers Home
road, and observe the passers for an hour
or two, reminds one of EZekiePs visions
of wheels.
or course there are all sorts of vehicles.
There are plenty OF diplomats and Sena-
tors and potentates OF various degrees in
low. heavy carriages with liveries and
jangling chains. Comfortable family
coaches with fat, easy-g0mg horses roll
slowly by, and the fast horses attached
TO spidery looking buggies, which run to
an abnormal development OF wheels,
flash swiftly past, driven by gentlemen
with colossal cigars and pnenOmenaily
black moustaches. In Innumerable more
or less stylish conveyances youth is seen
sporting with Amaryllis, if not in the
shade, at least quite undeterred by the
glare of the sun.
In and out among them glance an end
less variety Of ghstening wheels-tricy-
Giles with a little wheel behind and two
big ones In front, or with little wheel in
front and two big ones behind, or with two
big wheels at one side and one little one
at the other, or, in short, with any posi-
BILE or impossible combination of three
wheels. Young men and old men, women
land girls ride them. On many OF them is
q little perch, where the fond parent may
take his infant pride to ride with MIN. In
the "sociables" two girls may exchange
condolences, or Darby and Joan jog peace
fully along together, and In a tandem" he
can look comfortably over her shoulder
and say what he will IN her ear. Many of
the machines are new and shiny
aud glistening, others look more
business-like, and others still
are wheezy and Tamshackle old traps
that creak and groan and rattle and look
as ii they were homemade, but neverthe-
Jess seem to afford their riders much sat
lslsction. One of the latest additions on
the road is a comfortably cushioned arm
chair, with seat behind for the motive
IilSCs uIs Is DOb uitGU seen Oub III udI-
light, but it is in great demand on moon
light nights, and suggests unlimited
agreeable possibilities. The p0stmen on
the outlying districts gracefully blend
business with pleasure, ana spin lightly
along on tricycles specially contrived for
them, with big, square basket at their
feet in front to hold the mail they are
bringing down to the office.
The bicyclers, however, predominant,
and their drivers quite turn up their
scornful noses at the more cautious and
conservative riders on three wheels.
There are LOO BICYCLES ridden here, and
among the riders are army ana payy men,
clerks, lawyers and doctors, aud even
Few progressive clergymen, who like as
we'll as any of the boys to see on clear
summer evening the sun set in a sea of
gold from the top Of Red Hin, and TO feel
toe wind rush by them as they skim down
lStandpipe. There are several clubs, The
"Dlstrict Wheelmen" are maiplv-I say
1T with bated breath-bOys. OF course,
being young, they scornfully Tepudiate
the suggestion that they are anything
less than Methuselahs. The washing
ton Cycle Club" is another organization,
wearing pretty uniform OF green and
steel; but the leading club, both for num-
bers and social and cycling standing is
the Capitals" whose dark blue ana sill
Yer uniform is familiar To everyone, and
whose long oerulean stockings cover an
extensive variety of bad legs and not a
few pretty good ones.
One of their number has several times
performed the daring feat of riding down
tie immense flight Of marble steps at the
east front OF the capitol, which has given
him the sobriquet of "Old Put" in honor
OF that achevem mt. Another careers
AIrllY ma baaNal.
how, upon single wheel or unicycle,
upon which, Gefying ali me laws OF ma
ture, he disports hIins /. Ia thousand
Nagaries. The club is building pictur-
esque house, designed by an architect
among its members, on Fifteenth street,
Just below Albaugh's Opera House, and
opposite the Monument grounds. Out OF
Its wide arched doorway the members
proudly boast that they can ride forth
over more than fifty miles of asphalt
az smooth as your parlor floor,
and almost as clean and shady. Every
member OF the club feels it hrs duty to 20
down every day and inspect the progress
loi this building, and offer few sugges-
.tlons TO ~ architect and builder, who is
10y THIS time reduced TO the very confines
OF insanity.
''Swiitly and Silently" is the motto tney
wear on their badges, and every where YOU
go tu6lr swift ana silent wheels flash bV
you, although sometimes the silence is
broken by lurid ejaculation from the
startled waylarer upon whom they come
TOO unexpectedly. Occasionally "Jus-
1itia" or "VoX POpuh" writes letter TO
the newspaper complaining that they
brighten his horses by shooting past them,
or that they do not ring bell or carry
light, but artle his nerves by coming too
quietly to give him time to get out OF the
way. But some irate bicycler ia always
ready TO reply that they don't ask him 10
get out OF the way; all they want is for
aim quietly TO proceed and they will get
nut OF bis way, and that the
sooner bis horses are trained
10 endure the alarming sight of
wheels going without horses to draw
them, the better, as the wheels have come
TO stay. The bcycler reserves his curses,
rot loud but deep, for the agitated female
VINO sees him coming and thinks she can
get by IN front of him, and runs forward
"A little way, and then changes her mind
and thinks she can't, and then runs back
u little way, and then vacillates, poised
between the curbs in an agony OF fright
aud INDIGESTION, while no Vainly tries TO
decide which side to go to avoid ner. IL
Is observed that the riders who carry a
headlight as big and ring a bell as loud
as a locomotives are the elderly men,
who jog sedately along on their little
''safetios" or "Fac!les," and wouldn't be
likely TO run down tortoise or even "a
District messenger boy.
The wheemen have n Jolly time on
their club rams, and long, leisurcly, gol-
drn afternoons in tae country. drinking