The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-25
MARY JAMES LETTER.
SHE is ASTONISHED AT THE CITY
OF NEW YORK.
Metropolitan Newspapers Are E7GS'ng
About Woman Who Rides the bicycle,
Whereas Washington Women. Have Ised
That Machine These ManySaonths-
Especial Cor,pspondtncc.l

W ASHfNtsiOS. AiSss isH'S ~
served in the New York newspapers re
Gently quite little ovation to some lady
of the vicinity of the metropolis Who has
made her appearance ON bicycle. Allow
ing that all tho new things have their
beginning in the focal city Of the Union,
lwant TO say that for months past women
Oh bicycles have been an every day street
attraction in Washington. Of course the
indies do not ride mems bicycles. but to
the uninitiatcd it would appear that they
did. The woman's bicycle is, however,
of a different cast. aud is. | believe, a
Washington invention. and il is decidedly
superior TO the tricycle. for ladies use,
both in the labor required TO propel 1t
and in It's gracefulness on the track. On
ono of these machines lady in loose
flannel dress ID a thing Of beauty and a
ioy forever. ard there is less motion of
limb visible than in walking. and the OBJ
server NAV strain his eyes out Of their
sockets without seeing more than the end
Of her toes. which cannot be said of her
on tricylc Of the most modest and diff
dent pattern Washington probably leads
every city in The country in the number
OF bicycles IN use, . G00Of them believe.
being required 10 meet the demand. Most
Of them arc ridden by men, but great
many ladss ride. and on pleasant even
ings the turn oIt Is quite impressive, and
the way the rirlswhccl in and out around
corners, AID across streets and fly along
the straight stretches lis unique ard in
vigoratnC. With nearly goo miles Of
concrete pavement. IT, j. scarcely 70 be
wondered nt tbat the national capital
should lead in tbs, o. yet. undcyelopcd
agency Of transportation There is still
q strong prejudice against women on
bicvclCs, but the rcfOrmcrs are active and
persistent, and the time vii soon come
when il will be considered quite as femi-
nine 70 ride bicycle as !; is to drive
phaeton. So far the fashionable girls
have frowned upon the vince. and don't
know Of even onc who has Lad the nerve
TO take the st -cct with machine, but
they do many things more nnwomaniy,
and some day some daring belle will make
the break. and once started the bad"
will grow, and | doubt not will live to
see the society of the capital on wheels
and the fronts Of residences Oh swell
streets lined with thcm on reception days.
Wa, talking not long ago to the head
Of one of the departments about politics
and the ways of politicians and candi-
dates, when he gave me biz of his expe-
riencc.
1--WE have some queer customers to
deal with. he said and pretty hard
row 10 hoe sometimes. but the veteran
candidate know no such word as fail.
remember at one time was running FOR
q state Office IN my STATE 0nd off In ono
corner of it was a county which ! lad
coed grounds TO believe was going against
me full tilt. aud my clGcf enemy was the
clerk Of tie county court, though he was
not aware that know it. We'll, | went
over into that county on horseback, and
after long, hayd days ride reached The
county seat the day before court was to
meet. | got around 10 sec some of the
people knew. and | stepped into the
clerk Office. for had been a clerk once
III; sclf and rather liked TO look over the I
work Tho clerk was an old fellow not
at all well and his work was away be-
Kind. aiked awhile ia him on politics /
aud general topics, aud then went to the
hotel across the street. After darl: that
evening J noticed the light in his office
and thought Id OTTO sea him again. for
He was plodding away whcai went in,
and was not very glad of lhe intcrr,'pt'cI,
but talked at him awhile ard then pro-
posed TO help him H. showed Inc what
no had 10 DO told ne how bad he felt,
grunted and complained. knew that he
wouldn't be ready when court opened and
was generally about ready to do some
thing desperate
Look here. said /, YOU knew me by !
reputation and can trust me. cant your
: 4 reckon can. he replied
"'Well, now I'll tell YOU what I'll do; ,
you go home ari 60 to bed. leave me the I
keys Of Your Office. and when YOU como |
back in the morning maybe your work |
will he in Toro satisfactory condition
"He didn't want TO do it. but over per !
suadod him and he went homo. Then | |
took hold. end with my coat off and all +
my energy ! set in on those books and /
papers, and never worked harder in my !
life. About O'clock in the morning tie .
last order was entered. everything was /
done and done in the best style, fer .
wrote fine hand in those days he does !
yet for thct mattcr-''and bic2 out the /
lamp. locked up and went TO the hotel to I
bed. Early the next morning he called /
for the key. and when went over to see
him an hour or SO later b. wasn't the .
same sort ef a man sent homo IL
dozen hours before. He couldn't thank ]
me enough. ani told him was only too /
glad to hclpa fellow in u sight place, and |
as soon as possible | got away, quite |
satisfied that he had made me no promises,
but quito as well satisfied that had not |
worked in vain And hadn't, for when
tho vote of that county came III led the !
ticket head and shoulders above every
body. The old man lad influence, aud f,
my nights work for him won it all and
that of his friends as well"
One of the summer features of Wash. |
,ngton life are the concerts by tho Marine |
band il the White House grounds every
Saturday afternoon from 20 T o'clock. !
They are given at the south front Of the |
building, and are the only really m0narchi- !
col features Of this country, rs fer as !
have ever seen. One who has attended |
the concerts given in palace parks by
kings TO their people is peculiarly i'm. |
pressed by this ~ soon as she has reached |
the center of the grounds and has looked |
up at the great white building. silent and |
inexpensive, while the people in gay at.
tire wander about the place listening to |
the music and having the air Of those who |
are guests without a host, benciiciaries of /
4 bounty which superior grants his in |
fssrtn nj l.rt.