Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-07-07

There is delightful little air of mys.
terry about this woman's club. 1t is ex-
elusive, reserved, and averse to any no
tOriety. 1t has conquered the bicycle,
and will make it fashionable. The visi-
tor who finds the mOOnlit canals of
Venice made more fascinating by the
gondola lights gliding over the water,
would find in the mOonlit streets of
Washington the added fascination of bi-
cycle lights gliding all about, singly or
in groups. A little red star appears in
the distance, then another, and more
and more of them. The stars seem to
float in space, about two feet above the
pavement, and they bring with their
airy approach the tinkling sound
of little bells. On they come, noiseless
and swift. and the next moment the on
locker gives an awkward, jerky lurch to
get out of the track of the women, who
spin serenely and gracefully along, and
it may be said proudly spin themselves
out of sight. They sit erect and easy,
and with tantalizing power, filling the
awkward sister women on foot with en-
Wy, and the longing to try Immediately
what seems to be the simplest perform
ance possible. The first thing in bicy-
Gle riding is the mount, and to "sit' the
bicycle is learned after brief instructions.
Everything else comes with practice.
| CuriOusly enough, there is no awkward.
ness in mounting or dismOunting. The
rider mounts from either side by step
ping one foot over the low horizontal
reach that connects the wheels, and
placing it on the pedal, which is parallel
with the reach. The pressure of the
/ foot on the pedal carries the saddle for
ward to the rider, and her weight is at
once put on the saddle. Mounting in
front gives freedom to the skirts, and
the feet are not more exposed than in
walking. The saddle is directly over the
front of the rear wheel, the pedals are
Immediately beneath, and the rider is
thus in vertical position, and doesn't
have anything to straddle. The thirty
inch driving wheel in the rear, and the
twenty four inch steering wheel in front
seem to be pretty nearly the same size
when the bicycle is in motion. When
mounting or dismounting the rider steps
on or off the pedal nearest the ground,
and but four inches above it. To mount
a bicycle is less of n step from the ground
than getting into the victoria, which is
the easiest and lowest vehicle made
fashionable by women.
Once let the seal of fashions decree
be set on the bicycle, and nothing short
of revolution will make it other
than "good FORM" The healthful ex-
hilaration, grace of motion and con-
venience given by the wOman's bicycle
must very shortly doom the tricycle. to
Punishment. Indeed, the cumbersome
three-wheeler is already going out very
rapidly. Women, whose opinions have
the weight of experience, declare there
is the same difference between the new
bicycle and old tricyle that there is be-
tween the first heavy, hard-working sew
ing machine and the perfectly improved,
light-running sewing machine of the
present day. The effects are similar.
The tricycle. often brings fatigue, pain
in the back and general weariness to the
rider, Just as the old sewing machine
produced a general "giving out to
women running them. The tricycle.
rider sits with the knees bent, as in q
wheel chair. The movement Of the feet
and knees is Let unlike that of the sew
ing machine movement. The tricycle.
has no more grace or symmetry than the
wheel chair. The bicycle rider, on the
contrary, does not cramp the knees, but
moves with q long. easy, undulating
stroke from the hips, and gets very
much the same motion given when walk
ing. Physicians and intelligent people
know that woman may walk miles
without great fatigue or injury. The
reason is simple. Her body and limbs
are in the proper position. So with the
bicycle. The incline pedal rubber grip
of the bicycle enables the rider to stand
almost perpendicularly on the pedals,
instead of at an angle or twist of the
ankle. The knees are properly sup
ported in an inward angle, natural to a
verticle position, and are not forced out
ward each time power is applied. The
hands and arms are also in a natural
position, straight from the shoulder, and
free from twist or strain. The entire
position of the woman bicyclist is grace
full because it is natural and easy. AS g
rider she is the "poetry of motion" and
fascinating creature.