Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-05-09
bicycling.

1t is doubtless entirely within bounds TO
say that no one line of manufacture and
use of an article for business or pleasure has
ever seen such a rapid and remarkable de
velopment as is the case with the bicycle in
dustry. Beginning twenty or twenty. five
years ago, the first machines. known then
as two wheeled velocipedes were heavy,
clumsy, torture to the flesh, and of no
practical use They were rarely used. ex
cept for exhibition purposes in doors, for
the very good reason that it required more
than the average man power to propel one
OF the awkward machines through city
streets, say nothing of country roads. For
a considerable time after this the idea Law
dormant in this country, aud then inven
tive genius took it up, conceived light,
graceful, easily-driven machine. manufac.
turing concerns of the first rank saw
the possibilities involved, and the two
working together produced a machine
which was no longer a boys plaything but
was a road vehicle available for every dav
business use, for travel, and for healtbful
recreation for busy men .GE, ip.,1oss- iu,.a,
Along with tLc ~ "
s.,Ount of seasoning rori.n.uuOr life.
be wise to ~ orc hngn wheels for men came
uncycles for women and men and women
sped about the country together thinking
that perfection had been reached in their
respective carriages
But the last two or three years have seen
another development scarcely less remark
able than that already spoken Of This is
the two wheel safety" machine, low, casi
ly driven, capable of high speed, and with
the element of danger practically eliminat-
ed. The high wheels of five years ago have
almost disappeared, their manufacture has
stopped because there is no demand for
them, and in their place are the graceful
safetes, which staid men of mature years
are as much at home upon as are their
younger and more active fellows. They
have also been perfectly adapted to the use
of women, and the tricycle. has followed the
high wheel bicycle into retirement.
In spite of the rapid growth in the past
no previous year has seen so great develop.
ment in the bicycle interest as is taking
place the present season. The use of the
machines is well nigh universal in all the
large cities The smaller towns have
caught the spirit, and Bratteboro, as usual
is not behind More machines are being
brought here than ever before Along
with the single safeties have come the tar.
dems, whose use adds the element of social
pleasure.
The new industry is one to be heartily
encouraged, for it calls to a healthy out.
door life, and is the freest possible from any
demoralizing influence. More than this, it
is having direct practical bearing in calling
attention to the condition of the highways,
and creating public sentiment in favor of a
business like way of building good roads of
permanent excellence. In the suburban
towns about Boston this influence has been
strongly felt and in the thickly settled por-
tions of New Jersey the wheemen are
credited with creating public sentiment
which has now given the long suffering PEG
pie maca iamized ways in place of the old
sand, loan and mud.
There is abundant room for the work and
influence of the riders of these new steeds in
Nermont-in no state more so-and we bid
the boys land ''girls'), young and old,
good speed in the season of wholesome
pleasuring which lies before them.