Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-01-06
THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION OF
GIRLS.
CYCLING.

NOthfleS prSulcteu. L OSslDiy IL 10 io'
one or all of the following reasons: l.
That tricycling ia st the best somewhat
heavy work for all who are not quite
strong. 2. That for one of family,
cycling is somewhat expensive pas
time. 8. That, for want of a suitable
dress and machine, few ladies look well
when riding. 4. That, till compare
lively recently, cycle manufacturers
have paid but slight attention to the
requirements of women in the matter
of machines specially constructed to
meet their needs in weight and suit-
| ability.
The first and fourth reasons, which
have perhaps prevented this healthy
and delightful pastime from becoming
as popular as it deserves with women
and girls, are fast being rendered in
valid, as ladies' bicycles of suitable
and convenient pattern can now be OBJ
tanned from most of the leading makers,
all of which devote attention to the
needs of ladies. Manufacturers are at
last recognizing that, should bicycling
be made possible for ladies and become
popular, there is another vast field
opened for their enterprise.
Whether IT be bicycling or tricyciing
for which one "goes in, it should be
a recognized fact that the amusement
requires suitable costume equally
with riding, shooting, bathing, or gym
nasiics. Half the opposition TO ladies
aud girls indulging in this excellent
amusement. which has one great ad-
vantage over many other psstimes, IN
/ that it can be pursued winter or sum-
mer, spring or autumn, provided the
weather be but reasonably fine, arises
no doubt from the fact that nine-tenths
| of the women and girls one sees
"whe cling" either from their insult
| able attire, their want of knowledge, or
from their looking i'll at ease, act as
potent arguments against the prac-
tice.
Firstly, then. let me deal with the
| subject of dress, which has exercised
| the minds of most ladies who have
taken up cycling, as well as many who
have not OF course. the following re-
marks are intended for those who wish
| topursue the sport rs they would horse
| back riding or swimming, and who are
naturally prepared to adopt a conven-
| lent and suitable form of attire for the
purpose. For those who cycle only SO
| occasionally that special costume Is
scare ely necessary, | shall have u few
| hints later on. From many PROPOSE
| tions during the last six or eight years.
| a really sensible costume has at length
been evolved, which is neither open to
| the objections of the sne advocated by
the advanced school," who would
| have put ladies aud girls who cycle
| into frilled knickerbockers, a blouse,
| and skirt the length of that worn In
the gymnasium, nor of that brought
| forward by their less advanced sisters,
| which was in reality the ''Bloomer"
| dress rediUiUUs.
| Speaking recently to young lady, a
Niss s., who, though she also rides on
horseback, when silo 10 a. h7Inc N the
country. uses her bicycle great deal,
and, indeed, thinks very little of a run
| of thirty or forty miles, l was able to
| gain some valuable information.
| Miss s. who has ridden several types
Of machines, both two-wheelers and
three wheelers, said:
| "Of course, l like horses, but | also
like my bicycle, and now use it n good
| deal. You see one does not have to
wait for ones steed to be either
groomed or saddled, and it will stand
a whole day if necessary. 1t is much
less fatiguing to ride than tricycle..
and it is quite easy to use, really, when
one has learnt the art of mounting,
which any girl will do speedily if she
only makes up her mind to it. One
can have such delightful trips. 1 take
my paints or camera, and a little
luncheon basket, and with lady friend
who also rides, we go for an impromptu
picnic. or a sketching expedition.
What machine should 1 recommend
for lady? Well, the one l ride my
self, a Referee, is as good as any; but
nearly every good make has a suitable
ladies' machine on the market nova
days. The ladies' Quadrant, which
my friend rides, Is a beautiful little
machine.
"Dressw Oh, that question of dress.
As you know, | began cycling when /
left school-at seventeen, and at first |
thought that an ordinary skirt might
do, but after had ruined two or three
good frocks found out my mistake. 4
soon came to the conclusion that a
girl who values either her appearance
or her health ought not to attempt a
ride of any distance in her ordinary
clothes. Then l tried my ordinary
riding habit, but this though more sat
lsfactory was uncomfortable, at least
the trousers were-never wear trousers
when cycling-as they dragged
frightfully across the knees. Then
tried, on the recommendation of an
other lady, the regular C.T.C. costume
which war very comfortable, and quite
all that one could desire for every day
rough and tumble work; but-perhaps
l am fastidious-it was not pretty
enough for me, so Miss G.. and / pnt
our heads together, and our brains to
work, and designed the costume We
now wear.
OF what does it consist? Well, frs
of all wear next to my skin silk and
wool combination garment, tlght-httinG
and high at the neck, with half Ions
sleeves. OF course, 1 vary the thick
ness according to the weather. 1t is 6
great mistake, both from health point
of view as we'll as that of comfort tc
wear ones ordinary linen undercloth
ing. When began to ride did so
and / suffered for my Indiscretion. A
the end of the first long ride L evel
took could have wrung the moisture
from my chemise, and the result was
of conrse, thorough chill, which lalc
me up for several weeks. Next to thu
combinations | wear my stays-rIdlns
ones, with the hips cut away and short
bust-low in front and high at th'
back, laced sufficiently tightly to clasl
my figure firmly without injuriou
pressure, and giving me maximum o
support. Over these L usually wear I
ribbed silk, or silk and wool snugl,
fitting vest. Then short, tight-fittin'
knick kerbockers, reaching TO and but
toning just above the knee; Expert
ence has taught me that such lengtl
Is the ideal one for comfort, and that {
tight ting garment is preferable II
many ways to a loose one, or any form
of divided skirt, which, if worl
without an outer skirt, is neither de
sirable nor picturesque, and if wor