Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-10
BICYCLES FOR WOMEN.
A. L. PENIBERTON.
MRS. AUGUSTA ?. SHUMAN.
MRS. A. II. PUTNAM.

1t has been Il matter of some curiOSi-
ty to inquiring minds that women have
in general looked with coldness and
scorn upon the pleasing and innocent
pastime Of bicycling. Nay, when some
bOlder spirit persists in having her own
way and comes back after a breezy
spin, with fresh roses mantling her
complexion, she is sometimes made to
feel that she is an Outcast of the deep
est dye. Recently that great and wise
man. Ward McAlliSter, though he was
good enough to make an exception in
favor of tricycling, which is as faS-
chatting an amusement as trundling
bricks in wheelbarrOw, put the ban
of social condemnation ON bicycling
with unrelenting severity. To be sure,
there are women who ride, and the
number is increasing every day, but
these are only the exceptions that
prove the rule The exercise of bicy-
cling is so fascinating and healthful,
and the power of making long trips
without trouble or fatigue is so val
liable that this reluctance to take it
up seems almost unaccountable The
latest authority on the subject is Mrs.
Mary S. Hopkins of New York City,
who after probing deeply into the
feminine heart for enlightenment, has
come to the conclusion that it is a
matter of looks. To those who have
once cOmprehended the awful import
of that factor in wOman-life this
theory is only too plausible. And it
must be admitted that some of the
women who ride do not present models
of grace and beauty, which a fastidious
man would care to set his sister to
emulating.
Having discovered this great secret,
Mrs. Hopkins has set to work to relieve
the difficulty. She is firmly convinced
that by proper instruction women can
ride a bicycle in a graceful and stylish
way that will be the envy Of all be.
holders, and she is devoting herself
with tongue and pen to propagating
her doctrines She was in this city a
few days since. preparing for Il lecture
to be given some time next fall, and
while here she spoke freely in regard
to her work. She is a rider of great
experience, having been one of the
first to take it up when the tricycle.
was first introduced about eight years
ago. When the safety came into use in
1887 she was one Of the first to see
its great value for Women's riding.
She has ~een for some time popular
elocutionist and singer, and last year
went upon the lecture platform for
the first time. She is also a writer of
experience, contributing to the maya
zines and leading papers. She means
to give lecture here as early as pos
sible, and hopes to increase the num-
Der of riders in this city very much.
There are two reasons, she says.
why many women do not look well
on wheels. One is that they do not
dress properly for it, and the other
is that they have their wheels badly
adjusted and sit improperly Mrs
gives two illustrations In
the first the rider is suitably and taste
fully dressed. Her skirts are full, but
not so ample as to be awkward Her
hat is small, neat. but vigorously plain !
She sits UP, erect and vigorous, and her !;
di LIS are uedI1y straight DIS her uUQUS |
rest lightly on the handle bars. AS !
she moves swiftly and easily over the !
ground she is a picture of grace and |,
repOse. Contrast with this the graceful !
figure of the second rider. Her dress. !
to begin with, was badly shaped and ,
will show the outlines Of her limbs with i
awkward rightly every time the knee I
is lifted. Her hat is one of those !
ornate creations, which women of very
bad taste sometimes wear on the cars.
Her long Russian blouse, even, is
adapted for walking, not for riding !
On the wheel it looks as awkward as it
would on horseback. And see how she !
stOops over the handle bars, bending
her arms ungracefully at the elbow,
and dropping her head. This is no ex-
aggeradon at all. but a true picture
IF a large proportion of the women who
ride. The trouble is says Mrs
that bicycling is compare
lively new and there is DO satisfactory
:Ode Of etiquet yet. Now no woman
who respects herself would ride horse
pack without a suitable habit, and
hey ought to have just as much respect
or the wheel. But what is the case?
You will see girls wearing out their old
habby gowns, seeming to think that '
lnything is good enough for bicycling.
some wear Snowy dresses, or skirts