The record-union., 1893-08-02
BEGELENA'S Bette N0IR.
She Doesn't Like to See Women
Ride Bicycles.
Because She Thinks the Practice Is
Not Womanly, and that Men
D,sapprove of 1t.

The very latest fad is the girl on the
bicycle. Men have been bowling along
on these noiseless steeds for several years
without causing undue comment. Their
successful progress has been covetly eyed
by few of the weaker sex for some time,
until finally the idea OF going and doing
likewise became so firmly planted in
their minds that the male relatives Of
these enterprising females knew neither
rest nor peace until a bicycle was duly
purchased.
1t would be difficult indeed to analyze
the conflicting emotions that arise within
the breast of woman upon first beholding
one of these machines and knowing il is
her own. A timid woman would be
tempted to run away, but not 50 with the
woman who orders her lord and master
TO buy her one of these silent steeds, and
not dare to show his physiognomy in the
house until he has it in his possession.
He dares not disobey, because the lady of
his heart and the mistress Of his house
has a pretty strong Will Of her own.
Therefore the wheel is bought and
brought home in triumph.
Having a strong will of her own, the
woman who owns a bicycle is not going
~ Dt QdlllAtl DN sutu a lIiIllB llldAltT aS
the first mount. The attempt, however,
IS usually made very early in the morn
ing, before any of the neighbOrs are up
and about. She comes down stairs in
futile array, stern determination is seated
upon her brow, and grim defiance to fate
rests in her eye. She brings forth the
wheel, she examines It's points critically,
with the air Of a connoisseur, and then
she gingerly-very gingerly-mOunts.
The wheel wObbles, but she clings to it
frantically. She had made up her mind
long ago to conquer that wheel, or die,
and she is going to do either Of those two
things this morning.
1t is not all plain sailing, by any means,
and she sustains several falls, but is up in
an instant and at 1t again. Patience and
determination at length succeed and she
manages to get it under fairly good con-
troll. For a few days she parades up and
down the street in front of her own house
Tor the editication of her relatives and
friends. At first there is a little fear
mixed with the seeming bravadO, but
with a more intimate knowledge Of the
wheel and its mechanical construction
this feeling grows gradually less and less
until ere long she mounts and rides like
the daring female equestrienne in the cir
Gus.
She gradually widens her ramble until
finally she advances so far in knowledge
OF her silent steed and confidence in her
own power that she even ventures down
town and mingles with the busy throng
She feels that she is the observed of all
observers, and she secretly glories in the
fact. But she carries her head in the air
and her face assumes an air of sublime
independence. She reverts her wheel
from one side OF the street to the other
and goes through other graceful evolu-
tlOns for no ostensible reason other than
10 elicit admiration from the male spec
lators.
\ man once limited to me that women
went through too many ungraceful
maneuvers on a machine OF this kind to
appear strictly graceful to a critical mas
culine eye. This may be all very true,
but a man has no better opportunity
offered him to admire a woman's small,
Vell-shaped foot than when she is en-
gagged in working her machine through
the principal thorOughiares. Therefore.
say, man should be satisfied with the
sight which he never would otherwise
obtain if the fair creatures didn't mani
lest decided tendency toward masculine
enjoyment.
Speaking from a womanly standpoint,
don't think the practice is viewed with
much favor, except among the few.
Some women may ask; why shouldn't
we ride bicycle, as well as the men?"
And my answer is: Because it isn't
Womanly. 1t shows a woman off to dis
Az FdLldS6. D6Slu6S exposing ler TO uIl-
favorable comments, and l don't think a
man VINO truly loves his sister, or his
wife, is going to let her expose herself to
crltlclsm trom the general public. If it
We're the style for women to wear
trousers, like DR.. Mary Walker, the case
would be quite different The men don't
like 1t, either, and | have asked several
men | know to give me their opinion on
the matter
one, whose sense of chivalry toward
the fair sex was the sole reason that kept
HIM from denunciation of the practice,
contented himself by saying that he
thought perhaps he was preiudiced be-
cause he couldn't ride; but ! don't believe
he would ride if he could, and I am
equally certain that he would not like to
see any woman he knew indulging u the
amusement, or exercise, or Whatever
these women who ride call it.
have always said that woman should
be womanly in all her actions. Itarouses
just this same kind Of disgust to see a
masculine woman as il does to see a sissy
man. Let the men and women be lust
what the Lord intended they should be-
Practices and amusement that are any
thing but becoming should be frowned
down by every thinking man and
woman, and a true woman will find bet
ter employment than riding through the
public thOroughiare on a bicycle
Before l close this letter l will give
word OF advice to all women who burn to
distinguish themselves on the bicycle
and that is, Don't! You can't distin-
gush yourself, and in the end you only
gain the disapproyal of the men" This
Is the advice OF the woman whom you
call BEsELENA.
Seattle, July 9th.