New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-25
CYCLING IN PARIS.
IT 1s BECOMING A FASHIONABLE PASTDE-
FEW WOMEN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOB
COSTUME.


Paris, June ~.
The bicycle is winning distinction. Since Lord
Duferin began to take his morning constitutional
rides on low bicycle in the Bots, the steel horse
has almost become fashionable, but only between
g and IL in the forenoon. Clemenceau, who, IL .
tribune of the people, likes to pass for being
chic, has dismOunted from his park hack to
cycle in the morning. lola takes lessons, ana
hopes Soon to be- good rider Aristocratic youths,
who are growing up under the care Of reverend
fathers at JULY, Vaugirard and the Rue DO
Madrid spend their Thursday holidays at "veloce-
schools and in making excursions under the
eyes of "veloce-trainers." The trainer now d.
iects his efforts greatly to the teaching Of an easy
upright carriage on the cycle. II is not easy to
acquire such seat, though the thing is possible
The proper carriage is called I'm siege de gentle
man., tt would seem as if the bicycle vOcab-
ulary could not get without borrowing from
English. Judging from the coinages which are -
fast enriching it, 1t seems to me that the rule
that is growing up is for ore-half Of every COM
posite word to be English. Examples of this are
"velOce-sport." veloce-man, "vcloce-suit
Lightning veloce, and veloce-rider.' The WORD
"veloce' did not exist six years ago. 1t is
name for the bicycle.
LIE rage IOT uSHtHlIS siSfu III tiiio hAhN Va
locomotion tends to induce an unpicturesque style
of riding. To offer the minimum Of resistance
to the air the cyclist almost lies face forward on
his machine, or sits with his backbone forming q
strong curve He neither looks to right nor left,
but straight before him. and not to any great dis
lance. lola only took to cycling after ha had
seen some veloce trainers" for fair artistcs' look
as well on their steel stceds as cavalry officers on
their horses. The cycle has not vet been brought
into the novel Of any frst-rate author. But being
now in almost general Use. for at any rate the
stronger sex, we may expect soon to find 1t IN.
vested with a literary interest
The worst of cycling is that it has made the
roads round Paris, and I dare say round every
great European city on this side Of Scandinavia,
dangerous to walk on. Scandinavia is not
good country for cycling on account Of the fire.
qucncy Of gates roads to prevent cattle
straying from stretch of forest to another.
The forests OF the envrons Of Paris for forty
miles ont, the roads through them being hard and
shaded, are the great practising grounds for
"vcoce-men' One sees them in scores trying
to shoot ahead Of one another, but never hears
them until they are almost one. The bell
alone gives the warning, the rubber tires OF the
wheels preventing them making as they spin
round the slightest noise. Six hundred cyclists
met at the Loges restaurant in the Forest Of St.
German on last Sunday. II was agreed that
they were TO GO at uniform pace and that they
were all to all in with each other at q given
point at an appointed time, and then TO fall into
column and cycle into the courtyard of the res
taurant The manocuvre was beautifully ac-
complished and with military regularity. A
grand meet Of 10000 was arranged for at the
banquet. 1t will probably take place Mt Cham
tly after the autumn drill Of the reservists.
The tax on cycles will not keep down this mode
of locomotion. But clubs intend to show their
teeth at those Deputies who voted il by placing
themselves and their machines at the service OF
hostile candidates Were the legend Of Mercury
still 10 he invented. the god would be represented
not with wings on his heels, but riding on q
wheel.
Women over here do not now go in 80 much
for cycling as might have been expected a few
wears ago. I fancy the manufacturers do MOI
sufficiently study their wants. Cycling schools
| for women became too much in the nature Of
fast skating-rinks In parks of chateaux young
Girls Of family and fortune practise cycling
But they soon get sick Of revolving round The
same allows and long for complete change Of All
and scene. Believing that every virtue that
becomes A man becomes q woman, ! should ike
n 500 Young girls Injured 10 fatigue by LONG
cvclinc tours They m1ht dress so prcttily and
appropriately ny adoptin: with som" alterations
the costume of the gentlemen Of Queen Eliza
bcth's court A neat-iitting corsaGe might re-
Mace the metal corselet, small ruff protect me
neck in sumner from tIic ardent rays OF tht
sun. or in winter coarette boa preserve it from
the bite Of frost Sleeves might he high and ful
ut the shoulder, and quilted or fur jacket N
worn over the corsage or fastened 10 the machine
The baggy trousers of the Elizabethan time
were simply shortened tunic. They could serve
the purpose of skirts. a Francis | cap, jaunty
and having side plume. would be charming
lcadocar. I should provide the fair cycliSt VIII
short Venetian mantle which might he worr
when she descended from her steel hors,. H. =.
THE SIMMER HOME or THE POPE.