News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-09-13
1900 MILES A-WHEEL.


THE RECORD IN TWO SEASONS OF MISS
BESSIE NEWMAN, A BRATTLEBORO
GIRL, NOW OF BOSTON-WHAT SHE
SAYS ABOUT BICYCLE COSTUMES FOR
WOMEN.
Mrs. ]. NJ. Savage and Miss Bessie
Newman, both members of the Mass
achusetts Bicycle club, the one on the
membership committee and the other
on the executive committee, have the
honor of being pioneers in the intro
ductiOn in Boston of the new bicycle
costumes for women. says the Boston
Record. Mrs. Savage has IA "centu-
ries" Ga 100 mile ride in "a hours to
her credit and Miss Newman has six.
The latter rode 1000 miles last sea-
son and has ridden more than $500
so far this season. These two and
Miss Margaret Kirkwood are the only
three women who have done the "tri-
angle" (frOm Boston to Providence
to Worcester to Boston, 143 miles,
in one day.
The Massachusetts club has been in
existence some 10 years. and ladies
were first admitted two years ago
last May, and at present number
about 50. About One-fOurth of these
have adopted the new costume.
Gas you see, said Miss Newman, a
bright-faced girl, with a charming
color, "we wear Turkish trousers of
broadcloth, navy blue (the club color
in hue, but some who had their cos
tunes before joining wear black. The
trousers are cut very full and have
almost the effect of a skirt. Some of
the others wear knickerbOckers, and
| certainly approve of them, but Mrs.
Savage and | were the first to appear
in the new costumes and we didn't
want TO make too radical q depart
ure. The trousers are gathered Just
below the knee and the fullness hangs
over. Long ribbed stockings, like the
mems are worn, and CATERS in cool
weather. Black kangaroo shoes, lac
ing to the toe, are very comfortab BILE,
and | have cleats on the soles of mine
to prevent the 'rat-trap pedals from
slipping. We wear any kind Of
an outing waist, and the jacket and
yachting cap of broadcloth completes
the suit"
AS Miss Newman stood describing
the details of her suit she certainly
appeared to my critical eyes quite
sufficiently womanly, modest and
lady-like.
Speaking of her experiences in the
new suit, Miss Newman said: "Of
course we felt selt-conscious at first,
and if any one looked at us we could
not help blushing and feeling redicu-
lous, but we soon got over it,. Some
times we overhear funny speeches.
Occasionally when we stop at hotel
for lunch the loiterprs will line up and
grin, aud there are always old ladies
to eXrlaim 'ScandalousP and Rec
dikerIOusp
Would you like to wear your cos
tum all the time, for the street,"
"Oh, no. OF course every woman
will want to wear the skirt on ordi-
nary occasions, although it is very
inconvenient in case of rain and in
convenient almost ALWAYS, any way.
In bicycle riding the skirt is decidedly
inappropriate. In strong breeze it
is certainly not so modest. No
weights will keep it down. In a head
wind it bulges out like sail, and
progress is very difficult. The bot
tom becomes covered with dirt and
grease and accidents by ENHANCEMENT
with the chain are almost certain to
occur. Sometimes the chain breaks,
sometimes the skirt tears. | had a
dreadful accident once" continued
Miss Newman with pretty blush,
"when | wore regulation skirt, and
if | hadn't been able to borrow a
needle and thread / don't know what
/ should have done! Almost every
woman can tell a story of the same
tenor, too. The divided skirt, or
'bloomers,' either, will catch the wind
and if a short skirt is worn over
trousers it will fly up in a high wind.
People don't realize how hard it is for
woman to ride bicycle in skirts.
The exertion is so severe and she gets
so hot and tired and cross that the
ride doesn't do her any good. | be-
lieve knickerbockers will come next,
making riding still more easy and
pleasurable. A skirt may be carried
on the handle bar in long trips
Brattleboro Phoenix.