The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-04-01
knights of the Silent steed.

opened and every owner of a wheel is
engaged in the work of hardening
muscles preliminary to usual runs,
which will be more numerous this year
than ever before. The question as to
the most suitable costume for the
ladies who ride the silent steed is be-
ing discussed, and the views of Merrie
Wheeler in the Bicycling World, will
De read with interest. She quotes the
following from the Irish cyclist:
Mrs. H. L. Clark wears a beautifully
ntted coat with a aaring skirt about
TO the knees. Linen shirt bosom, collar
and cuffs. fourth hand tie, tourist
hat, in which is stuck a dainty wing.
quite full knickerboclcera which come
below the knee dnd are met by leg
gings. The lady is neatly she'd and
gloved.''
She has This To say:
DO not know what riding in Eng
land or Ireland may mean, as 10 a
question of comfort. Oh wa"m days, but
TINS l do know; I'D rational woman
would think she could be comfortable
IN such a suit as thIs. during two
thirds OF our ri1'ng Season. Or e she
| dld think 50, she would soon lind cur
her mistake. There is no such thing
| as exchanging this coat for The ever
comtorta ble-on-a-ho Lay shit waist,
| eAiN Nu4lO slClk IIlN one - GlGe IN
! those closely fitting leggiDgs and
knickerbockars, ana nor feel q greater
! sense OF confinement about II @ legs.
from the knees down, to say rothlng
OF the heat producing Judlities of the
| legglngs A pair OF India silix kricl-ei-
! oockers met by elastic ribbed stockings.
| Whlch can fit tight without confine-
nlent Sas no Logging cam over which a
sdlln lined skirt can be worn not so
| long as TO be dangerous or troublesome
! 'ahd such skirt is a possibility not
| WhhStanding the bowls for emancipa-
uon) is far more comfortable, and
slightly, and does not rob a woman of
| her WomanlineSs.
In discussing this question with
lazy the other day, she enquired if
] there was any necessity for such an
innovation, and that is just where the
whole things hinges. Is there any
necessity for such a radical departure
IN dress in order to ride a wheel?
because an improperly made skirt is
Worn, and the rider comes to grief.
must we condemn all skirts? 1t Would
be just as sensible to discard all hats
because one happened to be big enough
TO fall down over ones nose. There are
skirts and skirts Mind, / am not ar
guing this question on the score of
modesty. ] should like it to be UNDER
stood by my readers once for all that
l uo hoN peiOHB 70 the ranks OF either
the ''prudes or grannies." Neither do
l raise my voice against this discard
ing of the skirt because Nature has
/ been particularly unkind to me.
should probably look as well as the
average woman in rational dress BY
this / 90 not mean jacket, pants and
cap. Venus herself couldn't stand. that
kind OF treatment, but | have not vet
seen the necessity for knickerbockers,
and 1 have wheeled in season and out
for many years.
1 think even if 1 did see this neces-
sity l should agree with the Irish
iCyclist, which ] quote again: I'VE do
not recommend Irish ladies TO adopt il
6he costume) at once, and such action
would do irreparable harm to the
cause
A little incident comes to my mind
which l will relate for the benefit of
my middle aged readers, who are hest
ltating because they think they are toe
old to ride wheel, no matter how
much they may wish to.
Last season 1 was riding with a little
party through the main street of a
suburban city. AS two gentlemen who
We're walking passed us one was heard
to remark, There goes the prettiest
woman L ever saw on a wheel" The
iluCi " NHuhl ne IeIeIIeu WAS mid
die aged matron, with a grown family
and not at all dependent on youth fol
her attractiVeneSS. But her position
was erect and her dress was that of a
lady dark, well fitting and neat in ev.
cry particular. Her gait was not of the
'scorcher'' variety. Her air was thai
of a lady in. search of pleasure which
, she had found. and her enjoyment was
lattested by a bright eye and rosy color
There were silver threads in her hair
but no struggling lock betrayed a care
less arrangement. no fuss, no feathers
simply a lady on a wheel riding as she
should and dressed suitably l wonder
liz the same remark. would have beer
made had she been wearing bloomer.
and riding bent over her handle bar "a
a fifteen miles an hour gait.