The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-26
THE BICYCLE HAS DONE 1T.
Displaced Horses, r zjuvenated Hotels and
Gi~en q Blow to whisky

Gi<en q Blow to whisky.
Especial Correspondence-l
ROCHEsTER, Nov. 22.-Next to Wash
ington this city is probably the greatest
bicycle town in America So far as I
can learn. there are only three or four
classes here who do not ride a wheel
those who are too old to learn, those
who are too heavy to dare trust them
selves upon the saddle, those whose
sense of personal dignity is too abound
ing, and babes in arms. Rich and poor,
men and women, boys and girls. preach
ers, lawyers, doctors, editors, police
men, letter carriers, delivery clerks,
business men and business women, all
ride the wheel Unlike most cities, you
must be listed here to be a wheelman
or a wheelwoman. and although the
town has not more than 16O, 600 pOpu-
lation there are 2, 600 wheels register
ed, or about one for every 3 inhabit-
ants. The middle working classes per-
haps use the wheel more freely than
any other, and it Is about all your life
is worth to try to get across any Of the
main streets at 6 o'clock, when every
body quits work and goes to supper.
Connected with nearly every large es-
adjustment there are places where the
employees may store their steeds Of
steel At one of the large railroad Of
fees, there are 80 bicycle stalls, and by
O'Clock every day there are 80 bicy-
cles in the stalls
Naturally from town where bicv-
cling is so universal the number of
wheel people who 60 over the country
roads of a Sunday is very large, and in
this vicinity perhaps more than in most
others the result has been a revival Of
prosperity for the country taverns Sew
eral Of the old state roads that were the
chief lines of travel before the days of
the railroad converge here, and at dis
tances from half mile to a mile apart
these old time houses of entertainment
are scattered along these roads between
here and Buffalo and between here and
Syracuse Many Of them have decayed
altogether and have either been torn
down or transformed into dwelling and
farm houses, while such as remain
taverns have until lately done but a
puny business. The bicyclists, how
ever have carried to the landlords Of
these old houses q fresh and invigOrat-
ing stream of prosperity. so that now
many Of them are being reprinted and
reftted and resuming the old time air
of comfortable prosperity that was
theirs when the Oldest of the present
the stagecoach was the approved method
of transporting mails and passengers
But barring the one fact that business
has been revived, the taverns are not at
all what they used to be. Whisky and
rum and Hollands and other intoxi-
eating and seductive beverages were the
staples IN the old day, but now they are
sold almost not at all 1 drove ten miles
out over the Ridge road, one of the
most famous Of thorOughfares in ante
railroad times, yesterday, and stopped
at a tavern in front Of which there
were at the time some 30 or 40 wheels,
the riders of which, mostly young men,
but partly young women, were being
served with refreshments upon the
piazza in the sunshine of a late autumn
day and IN what was formerly the la
dies parlor, and not one of the wheel
people was being served with anything
Intoxicating Ever beer was notable by
its absence I asked the landlord about
it, and he gave rs his opinion that BIZ
cyling has greatly decreased the CON
sumption of drinks that bring fiddle to
the head and unsteadiness to the mus
Gu ar system.
tsCf course, n said the rural Boniface,
81 still sell some liquor and some beer,
because there are teamsters and sport
ing men VINO CrlN6 1ttSG horses LDdb stop
here and demand 1t, but I have TO have
a large supply on hand constantly, and
especially on Sundays, of milk and but
termilk and lemons for lemonade and
coffee and tea, together with some other
soft drinks. This fall and early winter
I am going to make a speciality Of beef
tea. ] much prefer the present trade to
the old one. Tt IS just as profitable, and
I never have any trouble with these Gus
TONER'S. I don t know but I shall give
up the whisky business altogether by
aud by, because the presence Of q bar is
distasteful to many Of the wheelwonen.
Anyway / shall have to move 1t around
ont Of sight if the present trade keeps
up. for / couldn't afford to lose the BIZ
cycle trade, and the girls who ride the
bicycle won stop at a place where they
think they are liable to be annoyed by
drunken mem Y M. L. DEXTER
Caroline II. Spence.