Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-29
THE REIGN OF THE BICYCLE.
The Present Passion For the Wheel II Nse
LIKELY to DIE Out Ever.

The Present Passion For the wheel II Net
LIKELY 60 DIE Out Ever.
What may be called not improperly
the bicycle passion has full possession
Of several leading countries Of the world.
England and France, notably those
parts Of them in and about London and
Paris, have been 30 given over to it for
some time that q large proportion of
their population come and 60 on their
errands Of business or pleasure on .
wheel Americans who have recently
travelled abroad have been astonished
ct the general use Of the bicycle there
and have been still more astonished on
returning to their own country during
the past year to discover what Roadway
the passion had made here. It is said
to be conservative estimate by compe-
tent authorities that during the year
now closing $50, 900 bicycles have been
sold in this country, and that the num-
Der of riders approaches 1000, 900.
There are said to be over so, 600 in New
York and its neighborhood and fully
half that number in and about Boston.
The latter city caught the passion from
did and has larger proportion of its
population, male and female, regularly
devoted to it.
Observers Of the phenomenon 80
wondering whether it is merely al :
ing within or whether it has come 10
stay, whether those who have taken it
up will continue it after the novelty has
worn of or whether they will drop it
for the next new fad that shall come
along There are many reasons for
thinking that its stay will be perma-
nent Undoubtedly many of those who
take it up because of its vogue will tire
Of il after awhile, but these will not
constitute large proportion Of the
whole number. The great body of riders
find in the bicycle a new pleasure in
life. u means for seeing more of the
world, o source Of better health through
open air exercise, bond of comrade-
ship. q method Of rapid locemotion
either for business or pleasure and
many other enjoyments and advantages
which they will not relinquish. The
bicycle has, in fact, become a necessary
| part of modern life and could not be
abandoned without turning the social
progress Of the world backward. Few
who have used it for q tour through the
country would think for moment OF
giving it up and returning to pedes-
trianism instead. Aside from the ex.
hilarating joy of riding, which every
bicycle devotee will assure you is the
nearest approach to flying at present
possible to man, there is the opportunity
Of seeing . constantly changing land
scape
The bicycle is indeed the great lev
eler. It puts the poor man ON q leve
with the rich, enabling him to ''sinf
the song Of the open road" as freely a!
the millionaire and to widen his knowl
edge by visiting the regions near to O.
far from his home, observing how othe
men live. He could not afford railwa,
journey and sojourn in these places, ant
he could not walk through them with
out firing sufficiently to destroy in
measure the pleasure which he sought
But ne can ride through 90, 30, so
even 20 miles of country in q day with
out serious fatigue and with no expens
save his board and lodging. To thou
sands of men and women the longing O
years to travel little as soon as the
could afford it is thus gratified. virtual
~ without limit, for ''little jou,
ney in the world" can be made ON ever
recurring holiday or vacation.
| tury.