The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-12-21
THE REIGN OF THE BICYCLE.
The Present Passion For the Wheel Is Not
Likely to Die Out Ever.

Likely to 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 so given over to it for
some time that large proportion Of
their population come and go on their
errands of business or pleasure on a
wheel Americans who have recently
travelled abroad have been astonished
at 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 1t is said
to be a conservative estimate by compe-
tent authorities that during the year
now closing $50, 600 bicycles have been
sold in this country, and that the num-
Der of riders approaches 1000, 600.
There are said to be over so, 600 in New
half that number in and about Boston.
The latter city caught the passion from
Europe some time before New York
did and has larger proportion of its
population, male and female, regularly
devoted to it.
Observers of the phenomenon are
wondering whether it is merely pass
ing whim or whether it has come to
stay, whether those who have taken it
up will continue it after the novelty has
worn off 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 it's vogue will tire
of it after awhile, but these will not
constitute large proportion of the
whole number. The great body of riders
find in the bicycle new pleasure in
life, a means for seeing more of the
world, source of better health through
open air exercise, bond of comrade-
ship, a method of rapid locomotion
either for business Or pleasure and
many other enjoyments and advantages
which they will not relinquish. The
bicycle has, in fact, become 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 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. 1t puts the poor man on level
with the rich, enabling him to ''sing
the song of the open road" as freely as
the millionaire and to widen his knowl-
edge by visiting the regions near to or
far from his home, observing how other
men live. He could not afford railway
journey and sojourn in these places, and
he could not walk through them with
out firing sufficiently to destroy in a
measure the pleasure which he sought
But he can ride through 90, 80, 80,
even 20 miles of country in day with
out serious fatigue and with no expense
save his board and lodging. To thou
sands of men and women the longing of
years to travel little as soon as they
could afford it is thus gratifed. virtual
ly without limit, for ''little jour-
| ney in the world" can be made on every
recurring holiday or vacation. Cen
| tury