The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-07-19

He Says what some cali the Crazc Is
Grand Thing For women-Makes Them
Stronger In All Ways and Betters Their
Judgment-Manifold Advantages.
Comprehensive, exhaustive, sanguine is
Dr. just Championniere' discussion Of
the al absorbing topic, "Women and the
Bicycle f" In The Nouvelle Revue. This
eminent member of the Medical Academy
of France strikes the keynote in the solu-
tior of the controversy when he states that
woman has quickly learned from expert
ence that ali accidents which might befall
her and which it is predicted will befall
her exist only in the imagination of those
who have never studied either the question
or the machine "
He sees in the bicycle something that is
destined to play a more important role than
anything that has yet appeared in physical
training. The bicycle is an actuality and
whether welcomed or not 1t has given birth
to fashion. But it is fashion, he main
tains that will not pass away as other
fashions have, however much that fate
may be desired by those who bear 1t no
good will.
The bicycle has come to stay as surely as
the railroad, because, like the latter, he
says, it responds to need, general social
demand. The introduction of q new sport
he assures us, may lead to many new and
unexpected consequences in the morals
and costumes of a people. The most curl
Gus consequence of the present movement
is the adaptation of the bicycle to women,
or rather woman's adaptation to the bicy-
Gle.
This fact, he says, is yet surprise to
many who prefer to see in it but a fever,
a fad born of the folly of imitation, rather
than to search the real cause of woman's
infatuation with the wheel
"I'm willing to add to the surprise Of
these superficial observers, 4" continues the
doctor slyly, "by saying that it is more
natural for women to mount the bicycle
than for men. Doubtless they fail where
extraordinary performances of speed or en-
durance which characterize man are re-
quired, but for grace and regularity of mo-
ton woman is mans superior in the use
of the bicycle.
Here DR.. Championniere enumerates the
cause of woman's superiority. The bicy
Gle, while an instrument of gymnastics, is
at the same time an apparatus Of progress
and of equilibrium. Vor progression it ex-
acts but u minimum expenditure of force,
which in moderated movements is very in
ferior to the expenditure made in walking.
Equilibrium Is attained without effort
through q combined and harmonious
movement of all the muscles. 1t is this
necessary harmony of the movements
which completes woman's triumph on the
bicycle. Woman cycles we'll as she dances
we'll No one will dispute this superiority
of woman, even when the dance exacts
vigorous effort.
Among acrobats, who exercise at the
same time strength and equipoise, women,
he says, even when they are physically in
ferior to men, are more perfect and har.
monious in their movements A woman
Oh the bicycle finds not only occasion to
exercise these inclinations of her organiza.
ton, but derives therefrom a veritable
satisfaction.
Woman has established beyond doubt,
the doctor says, that the bicycle does not
subject her to an expenditure of force to
which she is not equal. She recognizes in
the bicycle the most measurable Of all
instruments of muscular exercise. Not
only can the bicycle be worked at the least
expenditure of force, but the expenditure
at all times can be graduated.
This new exercise, the doctor recognizes,
calls for radical change in costume. The
taste and good sense, he is confident, will
eventually evolve something attractive
and convenient. The tangible outcome of
the innovation the doctor hesitates to pre-
dict. Certainly the first result observed is
the general development of the muscular
system.
81 have seen" he says, "women Obliged
to change al the armholes Of their gowns,
so great was the muscular development Of
the top of their shoulders. Another fact
observable today is that enlarged muscles
can be retained until advanced age.
bicycling imparts to woman's walk
more assurance. One feels in her presence
confidence in her strength.
"Her walk hitherto has often been I'M
certain, irregular. She would hesitate to
advance or pass in haste in q dangerous
place and would run the greatest risks be-
cause she did not know how to measure
the DANGER
Bicycling, he says, puts her on the alert.
The necessity of not being knocked down
teaches her very quickly to direct herself
with assurance and to perceive at glance
all the obstacles of the way.
Begun at an early age, the continuous
exercise of tho bicycle will have n marked
influence on the Judgment and the charac-
ter.
The bicycle, he tells his readers, reduces
flesh, first, because the exercise in itself
preserves combustion in proportion to the
material consumed Women who preserve
sufficient activity arc certainly less prone
to premature corpulency, while those who
are not corpulently inclined, but indulge
in bad hygiene, find that the bicycle obliges
them to take better care of themselves.
They will be better able to support in
creased flesh when the proper period for it
arrives. But one ought not to count too
much on reducing flesh by the use of the
bicycle, he assures his readers. When thin
ness is desired through active exercise
special regime is Imperative.
In short, this erudite Frenchman, who
is evidently veteran bicyclist, sees in the
legitimate, reasonable exercise of the wheel
the physical and moral regeneration Of
woman, and through her mankind.