The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-02
HERE'S A DISTRESSING VIEW.
~ WOMAN ON a BICYCLE LOOK
Graceful.
pb~sician Who Says She Cannot.
and Thinks That She should Go TO
-. Pull Length of BIOOmers.

49, 10 takes them Out into the open air.
"a a weIl-known physician. who. be-
,,5ss making physical culture a special
....5,. is an ardent advocate Of the wheel
- woman Of sound judgment and
good taste
Il don't think the bicycle is going to
,,.k miracles. however. or revolutiohize
-,tters regarding a woman's health" she
rent on. LAS a means of physical exer-
rise il is not as thorough or as beneficial
IS gymnastics judiciously practised. be-
,,use in bicycle riding most of the work
=. done by a certain set of muscles only,
the upper part of the body being compar-
s-ivelv at rest. When a woman is learn
Ing n ride. of course all the muscles are
exercised. and the nerves. too, the pro-
sess involving a mental strain, but after
she becomes proficient only certain set
NJ muscles are brought into play. In nu-
r1erous individual instances the continued
use Of the wheel has restored woman's
health. particularly weak, nervous women.
Who have been suffering from no vital COM
plaint. but really from lack of exercise
and fresh air. Bicycle riding takes up
the attention. and is a rest mentally in
that respect, while the body is likewise re-
freshed by the use of muscles not habit
ually called upon.
81 certainly think that the abortion of
the bicycle is not a fad but a permanent
diversion" continued the physician. when
asked If she thought the craze likely to
last Indeed, l think the women will
stick TO their wheels even If the men
should tire of them, because the bicycle
has introduced means of rational outdoor
exercise for women which they felt the
need of and the men did not Men from
the nature of the active life they lead, do
not find the novel delight in an outing that
a woman does. The bicycle gives women a
good excuse to get away from the petty
cares Of home for while. and stay out In
the sunshine, and it is a blessed thing on
that account. II a woman goes calling.
shopping or to the theater, attends her va
Tious club meetings. or engages in any
other Of her usual amusements, she is in
carriage or car part of the time, and in
close building the other part When she
spins off on her wheel, she spends tire en-
tire time she has to give to the sport out
Of doors, and consequently returns home
refreshed.
AS regards the matter of costume. I
think the long skirt is bound to go. 1t
tainy much in the way. The truth of the
matter is that no costume which can be
devised is going to make women appear
al their best on bicycle. The very posi-
ton that they assume and the constant
movement Of the limbs up and down pro-
hibit graceful appearance. The delight
Of the exercise. however, more than COM
pensates for any drawback of this kind,
and most wheel women are willing enough
TO look even awkward I'm order to enjoy the
sport
THE impression seems to prevail that
for woman bicyclst to 1ecry skirts is to
proclaim herself unfeminine, somewhat
more immOdest than her conventional sis
tiers. / say that such is not the case. In
my opinion, for a woman. which is contin-
ually blowing up and showing the bloom
ers beneath, is far more indelicate than for
the boomers to be en- evidence from the
start The wearing of the skirt suggests
that there is something to conceal, and
where the boomers only are worn 1t is a
frank intimation that the rider recognizes
the nature of her undertaking and has
dressed herself appropriately. As regards
the display of a woman's ankle, do not
see why it is more vulgar than to show
her arms and part of her spinal column in
evening dress. There would be nothing
vulgar in a womans sitting with her foot
up, If she had on a divided skirt gathered
at the knee, or even boomers, but when
she has on an ordinary flowing skirt and
eleyates her foot ever so little, the aspect
IS entirely different.
zone can see an illustration of this sub
tie difference at any time in viewing sculp-
ture. There is calm nobility, a dignity,
about the simple pose Of the undraped
Venus that the figure which stands in a
conscious. shrinking attitude lacks alto
gether 1t is the admission that there is
to col x.rl,t fh o-fc xra11
garity when the drapery is by accident dis
arranged. At the costume show in Madi-
son Square Garden there were lay figures
dressed in cycling costumes in order to
show the various styles. Passers-by in
Variably turned up the short skirt of one
OF these images in order to examine the
unique leather binding on the bottom.
mat short skirt was only on a lay figure,
out there was a vulgar suggestion in its
being lifted, which did not pertain at all
70 the boomer suits, or even to those with
knlckorbOckers. l think if this subtle diff
ference could be made clear to people,
tnere would be less hue and cry made
about bicycle costumes.
l do not think that a woman will ever
resign her flowing skirts for the drawing
room or ordinary Vocations of life but
when she goes out to take part in active
sports she would dress appropriately. 1
Ian TO see where the long skirt worn
When riding a bicycle conveys an idea of
modesty. In the first place, the motion
u me limbs, which it is intended to con-
zeal II shows much more plainly than the
oloomers or full trousers. As a woman
Gus on bicycle the plain front breadths
u the skirt fit smoothly over the knees;
no other skirt is usually worn beneath it,
ana the padding up and down of the
LInos looks anything but graceful There
oIe lew accidents from long skirts; one
seIuom hears of any, but it is because the
mtdrers are extremely careful. A woman
,.ednng long street skirt on bicycling
,oohs 10 me as much out of place as a
.aChting suit would appear at ball or
icing costume at reception
l. mere is a Partisan style of bicycle
TesS' which, think, is the only admira-
S one and which appears to better ad-
~ a'tdge on the wheel than any other. l
Sahed along the Boulevard on a fine
onlay morning on purpose to see the
n9Lnen riders, because there are so many
niA'ons about their dress. The only wo-
co ,.l Nhom thought prettily and suitably
os.uIned were wearing suits of that style.
~ was a French woman; l thought she
~ French from her costume,
an. afterward heard her
sang with her companion. Her