The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-14

The bicycle is crowding the horse to
the wall. Il must admit" he con-
tinued, that 1 started my investiga-
ton with all my prejudices against the
| bicycle, and I believed that any man
or woman who could not ride a thing of
life, or a thing of flesh and blood, ought
to walk. l know that prejudice was
born Of ignorance and 1 made the full
| lest investigation; and, after as COM
pIete an investigation as l can make,
in all fields-and 1 talked with en-
/ thusiasts and modern ridersI must
now admit that my prejudice is re-
moved, and that am believer in the
bicycle, properly used.
There should be warning sounded
( against the excessive use Of the bicycle
and excessive exercise in any direc-
ton. We should raise our voice against
this racing, and against these annual
meetings in which races are held; and,
if the manufacturers are not short
sighted, they will add their voice to
ours, or an unjust prejudice may arise
against the bicycle. Excessive de-
velopment in any line is followed by
| tubercular troubles, and other organic
disorders. The bicycle brings into play
every muscle of the body, and is the
| best exercise man can have; but the
( position on the saddle is important;
the leaning forward is not only inele-
CANT, but painful and unhealthful, and
reminds one of the hoop snake catch
| ing his tail in his mouth and bowling
along over the ground. Bicyclers
i should sit up erect and, if they lean
forward for speed, should keep the
shoulders we'll back"
Then the doctor touched upon the
much-discussed topic Of woman and
the wheel. He said: 'Now the bike
| for women. There was a prejudice
against women riding at first, but in
vestigations has removed it, and now
the writings Of doctors and specialists
all agree that it is beneficial, and they
are all favorable to women riding the
bicycle. Some Of wOman's diseases
have been greatly benefited by the
moderate use of the bicycle when
other forms of treatment failed.
Women are more inclined to take the
proper position than men. Their van
ity prompts them TO do so. as they
know they look better sitting up.
Speeding should be precluded for those
who use the bicycle for business, and
| this class of riders should walk up the
hills and push their bicycles ahead Of
them. There is frequently much harm
done by the excessive exertiOn nee
essary to climb hills"
The speaker then denounced the al
legged false system of bringing up girls.
''The trouble with the American wo-
man is he said, "that she has woman
hood and maternity thrust upon her
without having built up a muscular
system that fits her for either. The
only exercise of the young girls has
been the ballroom, and then in vitiated
air, with cOrsetS and improper gar
ments- Place young girl at the end
of five-mile boulevard and tell her
that she must dance the five miles.
and she would be appalled,; and yet
she dances through much greater
space than this and without the health
giving air. Is it any wonder that
with such training a woman collaDses?
Is 1t any wonder that under such con-
dltion marriage is questioned as a
failure? In the bicycle we have the
means that will develop the muscular
system necessary, and solve favorably
the question as to whether or not mar.
riage is a failure. There is little or
no danger to the woman rider if she is
cautioned to sit up straight and not
to Overexercise"
There was much expectancy, espec-
tally among the few ladies present, as
TO what treatment the new STYLES Of
bicycle dresses would receive. and
the speaker handled that subject with
out gloves. ''Let u.s." he remarked.
" as physicians, protest asdlnst the BIZ
furcated skirt and the hloOmer. The
blOomer is inartistic, and a blot on
the landscape. and We should. as doc
tors, favor art and frown upon any
thing that is not artistic. For this
reason the bloomer should be relegat-
ed. The leggings. and the accordion
plated skirt reaching a little below the
knees. are the things. The corset
should be removed and the empire
support used. The Eton waist and
belt are flowing and uncomfortable.
and women may wear the sweater
indeed. ali should wear the sweater
and L do not know but am in favor of
al wearing a wooden garment next to
the skin. to protect the surface against
sudden drafts and cooling.
The bicycle is superior to the horse
for woman'S exercise. II is more easy.
natural and graceful, and gives better
results. 1t has been said that riding
the bicycle is too much like operating
Il sewing machine: but this is not true.
There the woman uses but one foot
and leg. and her eyes fastened upon
her work: While on the bicycle she is |
out in the pure air, using both feet. |
and her eye. instead OF being fastened
intenuy on her work. is taking in the |
beauties of the landscape. The effect |
of bicycle riding is satisfactory and
healthful. The bicycle has come To !
stay. and | am glad it has believe |
il offers the means of emancipation Of |