The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-09
CHAPERONE'S 0WNFALL
HAS THE BICYCLB UGURATED
THIS REVOLUTION
n IL Brought About Perhap. Because
Wheeling il Scarcely Adopted to Elder
ly People-Giris Don't Cfre.

The bicycle has new function. II is
RELOCATING the chaperon 10 her proper
sphere. Il is not goodbye. nor a long
farewell TO the dowagers on duty. They
will wag as long az society swings. But
I'm the last year there has been Light
ening OF the letters that fas,en a society
girl 20 her chaperons side. and this, too,
in the innermost circles, the appoyal Of
which makes custom good form.
This is how the change was described
by one of the moving spirits in the po-
tential clique Of New lOrHs most de-
slraDle Ociety.
This white-haired young matron was In
an after-dinner mood. ready 10 scintil-
late a new idea if her brains We're prop
erly rubbed Her white crcpon dinner
gown, touched up with a cool green vel
vet, and Nalencienues lace, was fault
less, and harmonizcd with the youthful
face under its pOmpadOur frame of pre-
mlturely white hair. She had been COM
graduated upon the overwhelming sue
cess OF her last charity project and not
a care disturbed beer serenity. Every body
knows this woman. with her uuassaiid-
Die position, due 10 birth. wealth, and
natural leadership. can afford 10 point u
p
have not discovered the possibility OF
leaving the old one.
bicycling was the subject. In the midst
of Il breezy description of The possible APP
pcarance OF certain society women ass
chaperons aboard bicycles, the hostess
flung her little bomb.
"Didna you know that chaperons are
not insisted on now for girls who bi-
cycle?'
a couple Of elderly dinner guests who
had returned 10 the drawing-room in
time 20 catch the question looked amused,
and the satlrical one OF the pair smiled
an appropriate smile. as she said.
"Ah. no doubt the bicycle will De very
popular this season. in that case"
The hostess laughed.
THAT expresses d.. and OF course you
will try "A wheel at once. IL seems III
diculous 10 think Of the bicycle having
hand In the downfall of chaperons, but
IL appears very much that way now This
is my experience. l have two sons.
Both my boys disappear every pleasant
dav for several hours. When they come
back. II I ask where they have been,
the answer Is, out with the girls BIZ
cycling
Who went? and they mention
couple Of girls who are going INTO So
cicty next season. As 20 chapefOns, never
one Is heard Of. l have been talking this
over with the mothers OF several girls.
They agree that when their daughters
20 out with their bicycles, they never
think TO ask where they may Doe going,
or suggest the necessity OF cnapcfon.
They know that when a couple or girls
start together somewhere. very shortly
a couple OF boys meet them. Usually
the gang as they express IT, gets To-
gether Now. those girls are too intent
on keeping the pace the young men seq
10 get into mischief. They are going 10
get TO ClaremOnt i'm the fifty minutes
time-limit and the girl who keeps up best
with the boys Is the favorite. They don't
dismount, except for a few moments be-
fore returning. 10 Is the athletic spirit
again. and all very favorable 10 the re-
lease OF the chapeon from many OF her
duties.
"Such thing wouldn't have been
heard Of five or six years ago, when we
were ultra English. Then a chapefon
was Indispensable. and the proudesi boast
Of a society mother was that her daugh-
ter had never been left alone moment
from the time OF her birth TO the time
she was handed over TO some young man
at the altar.
'sW'hat Is the cause OF the change
Just imagine some OF the 'chaperons rid
Ing a bicycle. Don't you see. u a girl
had to be accompanied every time she
wanted 20 ride the bicycle, there wouldn't
be much bicycling? And the change
goes yet further.
katherine r.. you know, Is Ike
daughter In this house." and the speaker
named one OF the best known young
women In New York.
I'VE were talking over this very thing
Yesterday | said IL looked as II the hi
cycle would be more popular this season
than driving, because the girls had 10