Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-20
THE WHEEL FOR WOMEN.
Her Walk Is Corrected, Her Character
Strengthened.

Comprehensive, exhaustive, Sangulne
is DR.. just Championnierre's discus
sion of the all-absorbing topic, Women
and the Bicycle, in the May Nouvelle
Revue. This eminent member Of the
Medical academy of France strikes the
keynote in the solution of the contro-
versy when he states that woman
has quickly learned rom experience
that all accidents which might befall
her, and which it is predicted will be-
fall her, exist only in the ina gination
of those who have never studied
the question or the machine
He sees in the bicycle something
that is destined to play a more impOr-
tant role than anything that has yet
appeared in physical training. The
bicycle is an actuality, and whecner
welcomed or not it has given birth to
a fashion. But it is fashion, he
maintains, that will not pass away as
other fashions have however much
that fate may be desired by those who
bear it no good will.
The bicycle has come to stay es
surely DIS LllS DCNouSC. Inv
the latter, he says, it responds to a
need, a general social demand. The
introduction of new sport, he as
sures us, may lead to many new and
unexpected consequence in the morals
and costumes OF people. The most
curious consequence of the present
movement is the adaptation of the BIZ
cycle to women, or rather woman s
adaptation to the bicycle.
This fact, he says, is yet surprise
to many, who prefer to see in it but a
fever, fad born of the folly of imi-
tation, IA Their than to search the real
cause of wcman's infa tllation with tie
wheel.
I'm willing to add to the surprise
of these superficial Observers, CON
tinues the doctor, slyly, Shy saying
that it is more natural for women to
mount the bicycle than for men.
Doubtless they fail where extra ordi-
nary performances of speed or endur-
ance which characterizes man is re-
quired. but for grace and regularity
Of motion woman is mans superior in
the use of the bicycle"
Here DR.. ChampioEnierre enumer-
ates the cause of woman's superiority.
The bicycle, while an instrument OF
gymnastics, is at the same time an
apparatus Of progress. and of rquII-
brium. For progression it eXacts but
a minimum expenditure of force,
which in moderated movements IS
very inferior u the expenditure male
in walking Equilibrium is attained
without effort through a combined and
movement Of all the mus
cles 1t is this necessary harmony of
the movements which completes
woman's triumph on the bicycle.
Woman cycles well as she dances
we'll. No one will dispute Ibis su-
periority Of woman. even when the
dance exacts vigorous effort.
Among acrobats, who exercise at The
same time strength and equip1lse,
women, he says, even when they are
inferior to MEN, are more
perfect and har1G onious in their move
ments. A woman C1 the bicycle finds
not only occasion to exercise these in
china tons of her organization, but de-
rives therefrom a veritable satisfac-
ton.
Woman has established beyond ;.
doubt, tine doctor says, that the pl-
cycle does not subject her to an eX-
penditure OF force to which she Is not
equal. She recognizes in the bicycle
the most ':measurab be- of all instru-
ments of muscular exercise. Not only
IAN the bicycle be worked at the least
expenditure of force, bnt the expendi-i
-ure at all times can be graduated.
This new exercise, the doctor recog-
lizes. calls for a radical change in
costume The half masculine attire at
,racts her, but her taste and good
sense, he is confident, will eventually
evolve something attractive and con-
yenient The tangible outcome IF the
innovation the doctor hesitates to pre-
lict. Certainly the first result OBJ