The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-08
Can a Woman on a Bicycle Look
Graceful?
A Physician Says She Cannot-Thinks
that She Should Go to the Full
Length OF Boomers.

good taste.
81 don't think the bicycle is going to
work miracles. however. or revolutionize
matters regarding women's health" she
went on. "As a means of physical exer-
else it is not as thorough or as beneficial
as gymnastics judiciously practiced. be-
cause in bicycle riding most of the work
is done by certain set of muscles only.
the upper part Of the body being COM
paratively at rest. When woman is
learning to ride. of course all the muscles
are exercised, and the nerves, too, the
process involving a mental strain. but
after she becomes proficient only GER
tain set of muscles are brought into play.
In numerous individual instances the
continued use of the wheel has restored
women's health, particularly weak. nerv-
Gus women, who have been suffering
from no vital complaint. 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 refreshed by the use of mus
cles not habitually called upon.
II certainly think that the adoption of
the bicycle is not fad, but 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 ra-
tional 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 q woman does. The
bicycle gives women good excuse to get
away from the petty cares Of home fO-
while and stay out IN the sunshine, and
it is blessed thing on that account Ii q
woman goes calling, shopping or to the
theater, attends her various club meet
ings, or engages in any other Of her usual
amusements, she is in a carriage or car
part OF the time, and in close building
the other part. When she spins off on
her wheel, she spends the entire time she
has to give to the sport out of doors. and
consequently returns home refreshed.
las regards the matter OF costume.
think the long skirt is bound to GO. 1t
looks out of place on a bicycle, and is
certainly much in the way. The truth of
the matter is that no costume which can
be devised Is going to make women ap
pear at their best on bicycle. The very
position that they assume and the con-
slant movement of the limbs up and
down prohibit graceful appearance. The
delight of the exercise, however, more
| than cOmpensates for any draw back of
| willing enough to look even awkward in
order to enjoy the sport.
1.-The impression seems to prevail that
for woman bicyclist TO decry skirts is to
proclaim herself unfeminine, somewhat
more immodest than her conventional
sisters. say that such is not the case.
In my opinion for a woman to ride in
boomers, with a skirt over them. which
is continually blowing up and showing
the boomers beneath, is far more indeli-
cate than for the bloomers to be in evil
dence from the start The wearing of the
SIX irt suggests that there is something to
conceal, and where the boomers only are
worn it is q frank intimation that the
rider recognizes the nature of her under
taking and has dressed herself appropri-
ately. AS regards the display of
woman's ankle, l 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 woman's 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 ele-
Yates her foot ever so little, the aspect is
entirely different.
Zone can see an illustration of the sub
tie difference at any time i'll viewing
sculpture. There Is a calm nobility, a
dignity, about the simple pose of the I'M
draped Venus that the figure which
stands in conscious, shrinking attitude
| lacks altogether. 1t is the admission that
there Is anything to conceal which sug-
gests vulgarity when the drapery is by
accident disarranged. At the costume
show in Madison Square Garden there
| were lay figures dressed in cycling Co.'S
tunes in order to show the various
styles. Passers-by invariably turned up
the short skirt of one of these images in
| I'D ~
binding on the bottom. That short skirt
was only on lay figure, but there was a
vulgar suggestion in its being lifted,
which did not pertain at all to the
blOOmer suits, or even to those with
knickerbockers. think If this subtle
difference could be made clear to people,
there would be less hue and cry made
about bicycle costumes.
II do not think that women will ever
resign her flowing skirts for the drawing
room or the ordinary vocations of life,
but when she goes out to take part in
active sports she should dress appropri-
ately. 1 fail to see where the long skirt
worn when riding bicycle conveys an
idea OF modesty. In the first place, the
motion of the limbs, which it is intended
to conceal, 1t shows much more plainly
than the boomers or full trousers. AS a
woman sits on a bicycle the plain front
breadths of the skirt tit smoothly over
the knees; no other skirt Is usually worn
beneath it., and the padding up and
down of the limbs looks anything but
graceful. There are few accidents from
long skirts; one seldom hears of any, but
it is because the wearers are extremely
careful. A woman wearing long street
skirt on bicycle looks to me as much
out of place as yachting suit would ap-
pear at ball or a cycling costume at q
reception.
"There is Partisan style of bicycle
dress, which, / think, is the only
admissible one, and which appears to
better advantage on the wheel than any
other walked along the Boulevard on
tine Sunday morning on purpose to see
the women riders, because there are so
many opinions about their dress. The
only women whom l thought prettily
/ and suitably costumed were wearing
quits of that style. One was French
woman; l thought she was French from
her costume, and afterward heard her
taking with her companion. Her suit
/ was dark blue a very full divided skirt
falling SO gracefully and so we'll made
that one scarcely thought of its bifurcated
condition. She had on jacket, plated
and belted, similar to a mans shooting
jacket. and q dickey collar and tie re-
! lieved the plainness at her throat She
wore no leggings because it was warm,
and she had on becoming cap, The
color.
..These divided skirts are made very
long, are gathered at the knee aud fall
! over SO many inches that the effect