New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-15
WHEELING IN ENGLAND.
GENES IN BATrERsrA PARKING DE-
CLINE IN THE SPORT
London, June 20.

CLINE IN THE SPORT.
London. June 90
ou. =, tho incidents Of the Government crisis
49,. h.en a bicycle ride from Hatfield to Pail
M.u When Lord Salisbury received tdings OF
, ord Rosebery'e resignation and his own sum-
.ors TO Windsor Castle he was at his stately
"..dence In Hatneld. about eighteen miles from
v,ne,s Cross. He desired to open communica-
.,on. at once with the leaders and whips Of his
,.rty and to make arrangements for Unionist
'orferences before his visit to Windsor He
,,oueht Of ordering a special train. but his pr'-
..ts secretary. Mr.. Schomberg Mcdonnell.
..outed the idee. Il can run in on my Wheel"
aid the secretary promptly. Slipping on COM
portable wheeling costume. he started from Hat
s.,a with Lord salisbury's instructions and
messages, and being an expert rider he made
.ometAing like a record in his journey to Lon
DON
u vas probably the first time that the bicycle
-. ever brought into use in an English Eu-
-onsan political crisis. Possibly 1t was the In
..aorating effect Of this wheeling spin that I'M
.r,.d certain brusqueness to his manner when
=. subsequently, encountered Mr.. Campbell Ban
.rnan IN the street and made the demand for
.,o seals Of the War Office. which excited that
omc,als sensitivenese and led to scene in the
House of Lords and an apology from Lord Sails
bury
This episode serves 20 illustrate the popu-
,arity Of wheeling as an English recreation.
There have been rumors In America that there
Is a decline In the interest taken In this sport
IN England; that wheeling has ceased to be as
fashionable as It was a few years ago; that
clerks and working people have made 1t vul-
var pastime; and that people CT wealth and fash
ion have abandoned their wheels 1t would be
as absurd to assert that wealth and fashion
have ceased to go to the Derby and the Ascot
because racing receives the patronage OF the
masses. Wheeling Is a popular sport which APP
oeals to the open-air instincts OF the English
people 1t Is not declining In any part OF the
limited Kingdom. Reduction In the price OF
wheels and the initiative impulse which induces
all classes to engage In a recreation favored by
the rich have expanded the interest taken in
this sport but there are no signs OF any aoate-
men, In the patronage Of the wealthy and privi-
legged few who originally introduced It, Imitation
Is the sncereet attery paid to the English patri-
clan and he Is not annoyed by II. He Is accus-
toned to have his dress. manners. pleasures and
IDEAS copied and borrowed by the many; and he
never thinks OF resentng imitation or OF re-
treating from his ground because he finds
pack OF followers at his heels.
St. James Park Is In the centre OF aristocratic
London. with buckingham Palace at one end
and Marlborough House midway In the Mall
But II Is a popular pleasure-ground. frequented
nv the door, Morning and afternoon 1t Is ten
anted BY iders and beggars, who lie on the
grass and sun themselves; and royalty ana
wealth. for whose pleasure 1t was laid out and
ordered. make little use OF It. Battersea Park
was designed to minister to the comfort anu
pleasure Of the poor, but 1t Is one OF the Favored
haunts OF the rich 1t lies on the Surrey side OF
the Thames, opposite Chelsea, with broad ter
race walk facing the river. picturesque lake
available for boating. fine cricket-ground'
lovely sub-tropical garden. excellent drives ana
beautifully shaded walks. 1t has Rotten Row,
ingeniousy planned without any suspicion on
the part OF the landscape artists that II would
ever compete In any way with the famous drive
in Hyde Park
But Rotten Row. Battersea Park. is now one
of the fashionable resorts Of London. and wheel
ing has impaired TO 1t such prestige as 1t has
The Door and middle-ciass folk who live all
around 1t have not been crowded out OF II. II
4 still their favorite pleasure-ground. but their
recreation is found In watching the endless pro-
cssson of bicycle riders that passes from the
openng of the gates at 5 until they are closed
after 9. At all hours Of the day the broad ave-
nues are lined with humble spectators from tene-
ments and attics, and the town show. with It's
elnopses Of wealth and fashion. never ceases to
in,eres: them.
II il from 10 to IL in the morning that there Ii
the greatest movement Of carriages and bicycles
nm roadway as smooth and as clean as ball
room floor The richest DANES Of the West End
drive out with their daughters. crossing either
the Chelsea or the Albert bridge; and the elegant
equipages stand there for hours while the ladies
are having their morning exercise. costumes
are simple and graceful Knickerbockers. coat
tails and eccentric dresses are not IN FAVOR among
the women. Alpacas lawns and equally service
able dresses for riding are preferred, and simple
white straw hats are ordinarily worn. Among
men there Is greater variety and eccentricity OF
riding habits than among the women; ana large
as is the patronage OF fashionable London, IT Is
q democratic scene. with clerks. tradesmen ana
work.ng-peope joining Ia the circuit and spin
ming around in a joyous revel Of morning ex-
ercise.
As the hours pass four-in-hands. wagonettes'
victoras and landaus increase In NUMBER ior
this il one of the favorte drives In LONDON. IL
is one of the characteristic sights OF the great
metropolis The roadway Is filled with riders'
circling I'D and down at an easy pace, without
attempt at racing or speeding Children are o"
wheels with their governesses and tutors coach-
ing them; schoolgirls are out In swarms VIII"
vigant teachers to prevent firtations or ino's-
cretions; handsome young women with the nne
glow of color that comes from health ana oaiiy
exercise. flash into view and pass out OF s'sh'
only too quickly; midde-aged dowagers' over
Weighted with flesh, go numbering along VII"
cautious moderation; and cavaicaoe Oh men
and boys, variously costumed ana Representing
every social condition is constantly IN mo''oi''
Thousands are riding hour AFTER hour IN 'a,'
glittering revel Of wholesome ana p'ea.u'~oe
exercise. At noon the throng INNS o"' 'u' ~
n the afternoon the roadway IL again
A,,ed and the riding goes on in the long twilight
until In the evening -,
On. aav.. experience in Battersea Park Will
srozo. 90 convince the most sceptical observer