The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-01
MARY RIDES A WHEEL
Mrs. Lease Appears in Wichita
on a Bicycle.
She Wears a Syrian Costume
With Long Trousers.
SHE HATES BLOOMERS.
Prefers Riding a Wheel to Pray
ing for Health.
SHE HATES BLOOMERS.

WICHITA, July 1.-Mrs. Mary E Lease
has joined the army of bicycle riders
Mrs. Lease has only taken a few lessons,
but she already controls her wheel very
well and bids fair to soon become a very
graceful rider.
Something of a sensation was caused
Saturday when she swung into the main
thoroughfare of the city riding bicycle
and dressed in a Syrian costume, includ-
ing large trousers buckled at the ankle.
This was her first public effort on a BIZ
cycle and she rode in fine style. Bicycle
riding, she says, is the next thing to
having wings All the Lease family, in
Guiding the husband and four children,
are now riding bicycles.
A reporter called at the Lease resi-
dence to get the distinguished Populist
lady's ideas of bicycle riding, and found
her sitting on the front porch surrounded
by her family
Mrs. Lease, her two daughters and two
sons, were all present and seemed de-
lighted to have mother at home. What
ever the newspapers may say of Mrs.
Leases home it is nevertheless true that
she is the ideal of her husband and her
children. A glance into her home will
convince anyone of that fact.
Mrs. Lease was asked to give her opin-
lOu Ol DlCyCI6 one 1auRn0Q Q0aEL-
lily and said:
81 have only taken few lessons. Mr..
Burt has given me few lessons and
think l ride moderately we'll only l grip
the handles too hard because my hands
are SORE"
"Well, how do you like riding the
bicycle?"
"Oh, it is glorious, and is just the next
thing to having wings. 1t is very exhil-
Grating and causes the blood to circulate
in a way that is bound to be beneficial. l
went out to ride this morning when it
was cool. My hands were cold and l did
not feel bit we'll but before finished
my ride l felt excellent and have been
better all day"
"Why do you not wear boomers when
you rider"
Mrs. Lease turned her head and spread
out her hands palm downward, which
| showed her disgust at the suggestion and
said:
"There is only one thing more ugly
than the bloomer and that is the modern
trousers now worn by you men. I tore
two dress skirts to pieces learning to ride
and then l made up my mind to adopt
the Syrian costume"
"What is the Syrian costHme?"
Rising Mrs. Lease said:
"The dress is just about as long as this
coat" land she wore a neat black coat
that was about twelve inches shorter
than her dress,) ''the trousers are so large
that they look almost like a dress, only
they are gathered at the ankle. l think
if woman wishes to have comfort riding
wheel she ought to have the nerve to
wear some such costume as that"
"What do you think of the claim lately
advanced that bicycle riding tends to i'm
morality?"
Mrs. Lease laughed heartily at the
suggestion and said:
"That is foolishness in the extreme.
There is no immortality in riding a
wheel. 1t gives health and that is what
we all pray for. God intended His peo-
pie to be healthy and happy and if 1 car
get what another gets by praying for by
riding a wheel prefer to get it in thai
way. Fresh hygiene is as precious as
the Lords prayer"