Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1895-04-25
FADS OF The FASHIONABLES
Just Now the society Leaders
Are INDUCING in Bicycle
Riding.
Special TO the Press.

WASHINGTON, April %.
1t is not often that the passing fads
and fancies of women of fashion have
any substantial interest or value.
Generally some trivial reason leads to
their adoption, and as soon as they
have served the within of the moment
they are dropped, and the pursuit Of
some otner heeting butterfly is taken
up. In recent years there has been
growing interest ON the part eff wo-
men prominent in society, in various
forms of outdoor amusements, .and
Just now, among the leaders of society
at the Nations capital, bicycle riding
is the prevailing fad.
Of course for years past fashionable
people have INDUCED to a greater or
less extent in horseback riding, in
rowing, tennis, and quite recently the
game of golf, which is of course very
English, has been taken up. 1t may
be aud probably is that these fancies
have their origin in the fondness of
the British aristocracy for such amuse-
ments. However that may be, their
adoption in this country has resulted
in change in the 1abits of the aver
age society woman which has been
highly beneficial in developing the
best type of American beauty. 1t
has not been 50 many years ago when
exercise in the open air was unknown
among fashionable people in this coun
try. Of course, what the leaders of
society do is apt to be inflated IN all
the grades, and continued indoor ex-
istance has naturally had a marked
effect on the health of the American
women.
People of middle age with ordinary
powers of observation have noticed
the change in the type of female
beauty, and they have not failed to
mark the glow Of health and the fill
cheeks and rounded forms which are
now 50 characteristic of any gathering
of women. llt is of course a trite say
ing that exercise and an abundance of
fresh air is beneficial 10 the health,
an axiom that has been woefully neg
lected by American women, and to a
large extent by men.
1t is therefore a happy omen when
outdoor exercise becomes fashionable,
and Tor this reason the latest fad of
bicycling has more importance than
otherwise would be the case. Learn
ing to ride the wheel has become an
actual fashion in society, and as is al
WAYS the case, plenty of imitators are
found among those who do not clam
to be in fashionable society.
Perhaps at no time were there SO
many schools for instruction i'm bicyc.
lie riding in existence in this city as
at tn present time. 1t is certain that
the roll of female pupils was never so
large. As soon as they are able to
master the wheel the girls, dressed in
natty and becoming costumes, may be
seen speeding over the smoothe ave.
nues and streets and out among the
country roads.
In some cases they form parties with
a rendezvous at some place in the SUI
burbs where they can enjoy possibly a
dance and supper, and then spin
homeward in the moonlight. All of
these pleasures have been hitherto left
for the enjoyment of the sterner sex,
but now the women are claiming their
share, and they not only secure the
immediate enjoyment, but they are
building up constitutions which have
become weakened through the lack of
active exercise, and they are bringing
a healthful bl6om to their cheeks,
which i. beyond the power of any art
or device to produce.
There is only one reason why this
form of open air exercise can not be
generally adopted, and that is the ex-
pense. A good wheel costs 500, al
though there are some wheels which
are placed on the market at lower
rate, and then again the secondhand
wheels come within the scope OF IL
mitsd pocketbook. l. is evident,