The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-01-03
THE REIGN OF THE BICYCLE.

THE REIGN OF THE BICYCLE.
From the Century.
What may be called, not improp-
erly, the bicycle passi q Aos full
possession of several leadi, ount-
ries of the world. England and
France, notably those parts of them
in and about London and Paris, have
been 80 given over to it for some
time that a large proportion of their
population come and go on their
errands of business or pleasure "on a
wheel.n Americans who have rec
e.U.J travelled abroad have been
astonished at the genera us, " the
bicycle there, and have been still
more astonished, on returning TO
their own country during the last
year, to discover what headway the
Ss>sss,S 80 ..'., -, 10 74vn T' .r'ft
beNa conservative estimate by com
petent authorities that during the
year now closing a quarter of
million bicycles have been sold in
this country, and that the number of
riders approaches a million. There
are said to be over $4,000 in New
York and its neighborhood, and fully
half that number in and about Boston.
The latter city caught the passion
from Europe some time before New
York did, and has larger proper
ton of its population, male and
female, regularly devoted to it.
Observers of the phenomenon are
wondering whether it is merely a
passing whim, or whether it "has
come to stay"; whether those who
have taken it up will continue it
yfter the novelty has worn off, or
whether they will drop it for the
next new fad that shall come along.
There are many reason for thinking
that its stay will be permanent.
Undoubtedly many of those who
take it up because of it's vogue will
tire of it after a while, but these will
not constitute large proportion of
the whole number. The. great body
of riders find in the bicycle a new
pleasure in life, means for seeing
more of the world, source of better
health through open air exercise, a
bond of comradeship, method of
rapid locomotion either for business
or pleasure, and name other enjoy
ments and advantages which they
will not relinqush. The bicycle has,
in fact, become a necessary part of
modern life, and could not be aband
oned without turning the social
progress of the world backward.
Few who have used it for a tour
through the country wouId think for
a moment of giving it up and return
ing to pedestrianism instead. Aside
from the exhilaratingjoy of riding,
which every bicycle devotee will
assure you is the nearest approach
to flying at present possible to man,
there is the opportunity of seeing a
constantly changing landscape.
The bicycle is indeed the great
leveler. 1t puts the poor man on
level with the rich, enabling him to
Using the song of the open road' as
freely as the millionaire, and go near
to or far from his home, observing
how other men live. He could not
afford a railway journey and sojourn
in these places, and he could not
walk through them without firing
sufficiently to destroy in measure
he can ride through twenty, thirty,
fifty, even seventy miles of coun-
try in a day without serious fatigue,
and with no expense save his board
and lodging. To thousands of men
and women the longing of years to
travel little as soon as they could
afford it is thus gratified, virtually
without limit; for "little journey
in the world" can be made on every
recurring holiday or vacation.