The herald., 1895-02-03
THE REIGN OF THE BICYCLE.
The Present Passion For the Wheel Is Not
Likely to Die Out Ever.

"
The Present Passion For the Wheel Is Not
Likely to Die Out Ever.
What may be called not improperly
the bicycle passion has full possession
of several leading countries of the world
England and France, notably those
parts of them in and about London and
Paris, have been so given over to it for
some time that large proportion of
their population come and go on their
errands of business or pleasure on
wheel. Americans who have recently
travelled abroad have been astonished
Mt the general use of the bicycle there
and have been still more astonished on
returning to their own country during
the past year to discover what headway
the passion had made here. 1t is said
to be conservative estimate by compe-
tent authorities that during the year
now closing 800, 900 bicycles have been
sold in this country and that the num-
ber of riders approaches 1000, 900.
There are said to be over So 900 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 proportion of its
population, male and female, regularly
devoted to it.
wondering whether it is merely pass
ing whim or whether it has come to
stay, whether those who have taken it
up will continue it after the novelty has
worn off or whether they will drop it
for the next new fad that shall come
along. There are many reasons for
thinking that its stay will be perma-
nent Undoubtedly many of those who
take it up because of its vogue will tire
of it after awhile, but these will not
constitute a 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, a source of better health through
open air exercise a bond of comrade-
ship, a method of rapid locomotion
either for business or pleasure and
many other enjoyments and advantages
which they will not relinquish. The
bicycle has, i'll fact, become a necessary
part of modern life and could not be
abandoned without turning the social
progress of the world backward. Few
who have used it for tour through the
country would think for a moment of
giving it up and returning to pedes
trianism instead Aside from the ex-
hilarating joy 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 d constantly changing land
scape.
The bicycle is indeed the great lev
eler. 1t puts the poor man on level
with tho rich, enabling him to "sing
tho song of tho open road" as freely as
tho millionaire and TO widen his knowl
edge by visiting the regions near to or
far from his home, Observing how other
men live He could not afford railway
journey and sojourn i'll these places, and
no could rot walk through them with
out firing sufficiently to destroy in &
measure tho pleasure which he sought
But he can ride through 90, 30, 90
even 20 miles OF country i'll a day with
out serious fatigue and with no expense
save his board and lodging. To thou
sands of men and women the longing oi
years to travel q little as soon as they
could afford it is thus gratitied, virtual
ly without limit, for a little jorr
uey in tho world" can be made on ever
recurring holiday or vacation. Ger
5rry