The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-17
BEWITCHEDA NATION
Dr.. Scudder breaches to
CycleTs on the Wheel as
a Revolutionist.
BOOMERS ARE CONDEMNED
Baccalaureate Sermons to the
Graduates of the Various
Schools and Colleges.
BOOMERS ARE CONDEMNED

~ NS'5S
The Rev. DR.. Scudder preached to
wheelrnen yesterday In the Tabernacle.
A number of the pedal pushers mot at
the club house of the Hudson County
Wheelmen, and forming a procession,
wheeled down to the Tabernacle. They
made a fine appearance, and attracted
considerable attention as they proceeded
through the streets. Arriving at the
church they found arrangements COM
plete for storing their wheels, and after
placing them in the Peoples Palace. the
wheelmen marched into the church in a
body, and took the seats reserved for
them. There were about 200 wheelmen
present. The Doctors subject was,
THE Bicycle as a Revolutionist,'' and
he said
The wheel has bewitched the nation,
and Is making great changes in our GUS
toms and economic conditions. peopio
are are ured or calling 1t a craze or a
I'D, Tor II has become a universal and
permanent factor in our civilization. In
cheese days everybody rides these light,
curly heads 10 venerable gray heads.
Our daughters arc learning TO spin like
their g-randrnothers, but on a different
KIND or a spinning wheel. On the Boule-
ward are all sorts and conditions OF men
and women. There you see short and
slender, black and white, rich and poor,
stallment plan ali may ride them If they
are SO disposed.
An. ATHLETIC PEOPLE.
In the first pace The bicycle Is pro-
ducing a much needed physical revolu-
ton. We are gradually becoming an
athletic people. like our English friends
have not been oyerfond of physical ex-
watch bali games and Yacht races. and
TO sweat as God meant they should, and
hence they are unduly familiar with
nervousness, dyspepsia, and insomnia.
He likes to travel fast, but ne exercises
by proxy. But a change is coming. over
us, and the bicycle is responsible for it
from physical deterioration.
Again, the wheel is creating a revo-
fearless ana Independent. At hrst the
bicycle was for males only. Senseless
conservatism said to timid woman, Thou
shalt not ride For a while she meekly
] boldly said, We shall ride Not being
able to attach a side saddle to the We
Initiated the sterner sex, and now she
proposes to mount, man fashion, ana
ride a gentleman's wheel. Acting With
lady-like modesty and propriety, womel,
simply adopted the sport as they found
it, and now they are beginning to ride
horses In the same manner also. This
; now a side saddle will be an anomaly,
. and coming generations will smile at
them, even as we laugh at the poke
comets and hoop skirts OF our feminine
REVOLUTION IN DRESS.
"a revolution in dress is also aking
p Wheelwo rne IS governments a nuisance and a snare.
After tearing two or three of them she
modifes her attire to suit her oeeupa-
&c per m mI 0p for they 1l0G are inh Snl aI5
unbecoming. without doubt voluminous
knickerbockers will eventually be the
wears, She viii wear what She .pleases.
| Her sudden freedom and regardlessness
Of custom in this matter are the result OF
Neither Chicago Aldermen nor Episco-
palian Bishops can keep her back when
her mind is once made up. With one
toss of her pretty head she has her own
sweet way, and the question is forever
settled.
Thirdly. the wheel is a revolution:st
IN II b the sphere tn s of political tbe yes se99no ansstio IT
of rapid transit, and tends to push city
people into the country. Congestion IS
a nuisance, largely due to the private
ownership of the means of ~transporta-
ton. If the. Government owned the
railroads and the trolleys, and gave
day, multitudes Of w~orkingmen could
live in little cottages in the suburbs; The
day will soon come in America, and has
already come in many European cities,
and with great benefit to the poorer
classes. But the bicycle is itself a form
of rapid transit. and in some cities, like
Boston. for instance. has entered into
very serious competition with the rail
roads and trolley lines. The wheel ia
| tricts, creates a owe for country resi-
| dence and demands good roads,, so that
access to the city is convenient and
but a pleasant place to come to, and the
ideal residence is In a suburban town.
The bicycle is changing. the character of
Every wheelman is an agitator, agrees
| sive and enthusiastic. He knows what
he wants and let's his wants be known
at once. Newspapers back his schemes,
Mayors heed his demands, and even the
Governor of the Empire State DOTTED his
hat in his letter OF acceptance. With
as a labor saving and economic, vehicle
defy the monopolist!c corporations and
take transpnrta ton into their own hands.
A HARMLESS REVOLUTION.
This wiN be a quiet. harmless revo-
tuition, but GIGANTIC n extent. We hear
and women will go on Their wheels to
a religious convention at Baltimore.
This means that the railroads VIII be
that roadside INNS viii come again into
use.
Lastly, l affirm that the bicycle is
notwithstanding the Sabbath day by turn
Ing it largely into a Gay OF recreation.
Sunday Is generally recognized as
'wheelmen's day On this day club
runs are made and widely advertised in
the papers. The parks and boulevards
and ountr districts are full of wheel
men, and the women are beginning to
initiate the men. If this continues, the
effect will be to weaken the churches
Of America and discourage religious
clergy to deliver Trades upon this sub
ject and denounce wheeimen. Scolding
never accomplishes anything, and young
people cannot be driven. II any. reform
Is achieved in this matter 1t will star.
with the .wheelmen themselves, and
from a serious consideration on their
part of the far-reach.ng effects Of this
growing practice. Their actions win de-
ment the Church and the Sabbath day
are valuable adjuncts OF civilization.
As good citizens and believers in public
morals can they afford to dispense with
or undermine these two important fac
tors in our Christian civilization? 1t is
fd%T Il hHE.ka EEsEAebsU