The Indianapolis journal., 1895-07-02
ON THE SOCIAL SIDE
poprraRIrY OF THE BICYCLE IN
ALL CLASSES OF SOCIETY.
r.. Wide Use by Fashionable People
nj Home and Abroad Proves Its
Irresistible Attraction.
1ames B. Toxnsend, in scrIDner,s Maga-

lanes B. Townsend, in Scribner's Maga-
The rapid development OF the present ju-
terest in bicycling among people Of wealth
and leisure IN America is perhaps it's most
striking feature. Scarcely a year has
elapsed since the first woman, known at
all in and 10 the fashionable world Of New
York, rode her wheel along the Boulevard
and through Central Park, and this she
did amid all manner of adverse comment
from and BY her associates. A few society
men-so-called-of an adventurous and ath-
letc turn OF mind. rode the well-remem-
bered high Wheel spasmodicaIly for some
years. and some few again essayed the safe
" bicycle when 1t was first invented These
too, were jeered at by their fellows and,
with few exceptions soon abandoned a
sport In which they did not find congenial
companionship The society world, which
IN this generation had taken up croquet,
roller skating and lawn tennis in turn with
avidity, and tired Of them in succession,
watched with languid glances the bicy-
clists seen in the streets and met with in
its drives and rides-was rather disposed TO
grumble at them as nuisance and TO ST.
lently approve all measures to restrict
their privileges. 1t was for the most part
ignorant of the rapid development of the
manufacture of tournaments and leagues
and classes. 1t sneered and laughed at
women riders OF the wheel. and was as
far away from even the idea of adopting
the wheel itself year ago as 1T was be-
fore the invention of the safety bicycle.
The changed conditions which now pre-
vail and which have SO rapidly come
about, were due, first, to Americans re-
turning from a stay in Paris and who had
imbibed the craze for cycling on the as
phalt pavements and the smooth wooded
drives Of that city's famous Bois de Bou-
logne. where they found the sport fashion
able among the leaders of Partisan socie-
Nv; and. second, to the influence of sever
al Of New York's leading physicians, who,
in some cases from the reports OF the
French doctors. and in others from their
own experience in Paris and their study
OF the wheel from a medical standpoint,
began TO advocate its use among their pa
tients and patrons II was New 1ork
physicians wife who first as has been
became the pioneer among fashionable
wheelwcmen; and her example and that or
her husband was soon followed by other
Bicycling among fashionable people was,
however, of slow growth at the start and
although the favored school or INSTRUCTION
in New York began to be crowded last
May and June, there were Few Well-knoWn
men and women who had acquired suffi-
cient skill to ride on the road before the
July heats drove them to the summer re-
sorts. At the watering places, however.
and particularly at Newport Bar Harbor
and Southampton, bicycling sprang into in
slant favor early in the summer. and by
August there were few men and women
who were not riding, learning to ride. or
contemplating taking lessons IN cycnng.
colored professor" so-called, who had ac-
quired some reputation as teacher in New
York during the spring months, opened a
school in Newport and achleyed fame ana
temporary fortune. Four or five young So
ciety girls, who had spent the previous
winter abroad and learned to ride there.
appeared one morning on Bellevue avenue,
and their graceful riding and evident enjoy
ment of the sport created a mild sensation
and increased the interest already felt IN
and for bicycling. By August the wheel
had become marked feature of the New
port season, and WED in attractiveness
driving and yachting. The most prominent
members of the summer colony became its
smoot ana evei Beievue avenue and the
beautiful Ocean drive with its ever-chang-
ing panorama OF land and sea, We're IulIy 1dy
proficiency came longer journeys through
Newport island. and parties of men and
women even rode via Conan1cut island TO
Narragansett Pier; while TO testify to his
devotion to the sport; a popular NeWporter
organized, toward the seasons close,
moonlight evening lantern parade of BIZ
cyclists from his fine mansion to the new
golf clubhouse, and thence to Gooseberry
island-which participated in by a hun
dred men and women, and which was made
news feature the next day in important
10 the wheel soon spread TO neighboring
Narragansett Pier, TO Bar Harbor, South
ampton. and even to other smaller fashion
aroused; so it came to pass that. with the
advent of autumn and the return of So
ciety TO the nearer suburbs and the city,
the sport had become firmly established in
social favor.
BY this time the society people of other
sections. many OF whom had seen the de-
velopment of bicycling at the summer re-
sorts and had perhaps INDUCED in ii. took
a
phia, Baltimore and the Western cities saw
also the advent of the society cyciist. The
whose countless miles of asphalt pavements
have for years afforded the best of all op-
portunities 10 the cyclist-has. strange to
say, been slower to embrace cycling than
that OF any other American city; and al
though now it is becoming fashionable
there, IL is not pursued with the same zest
as in other places. Perhaps the fact that
''the butcher, the baker and the candlestick
maker have for many years made the bi-
cycle less novel at the national capital than
elsewhere may account for this seeming
With the return of the winter season last
December. and the advent OF the cold winds
and snow. wherein no amateur cyclist may
riding; and this led to the formation in
New York of the now well-known Michaux
chanic who first placed weighted pedals on
the old velocipede. 1nis club, which now
Va. Philadeiphia. Chicago. Louisviie and
other cities, sprung at once into popularity
and was social success from its incep-
yion- 1t secured the of old armory
In upper Broadway. near Central Park, fit
ted up tasteful and complete dressing and
club rooms and held meetings fixed
afternoons and mornings, and during Lent
on two evenings also each week. AT these
meetings band played. tea and refresh
ments were served, and society gathered in
full force to ride or watch its friends ride
sometimes in graceful cotiilion figures. and,
shall IL be said, TO also see, with pIeasur-
able excitement, some of the more inexper-
fenced riders occasionally tumble with a
crash, but fortunately with no serious
suits AT recurrent intervals exhibitions of
trick and fancy riding by professionals,
and once a display of the different makes
OF wheels was given, and the interest con-
tinued undated till the close of the winter
season The club is continued without
Its indoor meetings, but with every IA
cility TO its members in the matter of at
tendants, lockers. dressing rooms and care
of their bicycles. and viii doubtless re-
sumo its indoor meetings next winter.
The Michaux Club has developed num-
bers of skillful and graceful riders
women as well as men-and has had de-
cided influence on the sport in society every
where. Cycling has afforded endless salts
faction to the members of this club not only
by the rapid and inspiriting motion OF the
wheel but in the substantial. or perhaps
one might say etherealizing, benefit that il
has conferred n heightened and