The evening times., 1895-10-10
zoLA's CYCLING r0GGERY
Not Liking the Customary Bike Costume, He
Invented One for Himself.
Tolstoi and the French Novelist Are
Both Devotees OF the Wheel. but
Zoia is More Picturesque

Should Emile Zola come to this country
on that long -heralded trip of his he will
bring in his baggage a suit of clothes that
will pass the custom house authorities with
out a nurmur, for il is for ZOia 10 wear, and
only Zola. 1t is bicycle suit, for
ZoIa is cyclist of most ardent type; and
doubtless packed away in the baggage VIII
be the wheel, without which he never
passes day now.
When Zola broke down from ovcrwork,
in the summer, somebody recommended a
wheel to him. I'D ride, my boy" he an
sweretl, but look such an ass in a bicy-
cling suit
.'Then design becoming suit for your
SELF" suggested the friend.
Zola and Tolstoi are good friends, though
they have been rumored qnarrelling. And
the revolving OF their respective wheels
brough them nearer TO each other. Toll
stoi Wheeling ip Russia, and Zola wheeling
in France were very near together, indeed
Tolstoi wrote Zola all about his own
cycling dress, and Zola wrote Tolstoi how
he had improved upon it. Result, perfec-
ton.
Zola's cycling suit, as ii will he packed
away in his steamer trunk, will have a
dark-blue tinge, very like the overcoat
which Black, the novelist, wears.
The Zola suit is meant for the Paris win
ter, for il is very heavy. Its material is
rough serge. 1t is bound with very wide
braid, and the coat is stuffed and short
enough for the uses of the wheel. The
cut of this coat. for any other enthusiastic
wheeler to copy, is similar to the cut Of n
sweater, which, after all, has some shape,
ard H. fits TO the figure in the same way.
The serge is more elastic than one would
suppose. 1t does not show wrinkles, and
is quite waterproof.
The hat which Zola wears is the '.beret"
1t is kind of Tam O'Shanter. and is man
ufactured only in France and Spain at
present. II is much worn by the working
men of those countries, and this last year
by the wheelmcn of Paris. II comes in all
colors, preferably blue, brown, and black,
though few white ones are seen. and it is
of very smooth material in the finer grades.
The beret is made all in one piece 1t
is woven ION the bias" as far as its
threads are concerned, and it is drawn
in around the lower edges to fit the
head. 1t is very elastic, and the Cycler
can pull it well down over the ears on
nipping day, or push it iauntiiy back
Tor warm run. 1t likewise can be
made into a shade for the eyes by tilt
ing it forward in Tam-o-Shanter fash
ion. The little nib at the top can be
any color one pleases. Zola, who is an
Independent wheeler, wears n tip of blue
to match his suit. while the Tam is
black. Wheelmen might easily place
their club colors there, for quick recog-
milton at a distance.
Zola's legs are very picturesque in brown
leggings. He preserves the harmonies of
mingiing a little color in his costume. The
leggings are very long aud come up some
where in the region of the upper leg. They
extend as high a stockings OF the feminine
persuasion, and are for warmth.
Every wheelman breads the winter. His
feet and legs seem blowing their way into
polar regions, while his ears are only
tingling pleasantly and his nose enjoying
the nipping air. The model wheeling suit
for winter is,designed especially for legs.
cept around the knee. where they are held
in place, and the padded serge trousers full
fill their offices of keeping the wcarcr com
Portable.
Zola himself thinks this costume n model
one and would like to see it adopted. In
an interview with an American cyciist re-
Gently he appeared very anxious to know
If there was anything about his suit that
would be disagreeable to American tastes
or Americann eyes. Because said he.
Il am going to confess a vanity, pardon
able, l hope, in getting up this suit, and
l would like to see 1t adopted and known
as the Zola suit. My book triumphs no
longer satisfy me. want something more
earthly, in which others can participate"
The wheelman endcavorcd to remind
Zola of his pleasurable writings, but the
Frcnchman was evidently set upon the
wheeling suit for his ideal earthly i'm
mortality.