The herald., 1895-06-02
The Craze Has Really
Come to Stay
COMMON INTEREST FOR ALL
Not Only Is the New Woman a DevOtee,
but the Old Woman as WeII--S0me
Advantages of the Health-
Giving Exercise-.What
instructors Say

In spite of all the diversity OF opinion
regarding the new woman and the old; in
spite of all the varying degrees of limita-
tion that are advanced as to where the
one begins and the other leaves off, and
the multifarious coniectures as to how
much of the former shall be tolerated,
and how to best encourage the latter to
be true to her principles or convictions,
there seems to be one interest in COM
mon, one central point, to which all OF both
kinds are steadily and surely converging,
and that is-the bicycle.
The most extreme Of both varieties Of
the genus feminine are gradually becom-
ing hopeless and confirmed, and in most
cases, willing victims Of the bicycle
habit. Paradoxical as it may appear, the
most fragrant exainp pies of new woman
have not been the first to succumb to the
cycling craze fascination; neither have
the most irritating specimens of hide
bound conventionality in the old woman
as yet openly taken it up. But gradually
are they both being drawn into the mael-
strom of revolving wheels, and the end Is
not yet.
clinging and supine bundles of femininity
who bow in cringing obedience to the
law OF public opinion, are as surely COM
ing to it, as are those other advanced and
unsexed amazons who not only have con-
vlctions on certain questions, but who
also have the courage of those convic-
tions. In illustration of the former va
riety is a case that is not only apropos,
but fact. A Los Angeles lady was que S.
toned a few months ago by friend. an
enthusiastic cyclst, why she did not
learn to ride wheel. She replied that
/, al,o,, oh; to.l /,
wish her to make herself conspicuous.
A few days since the same friend met
her riding one OF the silent steeds. In
amazement he said: II thought your hus-
band objected to your making yourself
conspicuous. How did you change his
views?"
81 didn't" replied the lady. "He in
sists that ride now for the same reason,
that may not be conspicuous.
And that is the existing state of things
generally. From Maine to Texas-Califor-
mia included-women of all grades, ages
and conditions are now availing them
selves of the health and pleasure. giving
exercise. From languid society swells and
beauties, to the more energetic and less
conservative business woman or shop
girl; from the masses and the exclusive
ranks of the Four Hundred; from the
mandate. to the buxom girl with athletic
proclivities, all are turning for one reason
or another to the merry wheel
Clubs are forming all over the land,
slngly and in groups. with husbands,
brothers or other peoples brothers; the
women 60 spinning over country lanes
and city pavements. breathing in long
breaths of health-laden ozone and taking
exercise at the same time which is so
necessary to the women. whether they be
butterflies whose chief industry in life is
a round of society functions in town in
ft -sv,fp RI nt n o,,I
resort i'll summer, or those whose bread
making depends on a more or less seden-
tary existence in the school OF counting
room, behind the shop counter or bend
ing over that tuneless key board-the type
writer.
There is zest about riding wheel
that is not known or experienced on the
most fiery and untamed horse, since
one has not only to ''stick on but to
keep the legless beast upright and going
by ones own exertions; there is an ex-
hilaration in the motion that even the
front end of an electric or cabie dummy
does not give; there is an invlgoration
IN the bird like feeling of freedom on the
wheel that lolling on the softest cushions
OF the most perfectly appointed victoria
or brougham cannot equal.
1t IS delicious, inspiring, fascinating
exercise that tells upon the most aded
spirits and reveals joys of existence
never before dreamed of in this hum
drum, work a. day world.
A little judicious questioning of some
of the local dealers in wheels this last
week extracted as many opinions regard
ing the facility with which the women
who are now riding wheels here have
become experts.
Mr.. Obenhauer. of the Pavilion riding
school said he could mo more tell with
certainty who would pick up the knack
readily, than he could figure ON which
I,I ,b<,
weighs 26S pounds became more expert
and graceful rider with fewer lessons than
many younger and slighter woman who
has studied there.
The gentlemanly agent of the Rambler
wheels said he thought working girls and
others who have to count their 80 cent
pieces, learned more readily than So
ciety ladies, who usually don't care how
many lessons they take. on the principle
of where there's a will there's a way"
Miss Berry, the InstIuctress of the Fow
Ter bicycle. said she had taught r,any
different kinds of women. and they rare
ly needed more than four lessons to be
able to manage the balancing and mo
tion; that the principle thing to learn
and the hardest was not TO get ones bal
ance but to remember that in keeping it
the front wheel and the handles were the
vital point. instead OF any motion OF the
body. AS soon as wheel begins to tilt
TO one side or the other. the motion of
the handles. which of courase act direct
~ on the front wheel, is the remedying
factor. as in the rudder of boat, and
not leaning of the body in any direction.
Mr.. Carl McStay. in the Victor head
quarters said his experie. CO had taught
him to give a couple of lessons on the
road to teach the balance and motion;
then he left the pupil to herself for a few
days. She would become impatient nine
times out of ten, and take her wheel out
into the woodsheu or back yard or any
where that she could try by herself. and
fall Off If she had to, without any ybodv's
seeing her and after few efforts presto
there she was, mistress of the situation.
Then few more lessons on the road to
point out defects and make suggestions
about rounding corners. avoiding teams
or holes, and the scholar was ready for
graduation.
sMr. Obenbauer asserted that the sup
porting posts of the lower gallery in the
pavilion were worth thousands of dollars
to him in the education of his scholars.
because when they could ride around the
place wlGhut running into the posls they
were competent to go ON the most crowd
ed streets; and anybody that has studied
there will bear Mr.. Obenbauer out. The
mad efforts of guileless novces on the
wheel to keep out of the way of those
same posts is only equalled by the per-
sistent regularity with which they run
into every one OF them in turn during
the first lesson or two there.
All the teachers concur that a couple
of lessons are all that are needed with
fI,n tn ht