Evening star., 1895-11-02

of them are exhibit
ing some tendency, more or less marked, to
so it alone, and whether this is best for the
next generation is an unanswered problem.
Those who live long enough can see for
themselves. A representative of The Star
talked with a dozen or two authorities,
men and women, mostly women, recently.
to find out how the wheel and all the ad-
vanced theories were agreeing with them
individually, and what they We're doing to
push them along. The following reflections
on wheel clothes, and therefore dress re-
form. the benefits in health and physical
energy and the stand alone attitude of the
feminine world are the outcome of these
talks.
Changes in Clothes.
The wheel has achieved some reforms or
revolutions, rather of custom and sentiment.
that years and years of agitation sisnally
failed in doing. There is no denying the
fact that all women on rainy days, for in
stance, felt the injustice of a custom which
made long dresses a necessity and short
ones a laughing stock. Don the latter AM
you were SO conspicuous thar you We're
talked about. No woman surely fOrSetS the
stir created by the first women who had
common sense enough to brave criticism
and appear without IL hustle. Yet the ex-
ample of the few soon became the creed
of all and innumerable hoop skirt and
hustle factories closed their doors. Yet
year or two ago there was great uproar
because there was fear of such horrors re-
appearing. Did it occur to any one then
that it would not only be an ordinary sight
to see ladies' cid and young, whose skirts
reach only to their boot tops, and whose
entire costumes are models of masculine
practicabi!ities and feminine comforts, to say
nothing at all of the leap over the moon
S1D ta1 hxr h1nnnnarS Eniokarhnnk
and trousers? Yet we have them all and
nobody seems so frightfully shocked over
it, and those most stubborn at first at
least refrain from comment now, since ten
to one the best developed cases may be
In their own households. So far for clothes
now for health.
Physical Benefits.
The medical fraternity almost to a man
have gone in for the wheel There are just
as many physicians riding in this city as
members of any other profession. The wo-
men doctors are equally unanimous. If it
were not that so many doctors wives and
daughters are devotees of the wheel, the
Suspicion would be well grounded that in
view of the accidents Detailing so many of
the new riders, especially among women.
the increased business which the big guns
among the medicos have had in consequence
might nave had something to do with their
encouragement. For the average woman
the Wne6l is likely TO increase ner chanceS
for perfect health 10 per cent. The average
woman, however, must remember that if
she outdoes her strength she will have to
suffer for her rashneSS, and perhaps much
more seriously Than her brother.
A chat with a half dozen doctors on the
subject strengthens the theory that mod
crate riding is one of the best exercises pos
sible. and the most successful cure-alls of
the age.
Road Riders.
ing that it is a great temptation for all to
limit their peregrnations to the asphalt
But all the sweets of the sport will never be
tasted unless spins over the country roads
and coasting down the hills are part of the
regular enjoyment. Two-thirds of the wheel
women in society ranks learned to ride last
winter or spring. They are well prepared,
therefore, for country rides, and they can
be found every day skmming over the Ieafy
paths of Soldiers Home drives, climbing the
hill to Arlington or flying in or out the 7th
street pike. Suppers and dinners at Cabin
John bridga or vicinity are frequent wind
Ing up of these rides, and ten days in bed
nave followed for some of the willing but
weak ANA ateurs who We're in the crowd but
no way fitted for such stretch. The So
c1ety girl, however, never cares a rap for
little mistakes like these. and knows the ex-
perience will be useful just as she did al her
first parties, when she danced the soIes off
her slippers and caught cold at an open
window cooling down.
The Most Appropriate Costume.
Now that SO many ride, and so WELL the
question of a proper costume for the wheel
is most important. All summer a shirt
waist and short skirt were well enough,
but the average woman wants to feel cor
rectly clothed when all Vanity Fair is here
and looking on. The problem of clothes.
happily, is good deal easier one than Sc
iecting a wheel. The correct wheel dress
is tailor-made That Is the fundamental
principle, and like all other specimens of
the tailor's art, is severely plain-dark blues
and browns with the preference to the lat
ter, are the best colors. Swell New York
tailors are using double-faced cloth. like
that in the golf capes. The skirts fit
smoothly around the hips, with box pleat
in the back, and fasten on the sides-to-
ward the front. The jackets fit snugly
and have little flare at the back The
skirts have a loop to catch on the high
shoes or leggrgs, and the CLOTH having
such body, stays in place perfectly. This
suit is one of the most successful, and is
certainly leading style
The tailors here are making a most salts.
factory suit of lighter weight cloth
gored and lined as any other skirt fouI
yards wide and all the fullness at the back
Double-braasted Jacket, with the short
tails fiared, and leggings Of the same cloth
The m.ddle-aged athletic lady, as she is
beginning to be known, has conquered the
wheel quite successfully as her daughter
but she is having harder time of it
Everything goes for young folks, but it is
not natural for those who would certainly
look better lounging back in a victoria fol
their afternoon drive to see them arrayeG
in short skirts and leggins, wh.Zzing alons
the street and seeking the same amusement
as their children. The old life suits then
far better, if they only knew it and die
not feel 1t SO necessary to help in the
emancipation ard to avoid growing old an:
fat comfortably. 1t is working agains
Dame Nature, and she is a grand lady
who permits interference with her man
dates. The grandmother. however. who IL
her youthful and lithesome days rode horse
back, learns to wheel much more readily
than any of her juniors, who are not uset
to that accomplishment Here is where the
middle-aged athletic lady has the laugh OF
her young friends. There is no question o.
her enthusiasm and perseverance in tn,
sport. She has come to stay just as Ions
as she can.
Everybody Rides.
A fashionable young lady was asked tn.
other day by a representative of The Stal
how many of her acquaintances rode.
"Well, you may we'll ask how many
of them say their prayers All are sus
pected Of both. Fact Is. I hate the whee
myself but mother says 1 always wa:
contrary. l was driven to learn just fol
81 bod