Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-20
SOCIETY ON WHEELS
Bicycling Has Caught On With the
Social Leaders.
POPULAR With BEAUX AND BELLIES
The Coming Of the Famous MI
chaux Club of New York.
TRAV ELM IN Sly E

l. ~ L
One of the most interesting features in
the develt pment of bicycling is the way
the wheel has caught on in what cheap
novels love to refer to as high life." Time
was when to be swell one had to ride a
horse. but now the noble animal has had
to give wsy in favor Of the pneumatic
tire. In all the eastern cities of the land
pedaling is more than popular with those
who know what's what, and Washington is
| not ore whit behind the procession in this
respect.
Every afternoon one may see along the
suburban roads the figures of men and wo-
men whose names are familiar in the So
c;ety columns during the social season, and
they seem to have taken hold of the sport
as though 1t were something novel, and
| had never been given fair trial until they
| took it up Among the most enthusiastic
| wheelmen are the representatives of sew
eral of the foreign legations, but 1t Is not
confined to them, by any means. Lots Of
young ladies have gone in for wheeling
with vim, and, while as yet they are not
frequenting the main thoroughfares by
daylight, 1t Is not at all an uncommon
thing to see merry parties of them skim
ming lightly along the country roads.
are required, for interest in the sport is
| taken by some of the matrons of society
as well as by the maids.
The Metropolitan Club, the essence of all
that is proper in social affairs, has in its
membership a number of mer. who are get
ting quite expert on the bicycle. 1t Is said
that in the club there are already between
twenty-five and thirty who have gene In
investment. There has been some talk Of
OF ganizing bicycle club among the Met
ropolitan Club men. but as often happens
in club matters, most of this talk is being
done outside of the club, and so far the
riders have confined themselves to making
up little parties for short rides into the
country.
Proper Bicycle Costume.
The coming of. the wheel into society has
had the effect of reviving an interest In the
question Of a proper costume for bicycling,
and now that society people are interested
to such an extent 1t may be that the ques-
ton will be solved before long. OF late
number of men have come out in regular
English knickerbockers, with heavy plaid
stockings, turned over at the top, and
fastened just below the knee. 1t is, per-
haps. the most comfortable and at the same
time attractive costume that can be
adopted, especially when worn with a dark
colored sweater, and easy-ftting tweed
coat. The first of these that were seen on
the streets attracted some little attention,
but that is all over with now, and a man
II ay wear this most sensible arrangement
without feeling himself In the slightest de-
gree conspicuous.
1t is e curious fact that We Americans,
who think ourselves SO independent in all
matters. are so really conservative in mat
tiers of dress that when men and women
get themselves up in suitable attire for ath-
letic work they are likely to attract I'M
pfos SAINT attention. A man may ride a BIZ
cycle when he Is dressed in a silk hat, an
70 tha hrna lo,,< IL.
coat and Tapping trousers, and no one
thinks it at all out of place; while to be
suitably dressed for bicycling, golf or other
outdoor sports is to make ones self, to
certain extent, noticeable figure.
This is even more true in the case of wo-
men and while it is not at all uncommon to
see fair cyclers, clad in boomers or knee
skirts and CATERS, riding in the Bots de
Boulogne in Paris, there are not many wo-
MEN who have the moral courage to try it
on Pennsylvania avenue in broad daylight.
In fact. in some of our provincial towns
the wearing of boomers has been forbid
cen by local solons.
The Michnux Club.
Society's interest in bicycling may receive
quite an impetus from the coming of the
Michaux Bicycle Club, number of whose
members are now en- route to Washington.
The Michaux is the swell organization in
New York, which has also branch at
Newport. 1t is representative of New
Yorks four hundred, and is as proper as
proper can be. party of Michauxites
started from New York on Tuesday, coming
down through New Jersey on the old coach
road, which leads from New York to Phila-
delphia. through New Brunswick, Princeton
and Trenton.
Their itinerary, If followed out, should
bring them to Baltimore this evening,
whence they will come on through Ellicott
City, Sandy Spring, Brightwood and down
the 7th street road. 1t is possible that
Club will ride out to meet them and es-
cort them into the city. They have been
given similar treatment by other fashiona-
lie clubs at Philadelphia and other cities
on the way. Each rider carries with him
on his bicycle change of underwear, a
rubber cape and cap, pair of leggings, a
lantern and all necessary material for re-
pairing his wheel or tire.
Sending the Luggage Ahead.
Every detail which can contribute to the
comfort of the party has been arranged
Trunks are expressed by each rider, with
all necessary change of clothes, etc, the
first day to the Princeton Inn, and thence
each day to the next stopping place, and
one or two Wallets have been sent ahead to
take care Of the luggage and prepare the
rooms engaged beforehand by the party.
This tour was originally set for last au-
tumn. 1t was proposed at Newport last
summer by Mr.. J. ]. Van Allen, who is now
in Rome, but was abandoned in consequence
of Mr.. Van Allen being obliged to leave for
Europe earlier than he had intended. AL
ready the suggestion of the trip has in
spired several feminine members of the
Michaux to plan a shorter tour through the
country later in the spring. One party of
ladies and gentlemen has already been
formed which proposes to ride from Port
Jervis to the Delaware Water Gap some
time in May. taking three days for the for
ty-five miles, and stopping over night at
Milford and Bushkill
THE w. A. G. BENEFIT.
A Very Spirited Athletic and Gymnns-