The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-07-10

| Hes the danger Sutn Is lllc zeal lO1
cycling at the present moment that
half the day is devoted to it by thou
sands of voln" women whose only eN-
ercisc previously consisted in an hour 5
walking, and perhaps ride on holse-
back or a drive in the afternoon. Sir
BENJAMIN Ward Richardson has point
cd out how injurious to the imperfect
ly developed frame is the constant
practice OF cycling, and has also assert
eel that IN undue increase in the mus
cular proportions of the lower limbs is
one of the results to he expected. But
he advocates the pastimc for the mid
dle-aged, and from those inclined to in
ertness, or are condemned to it by sed-
entary occupation, always provided
it be not followed to excess. Lord
Onslow predicts that the present craze
for wheeling will were itself out in Il
twclvcmonth or 50, but that the bicv-
Gle has come to stay rs Il prominent
factor in the lives of the well to-do
Glasses. He is probably right, and the
impartial spectator of the whole mat
ter is bound to admit that rccommcn-
dations are numerous. The cycle has
widened the horizon of existence for
fashionable girls. There is less incli-
nation t" novel-rcading, piano-playing,
sweet-eating and Irritation than there
used to he; and, though, perhaps, II
taste for all these will rccur when GUS
tom has rendered cycling less absorb
ing, yet it is something to have seen
beyond their limited circle for even II
time. Fresh air, imbibed in quantities
every day, is Il much unlcrcstimate,l
physician. WholesnmcncS> ofthought
follows logically upon soundnrss of
bodily health, and the long spins in the
open air, with perpetual change of
scene, afford that food for thought with
which the ordinary course of fashion
able life but i'll supplies them. The
exercise employs energies which are
practically wasted in the scnscless
round of visiting, attending parties.
going out to dine. and the usual rou-
tine of daily life where there is no call
upon the powers Of mind or body
The pettiness of such an exercise is
felt, though perhaps but vaguely, 10y
many girl who longs for possihili-
ties of doing and daring of which she
is conscious. There is nothing direct
lv cnnobliny in cycling, it is true, but
it enlaryes the thoughts and opens the
mind, and ut least conveys All invita-
ton to better things. 1t is more than
probable that many itrvent cvclist
will, with the stimulation of her encr-
gies, find some more satisfying work
in life than she would ever have dream
|
wider outlook given by the free, open
air, mental atmosphere induced by her
long rides far aicld
In the smaller matter of fyracetulnesS
and pretty looks there is much vexed
controversy The advantages of the
knickcrhocker costume without any
skirt is advocated 10y some. The chief
argument against this so called ratio
nat dress is its conspicuousncss and
the liSagreeahlc attention it entails
from an ordinary crowd. In the
vicinity of Victoria Station, the other
day, woman is haggy knickerhockers
dismountcd from her machine, and was
Immediately surrounded by Il large
crowd, whose comments upon hel
masculine attire were far from compli.
mrntary 1t is unlikely that women
of the more conventional GLASSES will
ever abandon the skirt. Parisicnncs
have long ago done so, in favor of the
Iouavc costume, silk stockings, and
most highly elaborate shoes: but they
do not indulge in long rides, rs our own
countrv-womcn do, contcnting them
selves as rule with round or tive
of the BoiS The Zouavc dress will
| it,. # I., , nj
tear of Il long country ride, like tailor
mandr costumes. \ skirt that is
LONG enough to reach six or seven
inches below the knees offers no i'm
pcdiment to pcdaling and is perfectly
graceful on an expert rider. the Ycal
of whose machine is low enough tc
avoid that high action of the knees
that is so extremely ugly The lew
gear. it is true, nr,'csSitatrs very fast
prdaling, if the pace is very great:
but few women of the lciSurcd classes
care to make an unSual pace, and the
high is quite inconsistent with the beau
tiful rs any one must admit who has
seen the knees rise to Il great height
with every revolution of the pedals
cauSin" wrigyling motion to tn,
whole body. \ low gear is much less
tati@uing than high one ON this very
account. Another important point is
the choice of n saddle, and it is one to
which the makers of bicycles have not
aS yet devoted sufficient attention in
machines mcnt for womcn'> use. \
long ride on an uncomfortable saddle
means always rNhauStin" fatigue, and
occasionally decided injury of Il tenn
pory kind. The difficulty ofdiSmount-
ing with ease and safety is "hviatcd
hv choosing Il saddle rounded OFT in
trout, SO rs to prevent the dress from
catching on it, Many riders who are