New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-27
free silver, but it is no longer by any meanS
imnOsSble
THE WHEEL AND ITS CRITICS.


OF course the wheel has it's critics; everything
does that succeeds. At first II was the Pn' oi-
clans some OF whom manifested cohsiueraoi
alarm over the speedy extinction or the huii""
raca because of its devotion to cycling. Their
alarm was both natural and, in us way ," '',
worthy. for II everybody should die where would
tha doctors got any patients? In the nature OF
the case no lethal pastime can ever expec. u
meet with medical approval. But the DOCTORS
seem 70 have concluded that, after all. cychhs 10
not necessarily fatal, or even unhealthy' anu III
fact some Of them are now advocating IL do q
promoter Of good health
The clerical critics of bicycling nave peeh nio' {
tenacious not much because they oDJec' ~
bicycle ridng in itself, as because so many peo-
pie ride on Sunday 1t must be admitted ,ha'
the question Of Sunday riding is difficult one 10
settle satisfactorily Christian people, clerical
and lay are by no means at one on the points III
volved. Is Sunday riding wrong under all cir
cumstances? Or is 1t permissible if the rider
first attends church? Is bicyce-riding any
worse than carriage riding or any wickeder than
walking? These and a score of other puzzln8
questions are being asked and no authoritative
answer to them to be forthcoming. IN
the mean while multitude OF cyclers, man! Oh
them active church members, ride on sunday, III
spite Of all that the clerical critics say one re-
ligIous body however has settled the whole mat
ter Of bicycle riding In a way that no one can
misunderstood. We refer to the Old Order OF
Dunkards, which held conference IN ONO tue
other day. The question that game up was hOl
whether Sunday riding is permlsslpie pu'
whether riding a wheel on any day Is perihSoi-
BILE The Old Order Of Dunkards is a conserva-
tive body: It has sympathy with neW-iahsieu
IDEAS. and much Of what calls Itself progress Is
cir der11ancp In the or all true Oiu
Dunkards So it may be supposed that the
brethren approached the question of the bicycle
With strong prepossessions against IL; out t"ey
were fair-minded men. They would not con-
denim IL unheard. IL the nature OF the case the
silent steed could not speak for itself; but al
that could be said in its favor was urged Dy
members Of the conference Inc dlscussiOh WAS
long and earnest; quotations from the Blple ana
tbe carly fathers were adduced both sides.
At the end Of It all 1t was decided that the d.
cycle is unscriptural which. Of course, settles
tho ,natter for those who accept the Old Order
of Dunkards' method Of interpreting Scripture
The bicycle IL was concluded. Is an abominatlon
I'm the sight of God For it is said in Luxe XVI
II. THAT which Is highly esteemed among men
Is abominaton In the sight OF God. AS the VI
cycle Is evidently highly esteemed among men,
.h ,ne,nhers Of the conference, recognizing the
authority Of the Bible. had nothing 10 q" DUR l"
decide a s they ala. lnelr ueClSi'i mag
erotesoue to some people, but IT Is TO De 'aii M
the Dunkards that they have convictions they
are not afraid to live up t.. AT the same COLI
ference gold filings in teeth were also con-
Gernned unscriptural
Another line OF criticism finds expression IN
"The Boston Transcript" which fears that' O"-
ing TO the great speed with which ne rides me
wheelman must necessarily miss the oea"'leS
Of nature His powers OF observation WIZ De
Weakened and he will go through lie with HIS
owes ana ears closed. For this reason. "hle
recognizing that the bicycle has come 10 stay II
advises the formation of such ORGANIZATIONS d.
tho Apnalachian club whose object VIII DE- ho'
~ get over space, hut to observe nature lherN
* some reason In what The Transcript says
bur we think II cxaggerates the danger IL de
scribcs Cycling takes multitude q, peopie
outdoors who seldom went outdoors oe'Oi ~
far that Is a distinct gain. Maybe theN are "o'
much prone 10 observation; but neither are
majority Of the few who now walk Ihose VINO
love nature will observe 1t. whether they are r1d-
ing a wheel OF walking. and the thing there
fore to do is TO teach boys and girls to IoNe anu
appreciafe the beauties Of nature. II that Il
done they Will find their way 10 natures hear'
somehow or other wheel or no whe FL