The evening times., 1896-07-21
WHEELS AGAINST WHEELS
More Flubdrub From the
W0men'S Rescue League.
MRS. SMITHS TRADE
She Insists That the Structure of the
Bicycle Must Be Changed Before
Wheeling Can Be Healthful for
WOmen-The Recent Parade Also
the Subject of vituperation.

Another broadside against women vino
use the bicycle has been discharged, in a
written statement, by Mrs. Charlotte Smith.
thepresidentofthe Woman's Rescue League.
She says, in part:
''Since the publication OF the resolutions
OF the Women's Rescue Lea que condeInnins
bicycling for girls and women have been
overw beimed by letters congratulating Inc.
The structure of the bicycle IN ust be changed
before wheeling can be heaithful exercise
for women.
The dress prescribed has tendency
toward'immodest exposure. The bloomer
girl, the short skirted girl, the girl in the
sweater, are not ornaments OF their SEX
The exhibition ma de N the recent bicycle
parade in Washington was positively inde-
cent. 1 myself saw rabble Of skirtless
girls parading the thoroughfares after mid
night. Not only this, but another mob OF
young men paraded around caricaturing
these same girls, who were companions in
the exhibition.
VULGAR AND IMMODEST.
1T was most outrageous i'll appearance
and distressing to behold to see young
misses with their hair in braids down their
backs sitting astride the bicycle for five
hours to be gazed at by promiscuous
crowd Of $4,000 persons. 1t was more,
for it was vulgar and immodest, and not
4 fit closing scene for a great religious
organization. :.
The fact that members of the Christian
Endeavor Association lent their presence
to this prize show made it worse. The
sight OF men, women, toys and girls with
G. E. badges on, wheeling for Christ was
caricature not only on religion. but on
the Divine Master. In brief, the woman's
Rescue League condemns bicycling be-
cause it is unhealthy, immodest and dan
gerous for women and girls.
MANY of the letters on my desk are from
ministers. One addresses me from a sea-
side resort. He diseourses cloquently about
"A sound mind in healthy body He seems
TO forget that the broad road that leads to
perdi;ion does not need the facility of
Goa sting that many should 'scorch' for
everlasting.
QUACK PREACHERS.
Il am very weary of these athletic min
isters anyway. / have quietly invcsti-
gated many of them, and 1 find instances
where some or the most enthusiastic are
siipendarics OF the wheel manufacturers.
Between quack medicine and bicycling firms
l hope these uuack preachers make hv-
| ing by giving testimonials as to the bene-
| fits derived"
The woman's Rescue League adopted
| resolutions with regard to the bicycle
| Parade in honor of the Christian Endeav-
| orers Tuesday night:
Whereas, with semblance OF civic au-
thority, girls and boys, men and women,
on the evening of July IA, 1896, We're
permitted TO parade the streets of Washing
| ton; and
| Whereas the costumes of many of the
| girls and women failed of that modesty
that decorous public has the right to de
mand On its thoroughfares; therefore
| Resolved, That the Woman's Rescue
League condemns such immodesty.
Resolved, That the woman's Rescue
| League recommends that the Young PEG.
pies Christian Endeavor Association urge
upon their hosts that regard for public
| opinion makes il necessary that members
should abstain from the use OF their ban
ners and badges in parades not guarded
from the participation of the sporting
| element and the unorganiZed rabble."