New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-03
THE WHEEL AND HEALTH.
AN INTERESTING TALK BY MISS E. NJ LINZ
LEY on THE EVIL RESULTS OF hlp-
ING BICYCLE IMPROPERLY.


Fifty-seven women, more or less. and varying
In ages from sixteen 20 over sixty met In Nliso"
parlors yesterday afternoon to hear Miss L.
Marguerite Lindley lecture upon bicycling IN "s
relation to the figure health and dress. Many oi
the ladies present were gray-hared. and appar-
emily past the age of whirlng through the streets
on the seductive wheel but their interest in MISS
Lindleys lecture never tagged The lecture WAS
for the gentler sex only. and no men were az
mtted to the first part which related TO delicate
questions OF hygiene when the bicycle was i'ii-
properly ridden. The entrance of lone repoi'e'
al The beginning of the lecture caused something
Of mild panic among he ladies' and the lecturer
FASTENED to reassure them by declaring IN a n"u
tone Of voice that no men could be admitted az Il
might cause more or less confusion Ana 50 lhl'
particular lecture of Miss Lindley was taken In
sections afterward.
Miss Lndley is a young woman who FOR d
number OF years has made special study OF the
bicycle. particularly its defects of construction
and the resulting had influence upon feminine
health when used unwisely. She is an enthusiast
on this phase of the craze, and talked in pam
language to the women present upon the dangers
to the delicate internal organs brought about by
the use Of imperfectly formed saddles. badly ad-
justed handebars. and shortcomings in general
OF both rider and machine To illustrate more
clearly her remarks. she used bicycle ana
human skeleton. minus the head and legs
The skeletonize1 trunk was filed with cotton
batting and red flannel 50 adjusted as TO Illus
trate the pelvic and abdominal parts. Assisted
by an operator. Miss Iindley showed the various
bad positions in which the bicycle riders Of both
sexes almost invariably indulge She told, also
of the diseases which result from an overindulg-
ence OF riding. and showed why there were so
many so-called bicycle backs" un(, painful dis
cases OF women resulting from ignorance OF me
anatomical structure and the rules Of hygiene
In the course OF her lecture she said that II was
abou, time 10 abandon the task Of molding IN"
rider TO fit the wheel
SHOW me-" said she. the well-poised. sym
metrica body and you will also show one that
needs no apology for health. Careless posture
and gait give rise sooner OF later 10 weak condl-
lions Of some OF the internal organs. 1t seems to
be woman's fate. particularly. to suffer from
these physical flaws and the pity Is that Few
willing TO use preventive means the %,
cycle comes to US with possibilities Of untold
advantage, providing that 1t is properly adjusted
TO suit the build Of the rider
Miss Lindley then referred TO the ambition OF
the fat woman 10 ride a vince Ike her less STOUT
sister The heshy wOmans heart has not as
much room for freedom II action as her INN
neighbor. and her muscle hbres are impeded with
fat. rendering them incapable of performing en-
forced labor.
SHE will find this out to her sorrow.' said
Miss Lindley. If she tries to reduce her weight
by wheeling. Disasters occur even among our men
who think this pleasant and easy way 10 diS-
pose Of adipose tissue
In referring TO the build of bicycle. Miss
Lindley spoke particularly OF the saddle. which
she said. was the main cause Of the Ills u when
women are subjected from an unwise indulgence
In riding In speaking Of the handle-bar. Whi'h
was another cause Of bad figures. she SAID II
should be so adjusted az not - strain the shoul-
der muscles or contract the chest thus defeating
the purpose Of the expansion OF lung power.
Riders. both men and women should sit erect,
and the seats instead IL being narrow. as ih"5
now are should be broad. without projection.
and 20 adjusted that no muscle OF the bod,
should be In the leas, strained or overtaNed.
Miss I.ndley then paid her compliments to the
male rider and urged upon her hearers To DIS
courage "scOrching." II defeated the purpose OF
bicycle riding health measure and was. be
sides ungraceful and calculated 10 make stoo?-
ing and narrow chested men. who culd in I'm"
develop perhaps. into a race something AKIN -
monkeys going about on all foufs. she c0'i1d
think OF nothing else than a monkey when sh"
saw a whirling by on his wh,"l WIN DIS
head on a level with the handlc-bar
Further on Miss Lindey illustrated, by means
Of two assistants. the Swedish movements Tor
home practice {, supplement wheeling This Is
much In the nature of Drlssrtcan movement
for the purpose OF developing leg. chest ARA
back and abdominal muscles. The assistant
went through in detail the various movements.
in which the audience took great interest. care
fully following each movement
The lecturer had much T. say about the ethl 5
OF dress Those women VINO delBhtru u dpi''l
in public in knickerbockcr costume received whdi
might be termed decided 'scorching II there
was anything undignihed. said Miss Lindley. II
was in this day and generation e. So" woman
conspicuous by a makeup Of this nature.
we do not want - think. she SAID 'of
refined pure girl. who likes cycling. subjected
10 the unpleasant criticisms which Ten make
skirt should be worn long enough and stin
enough in texture. 50 that the limbs need not le
too clearly outlined. That is the most modest
costume. and one which think most women al.
Ia,.. alr b..ar "A a.
which has overtaken some Of our advanced dress
refOrmers. | am advanced myself for that mat
ter but ! say. taboo knickeI bOckers every time
Susan Il. Anthony and DR. Mary Walker, strong
minded and noble women. tried this mannlsii
costume. and we all know the indignities
TO which they were subjected. The knickerbocker
age has not yet arrived.
There much more said upon the subject
OF dress which perhaps would not interest the
general public. At least that was what Miss
, Lindley said afterward.