Evening star., 1896-03-31
THE NATIONAL IDOL
ALI Glasses of the American People
Worship the Wheel.
oMNlPREsENT and oMHlPOqEHf
Good and Bad Effects of the b.
cycle Habit on Business.
INTERESTING INCIDENTS

The effect Of the bicycle upon the affairs
OF the world, on this side Of the water, at
least, has been nothing short Of marvellous,
and 1t would need a dissertation far beyond
a daily papers scope to even attempt ade-
quate treatment of it. Viewing the enor-
nous saving Of time which it's general use
accomplishes. it may not be too extrava-
CANT to say that next to the telephone the
bicycle is the most valuable product of
modern ingenuity to the commercial and
business world, where time is everything
and where minute saved may sometimes
prove a market gained. 1t is necessary to
consider the bicycle. however. in such con-
nections as it's influence is patent to every
one.
As q Social Factor.
AS 1t has risen in the public estimation
so 1t has been elevated in the social scale.
The gentleman who would have had a
stroke of apoplexy II his daughter had
appeared in the public street pedaling de-
murely and unconsciously along three or
four years ago now regards the same sight
with benignant approval and secretly
gloats over how much better Bess rides
than old Tom Billups daughter.
First 1t was ostracised, then 1t was toll
Grated, then 1t was gingerly accepted. and
suddenly it became worshiped by the very
people who affect to think that any strong
sentiment Is vulgar. Even now. at this
moment If you are reading The Star by
the light Of the setting sun many of the most
exclusive young women in Washington So
ciety. accompanied by club men, diplomats
and other swells of the most sumptuous
sort, are enjoying their wheels. And these
petted darlings and favorites of fortune get
just as much pleasure and exhilaration
and health and excitement out Of their
bicycle riding as other people.
When the Children Grow Up.
If grown-up people arc such devotees Of
the wheel, what must lie said of the rising
generation? The boy or the girl who does
not own bicycle nowadays or who has
not been promised one and is dreaming of
1t, lives in a country Of sand roads or
mountains. where the use of the wheel is
taboced by nature. In Washington, with
its miles of smooth roadways and leagues
OF surrounding roads. child who is not
proud in the possession or hopeful in the
expectancy OF owning bicycle Is an
anomaly 1t Is not too much to say, when
this state Of affairs is taken into considera-
ti"n. that the men and women of ten years
hence will all be found astride of wheels,
their rights protected by laws and a sepa-
fate portion OF the roadway preserved for
their exclusive use out of regard for that
rigid community rule regarding the rights
Of the majority.
Many manufacturers of carriages all
cmnipresence of the bicycle by add
ing plants for it's manufacture to their
establishments. and when it comes to the
sale OF the national Idol it is found in all
classes of stores, with the possible exception
of drug stores. A walk through Washing
tons business thoroughfares will find bicy-
cieS on sale in furniture houses, clothing
houses, department stores, and a jeweler
proudly announces the sale of bicycles along
with diamond rings and opals that would
start confagration with their fire.
Bicycles Versus Watches.
The recent diversion of prominent
matchmaking firm to the manufacture OF
bicycles caused a rather general belief that
the popularity of the wheel was affecting
the demand for timepieces. It was said
that the young men who, under the old
conditions. would have received gold
. watches on their twenty-first birthdays.
are now presented with bicycles, while fair
maldens are similarly treated when they
arrive at sweet sixteen. This speculation
was interesting enough to demand inyesti-
gat1on, SO Star reporter dropped into Gait
q Brothers' yesterday and chatted with
Mr.. Norman Gait on the subject
$50 far as 1 have learned" said Mr. Gait.
the bicycle fad has not materially affected
the trade in watches. It has not been our
experience certainly. Indeed, the fact is
that the demand for watches has never
been better than at present. There has
been striking increase in the number CT
women purchasers Of watches and vet more
women ride bicycles now than ever before
Inere Is another point to consider in the
question Of bicycles and watches The use
OF the former increases the necessity for
repairs of the latter. A tumble of a rider
means sometimes q displacement OF the
delicate mechanism Of his watch, and it
comes to the jeweler for repairs No l do
not think the almost universal use of the
bicycle has affected the watch trade as
much as supposed 1 know of no other
business, indeed, that is SO little subject
to change as ours''
Mr.. Gait said that perhaps the sale of BIZ
cycles on the installment plan might have
some effect on the similar system of dis
posing of watches. but even this he be-
lieved was not great enough to injure
that branch of business materially.
The Light Livery Trade Ruined.
There is one important line Of business
that bicycles have seriously injured, and
that is the livery trade Mr. G. T. Wood
who was in it for many years and who re-
tired year ago. was interrogated by the
reporter on the subject:
'"The popular craze for bicycles has alb
solutely ruined the light hiring branch of
the livery business" said Mr.. Wood
promptly. '"The demand for light vehi-
cles, such as buggies and phaetons. for
instance, is not worth talking about now
l had about thirty light vehicles, and dur
ing the last two years Of my experience I
didn't get more than call a week for
them. Previous to the bicycles general
Introduction didn't have enough to meet
the demand. Young people vino were
customers for that class of vehicle are
now riding their wheels. There is no
doubt that the machines have DESTROYED
the light livery trade beyond hope of re-
demption."
The carriage manufacturers have found
that the demand for light-running buggies
has almost disappeared, and in order to be
right up with the procession many factory
owners have adapted their machinery TO
bicycle construction. So that bicycles are
turned out nowadays by carriage, sewing
machine and gun factories.
Making Road House Owners Rich.
There is another business, however. that
has been wonderfully benefited, and the
men and women engaged in it are the pro-
rrietors of the suburban hostelries COM