Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-03
CYCLING HOLDS THE EDGE
1t Becomes the Prevailing Fad with Society
People,
EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE GOING hwHtEl
Ncnsington and Afternoon Teas, for
the Time ut Least, Give WRy
90 the Bicycle Craze
society Notes.

The weeks that have followed the Easter
season have not been remarkable for their
soslal brilliancy, and In fact the spring sea
son promises but very little gayety for the
next few weeks. An occasional lunch, ken
sngton or dance is all that has occurred to
relieve the rather oppressive quietude.
The particular fad at this present season
seems to be bicycling There is no doubt that
during summer evenings wheeling will be
one Of the favorlte amusements. The inter
est In this particular sport seems to have al
ready reached the height of popularity in
certain well known neighborhood. where 1t
has been noticed that every family has its
representative but In some instances one
could see every member riding their hobby.
II was in this same neighborhood that
barrister Of national reputation, now living
in Chicago, took his first lessons, with all
the neighborhood for an audience, and the
words Of admonition and advice he received
were many. Failing to learn by himself lie
called a coachman OF one of his neiGhbors
and asked him IL he wanted to earn dollar.
or course he did so together they started
out with the best of results so that at the
end OF the evening he felt almost as though
he was a professional. The second evening
he ventured out alone, but when he reached
the corner, what was his horror and dismay
to see another bicycle coming down that
cross street toward him and at full speed.
He shouted at the top Of his deep voice,
"What Is the matter with you? DO you
want the whole street," The approaching
bicyclist seemed not to notice the remark,
when the barrister called out again, Turn
out there; won't you? / am beginner.
In a breathless way the other one answered,
$50 am l." The inevitable collision was one
OF the many amusing Incidents witnessed.
wholesale grocer who lives in the same
neghborhood declares he cannot ride II
ha
there Is another wheel on the street. me
wife of a lumber dealer rides like Centaur,
but when II comes to turning around she is
obliged to call in assistance However, she
will soon be an expert, as any one Woulu
youch who had but seen her on the wheeI;
Another of the group who sells boots ana
shoes and who sits so erect on his wheel
that he has won the admiration OF people Tor
blocks around. had an experience which
fairly made his hair rise on end when MS
wheel ran away with him down an Incline
He yelled to the driver of a passing vehicle
to turn out for he wae running away anu
could not stop himself. 1t is needless to say
that the man turned into the curbstone ana
Mr. X. reached the bottom or the NIL IN
safety but there fell off, sustaining no in
iurv except a slight hurt to his dignity.
One man said "I don't see what people are
thinking of. They walk out into the street
lust as il they had a right to be there ana
some one is always trying to cross Just as
want to turn corner There ought to be
a law against it-a law that would compel
pedestrians to remain on the sidewalks
where they would not be In the way Of those
who really have rights in the streets. And
there are others. " Go,
A man occupying high position in South
Omaha. together with his wife, are the latest
recruits. Each started out to learn without
the others knowledge, the man practiclng III
hack wards and side streets, his wife taking
private lessons and eventually going so far
as to order her wheeling suit. All Of the
neighbors were let into the secret by both
narties and they waited in patient expect
ancv for the time when, to one another. they
should display their proficiency on the wheel
That time has not yet arrived, but when 1t
does there will be circus on wheels on the
1D,l