The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-08-08
BY THE BICYCLE.
A Revolutions IN Business. wroarat
by the Wheel

osrtain Iinss Of Trade Are Expsrieneana
Sefaoas Beekset Through the
Growing Popularity Of
wheeling.
The present generation /, witnessing
. quiet social revolution which, like all
such revolutions, is affecting many in.
terests in an unexpected manner. By
putting mankind and womanklid on
wheels and converting the labor Of To-
comotion into enjoyment, the bicycle
has materially altered the habits. occu.
pations, diversions and business rela-
tions of millions Of people. That It
Is benefiting the race seems to be BE-
yond question. According to an emf
nent physician: Thousands upon thou.
sands OF men and women who, till with
In few years, never got any outdoor
exercise at all, are now devoting half
their time to healthy recreation, are
Strengthening and developing their
bodies. and are not only reaping benefit
themselves, but are preparing the way
for future generations which will be
born of healthy parents. We are no
longer to be the victims of dyspepsia
and rheumatism, but will correct in
discretions Of diet and exposure by
timely spins. Our limbs, NO longer
exiguous or preternnturally fat, are to
be padded with firm. well-tempered
muscle. and the quichened circulation
of the blood, induced by daily exercise,
will show itself in improved complex
ions and better spirits. Formerly it re-
quired an iron will to sustain the city
man or woman in taking the exercise
required to keep all the functions of
the body in healthy play. Even we'll
man could hardly make up his mind to
come daily to the scratch with his
dumb-bells or walk the prescribed mum.
her of miles: it was disugreeable, and
the more the exercise was needed the
less was one disposed to take it. With
the bicycle the case Is wholly different.
The rider enjoys his ride and is every
day eager to renew it. He Is happier in
mind while astride his swift steed. His
heart expands, and social life is widened
by the sense of comradeship that is de-
VeIOPeQ among WAeetmen.
There are, however, draw backs which
are felt in various lines Of business.
The disposition of every ybody to save up
money to buy wheels is responAible for
decreasing sales in many quarters.
The bicycle manufacturers arc coming
money, but others are pinched. The
confectioner complains that the young
man no longer brings his best girl to
treat her to ice cream. and soda water,
but both are cconom;zing. His candy
and chewing gum ore "a drug" Even
after each has purchased a wheel their
former visits are few and far between,
as they spend their leisure careering
throughout the park. Jewellers find
that parents give their children wheels
instead of watches, rings, bracelets.
etc. Smokers cannot smoke we'll while
riding. and this hits the tobacconist.
The consumption of cigars has de-
creased by GOO 900 year. Similar
~ the saloonkeeper suffers from the
fact that the cyclist needs a clear head.
1t WA but q few days ago that hus'
band. charged by his wife with being
drunk and violent, esta blished his in
nocence to the satisfaction of the court
by proving merely that at the time of
the alleged drunkenness he had just
returned from long ride. The hours
formerly wasted in hanging around
barrooms and billiard "parlors" are
now better spent in u "sweater." The
theaters complain that they are ruined
by diminished attendance, the last sea-
son being the poorest for years. The
cause is the bike. for what with saw
ing money to buy and riding it when
bought, young people have no time or
inclination for sedentary amusement%.
So prevalent has the habit Of riding on
Sunday become in Chicago that the
aters which formerly made money on
that day have had to close. The
churches, unfortunately, suffer to like
extent.
The tailors and hatters allege that
so many yourg men nowadays spend
half their time in cheap bike suits and
caps that their other outfits last them
twice as long. The cheap bicycle shoe
also tells against the better grades OF
footwear. 1t u the shOemaker's com.
plant, in fact, that fewer shoes are
worn out now than formerly, because
the bicyclist never goes afoot when
he can ride. The livery stables and
horse dealers tell much the same story.
Their wares are in diminished demand.
The bookseller says that people who
ride don't read, a. formerly, to kill time.
The drug stores suffer equally, because
riders are seldom sick and physicians
are out Of luck. There are gamers, but
they have little to say. Besides the
bicycle manufacturer, the butchers
md market men are making more
and the old-fashioned waystdc
lnns obtain increased custom. I'm
proved digestion causes a livelier de-
nand for all formers and middlemen.
Since the bicycle craze has become
general many new factories have bcen |
Vast fortunes have been
amaased by selling first at $3.50. and
more recently at $1C0. wheels which
cost but $50 to make. The competition
10 already telling upon the price. and
for many makes "inSide figures" are
lower than the published ones. Lower
prices are accordingly to be expected
IN the near future, and . good wheel for
$50 il not improbable. When 1t II