The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-05
The W2ir Of
TbeM1eel:

be W2eeI.
Learning how to ride bicycle is no easy
| task. Con ,arnIng this, the writer for
women In the Bicycling World. says:
| s.There are various ways In which n man
| may learn to ride; brt | know OF only
! one really suitable for the average girl
| and that Ia the good old-iashloncd one
| OF getting somebody TO hold her up untii
| she learns TO steer. IL Is possipie' WIZ
| the aid of a gentle hill and quiet road
| 10 learn by oneself: but the process Is
often an Injurious one both Tor mach'ne
and rider. and generally results IN mo
| barking" OF frame, wheels, elbows, anu
| knees. respectively
A person VINO cannot cycle himself ay
| act the part OF assistant on a pihch' pu'
| this is certain TO keep back the ieaf"si
| for an unnecessarily long time. practical
| cyclist being much better. Many cycie
stores will send a man to teach any o'
their own customers. and many ian,eS
have learned I'm this fashion. Personally,
however. it seems TO me that II one must
! clutch at any person of the opposite SEX
wildly by the neck. and fan into his arms
ten or twenty times IN the course OF an
afternoon, relative or intimate friend
| is better than an unknown tutor; ana
should therefore counsel any girl VINO
ccntemplates learning the art Of cycular
! locomotiOn 20 select her teacner with
these unavoidable contingencies In iuii
view.
A FRIEND IN NEED.
If n feminine cycling friend volunteers
to do the necessary supporting, the learn
er ought not TO forget, In the araor OF
her first attempts, that the post OF teach
err is a most exhausting one. and should
occasionally call halt. even II she does
not need It herself in order to allow her
painting crimson-faced. exhausted. per-
spring instructress to recover her breath.
/ or the teacher be a man, he may even be
allowed TO get his wind again.)
THE CYCLE SHOWS
The great bicycle shows are things OF
the past, but will live I'm the memory
of those who saw them for a long time
The average cycler has not the slight
est comprehension what the cost OF a
cycle show is.
The New York and Chicago cycle shows
alone, cost one manufacture about Sl0,o0o
space alone cost $3.50
Whether It pays or not" says a manu-
facturer IL very hard TO say. But. you
see, we must be right IN IT,"
C. +. STOKES TALKS.
c. +. Stokes, one OF the pioneers OF
the bicycle business. says:
According TO my belief. this viii an
have to come to an end" said Mr.
Stokes as he glanced at $4,000 worth OF
display within dozen yards OF him.
This cycle show business will not last
always. because the cycle trade will not
need Il always. You can't show me any
line of manufacture that Is well estab-
! lished giving its time and money To dis
| plays Of this nature. It's all question Of
growth and the bicycle business Is yet
i'm its swaddling clothes. There's scarce
~ limit TO tho business. and I'm that
connection let me say that. while that
assertion I think to be absolute true.
am sure there win come an over produc-
ton and a consequent wedding out OF the
frailest concerns. A crisis is sure to come
sooner or later / had the misfortune TO
be In the business too early, strange as
that may sound. / found myself caught
between the edges OF an upheaval In the
! trade when everything Topped all at once
from solid or cushion tires TO pneuma-
tics. But / have the greatest confidence
I'm the business Il is destined to become
as stable and as important as any line
of industry"
ELLIOT on MUD
Elliot. chief consul Of the l.. A. W. at
Chicago, blooms forth in this style:
Mud,
Murky. mucky mud,
1t Is halt and hobble to every hOof,
and a worry and weight 10 every wheel.
The clammy clutch Of its multitudlnous
finger clings to every foot and felly.
1t is a monster born Of clouds and dark
ness. The devilhsh Of the path and the
highway.
The sunshine IS its enemy. before whom
1t creeps into it's hidden caves.
Mud is the monster mother Of earth's
Shiny things.
It IS the antithesls Of flight It IS n drag
placed on the feet Of the world.
1t is the sloth seeking TO make n slug
gard Of every moving thing
Its purpose is to daub and delay, dis
tress and destroy
IL is the ugly handicap OF time and a
blasting blight TO progress.
Its presence means isolation and ignor-
ance superstition and squalor
II is the smoky glass enshrouding the
light Of liberty and motion.
1t Is the underbrush I'm the path OF pro-
gress; an impossible lock IN the current
Of commerce.
perennial tax-monger.
Its joy IS to bother and bosmlrch, TO
balk and 10 battle.
IL represents grief and gloom ANA
throws its shadow over gayety and glad
ness.
IL was not made for man.
Better n roaring lion in tho street than
a highway filled with mud.
Danish 1t for ever and a day.
SPARKS
Every paper In the country will be
obliged 10 have wheel department next
season If they wish TO be I'm line
The bicycle has hit the horse n blow
between the eyes AZ Mankato. Mimi Tho
street railway company OF that city has
resolved TO suspend the running OF its
horse cars, after having been in operation
eight years
When rides are taken in the chill sprine
weather, the rider should be clad I'm
warm clothing with woollen next the
skin. 10 IS much easier to catch" cold
than 10 get rid Of the trouble when n IL
once caught Many ladies' ride with a
cape around their shoulders. They would
nnd II much more comfortable ana pleas
ant 10 put on thicker Undertaking and
not be bothered with the cape
Samples Of folding bicycles are being
tested by the Russian and Prusslan army
authorities. and IL is reported thar h
they prove satisfactory that the latter
country VIII order several thousands OF
them. A WHEEL t,r
To Ask for Connective Designs