The record-union., 1896-08-23

An astonishing physiological phenom-
enon is just announced. 1t is that the
size of the waists of all women of fash
ion has suddenly increased three or four
inches. The fashionmakers, it is de-
clared, have declared that the generous
Grecian waist is to be the standard.
A search for an explanation of this
sudden decree brings an interesting
statement from q high authority He
says: 'The warnings by medical men
against excessive tight lacing are at
last being needed; but, in reality, the
bicycle is responsible for the movement.
You can have no idea Of the large pro-
portion of our customers who have
taken to the wheel. 1t is decidedly the
great majority. Naturally the exercise
has demanded more freedom or respira-
ton and movement and an increase in
the dimensions of he corset.
Little by little ladies are coming to
the conclusion that a trifle more liberty
in this respect makes a great difference
in their comfort without in any way
detracting from their appearance, so
the present movement is decidedly in
favor of more latitude, though only
within reasonable proportions. An
inch and a half to a couple of inches,
as rule, meet all requirements. With
the present fashion of loose blouses, in
stead of tightly fitting bodices, the diff
ference is scarcely perceptible."
If Master Fenner Hodgins continues
as he has begun, he is going to be the
star trick rider of the world. He is
only years old and is an expert rider,
but that is not what is so remarkable
about him.
He doesn't take the trouble to wait
until he gets his wheel out on the street
before he mounts it. His father, says
the American Wheelman," lives on st.
Charles avenue, New Orleans. The boy
mounts his wheel inside the house and
rides down a half-dozen steps to the
sidewalk. and then jumps from the curb
! into the street, a distance of about a
foot. And the charm about it is that
he does it all with the abandon Of an old
trick rider.
He does other astonishing things also.
! He can ride on one pedal, out of the
saddle, and coasts while knee1ing on
the saddle, with arms folded in front
| of him. His little sister, years old,
can steer a wheel as. we'll as anyone.
He puts her up in front of him on his
| bicycle and dismounts and lifts her off
without help.
The latest bicycle saddle on the mar
ket is composed of two individual parts,
/ so pivoted as to move freely and auto
matically in response to every move
ment of the rider. A strong spiral
| spring, secured to the rear underside of
| the saddle, is the main feature Of the
construction.
The two parts of the saddle are piv-
oted together at their front ends, and
adapted to open out at their rear ends.
4 latch is provided for holding the two
parts of the saddle together when
| closed. When the rider mounts the
wheel the saddle sinks under his weight,
whereby the latch is operated, and the
| two rear ends open out. When so open,
the longitudinal spring yields to every
movement of the, rider and the wheel
| opens and closes out automatically
and thereby makes a very comfortable
and yielding seat.
This is the first year that the wheel
/
| indications at present are that all the
! lost time will be made up easily. Manu-
/ facturers have felt the pulse of the
wheeling world, and wheels are now in
| the course of construction whose pur-
/ pose is to show the political affiliations
of the rider. How this will be done the
manufacturers at present refuse to say,
! but from whisperings heard here and
/ there it is pretty certain that the por-
/ traits Of Mckinley and Bryan will be
! placed somewhere on the bicycle frame
/ in a unique manner. In addition to
| this, appliances are being made for
holding torches on bicycles for use in
/ torchlight parades
! The progress of the bicycle and its
success in this its first appearance in a
f Presidential contest will be watched
with no little interest, and whichever
1 party may win, or whoever may be
| elected, it is certain that the wheel
will come in for it's share of the glory.
| Means for operating the pedals up
ward and downward, instead of circu-
! larry as now, seem to be becoming pop
ular Several firms are beginning to pro
!
/ ance of this character In this case
+ serni-circular pieces that are adapted
/ to slide in upright grooves impart mo-
/ tion to a sprocket wheel of the usual
/ pattern. Foot rests are attached tc
/ these semi-circular pieces, and by
simply pressing alternately on each foot
rest the wheel is propelled. The advan-
/ tage of this device is said to be in the
amount of energy it saves for the rider
/ The same speed is obtained with less ex-
ertion, and the feet are not obliged tC
travel in circle, but simply up anc
down, and that barely more than three
I inches.
a short time ago an Eastern factory
turned out a septuplet, a machine built
for extreme speed, and the only seven
seated bicycle ever evolved. 1t is no
for exhibition purposes. but is a practi
cal pacemaker, and has established &
| reputation so soon for rigidity and
speed. Seven Syracuse riders took {
turn over the country roads on the mon
| ster, and We're convinced that it would
| stand any rough usage. On the tracl
a LAO gait was easily attained.
Talk about female bicycle races is no
| heard with the frequency that charac.
terized the introduction of these events
Since Chairman George ID. Gideon de.
| clared that race meet promoters shall
have nothing whatever to do with suci
tournaments. and that he would black
list all tracks on which such races ar,
run, there have been few such perform
ances. Naturally this had a discourag
ing effect on the events, and that is why
they are strictly :passe.