The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-21
CABINET LADIES RIDE.
Wives of Members and Diplomats
Bicycle Enthusiasts.
Mrs. Carlisle Has Mastered the Art
Favorite Practicing Ground.

rho ladies OF thendministration are TAX
ing Up the bicycle. Mrs. Carlisle Che wilo
OF the secretary Of the treasury, has at last,
after many painful odorts, Nanquished the
stced Ct steel
Ihe fashionable rink where these ladies
have learned to ride IS ia the once beauti-
ful grounds of a stately old colonial man
sion known as the Van Ness place, now
fallen into decay, and here, whore once
were stiff flower beds and velvet lawns,
they struggled with and finally conquered
the bicycle For Mrs. Carlisle it was hard
work Her wheel seemed to play her all
manner of tricks. 1t ran away. In spite
of careful steering ii would dash into every
obstacle she especially determined TO avoid
She kept the teachers constantly on the
alert 10 keep her from bad tumblcs. Mrs
Carlisle Is very large woman who has
not pound Of super1uous flesh, and she
is strong and muscular enough TO enjoy
bicycling, but for some reason she does not
take very kindly to it, and even now, after
several months instruction and practice,
Is afraid to go any distance alone.
Tho rink is really very interesting some
of these lovely autumn afternoons. There
Is strch an astonishing mixture OF people
there. There are experts and beginners
children who. seem 90 ride ins5inctiyely
and very old gentlemen with snowy locks
and expression of great determination.
There are pretty girls, stout matrons and
foreigners from the legations. Now and
again hr Sze, Secretary of the Chinese
legation. drops in and chats with an ac-
quaintaD He wears the full oriental
costume and his long cue streams out be-
hind him, but his skirt does not seem to
interfere at all with his skill on the wheel
On tho contrary, ho Is an unquestioned ex-
pert. He Is familiar figure AL over town,
and a Gerry quaint picture he makes too.
Many of Che visitors at tho Van Ness
plaza arc skilled riders who come 10 gloat
over tho troubles of beginners, :hrough
which they themselves have passed, Some
also come fer practice Around the rink
where beginners AFRO taught track il laid
for soorchers. Among the recent rdors
here are the Misses AIendonca, the daugh-
ters of the Brazilian AiniSter, who are
pretty girls and ride we'll The Roy. Dr.
Mackay Smith, rector Of fashionable ST.
Johns church, throws aside his dignity
and mounts the wheel and Mrs. Mackay-
Smith rides also. Baron Kettler of the
Austrian legation is an expert, and so Is
Miss Mamie Letter. Miss Daisy Letter,
the youngest daughter, injured her knee
two years ago so that she has been unable
To ride the wheel. Now, however, she in
tends learning. She Will be one Of the
loveliest Of this seasons Washington debu-
tantes Senator Warren of Wyoming has
become expert enough to venture outside
of the rink NJ. Brun, the Danish min
lister Is an excellent ridor Congressman
Hardy does not got on very we'll He per-
scvorcs, though and hns as many as five
or six falls day. On every such occasion
he picks himself up, swears vigorously at
the wheel, and then mounts again.
Tom Reed Is an export and does not
often so 60 tho rink nowadays. His daugh-
ter rides wits him. The Chilean minister,
NJ. Cana, rides accompanied by his sons
and his daughter, who was the only dohu-
tante In diplomatic circles last year. Mr..
Bax lronsides secretary Of the British en-
bassy, rides well. Miss Bricc and her sis
ter, Miss Helen, the daughters OF tho rail-
way senator, both learned last year. Mrs
Stewart, wife OF the silver senator. is
learning Miss Tolmage, ,ho preachers
daughter, has just beon graduated from
the rink Mayroycni Boy drops In now
and again Minister Kprino, from Japan,
bas become an oxccllont rider. Senator
murphy Two d0ughtors rue ana So uocs
Senator Cambron's daughter.
The three Misses Pauncofotc, daughters
Of the British emhnsstdor, Sihyl, Audrey
and Lillian, all ride Miss Mary sheridan
and her brother Philip. son and daughter
Of General Sheridan. have become quite
expert General Nelson A. Niles has mas
tered tho wheei, nnde 80 have his son Sh5r-
man aud his daughter. Miss Herbert,
a q -.
also. That "bold, bud" Prince Yturbidc.
as somc one has called him, rides very we'll
Tie Misses NGrder come Ia sometimes 70