St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-03-10
THE ERUPTION OF WHEELS.

With the coming crossing of the line
by old Sol, and the budding of the
more venturesome trees, the twitter Of
the bluebirds and the cleaning from
the streets of the winters accumula-
ton of filth unspeakable, the eruption
OF the wheelmen will begin. All win
ter long there have been a few of the
sturdier riders who braved the cold
and ice and snow, and, in the
warmer days, dared the slippery
mud; but for the most part the riders
have walked while their flyers rested
at home. But impatient eyes have
watched the weather, and scanned the
representations, and studied the
weather signals, and kept TAB on the
ascending sun, and longed for spring
and clean pavements to resume their
1nvigorating rides.
Numerous as were the wheelmen last
year, they were but the venturesome
bluebirds that harbinger the multitude
to come. Store windows are garnished
with wheels; special stores for their
sale open daily; the advertising COL
umns Of the papers TEEN With the
claims Of rival makers; word comes
over million wheels is to descend
on the markets. In the city one hears
tell of clubs of hundreds formed to buy
wheels at jobbers' rates, lodging the
longer suffices for the family. Pater
familias may keep his old wheel but
the boys must have ninety-sixer not
one for all of them, but one for each
OF them. Mater familias begins to think
that she, too, would like to ride, and.
as for the girls, the lot of the father
is not happy one who does not prom
Use them one 'all for their own Selves"
And so the people who yet walk may
prepare to keep extra watch and guard
for the flying wheels this summer, for
there will be a dozen this year where
there was one last.
There are indications that the
'scorcher" will not be as much in evil
dence this year as last. Here and there
is some callow youth, intoxicated with
the rapidity of his flight, who will still
bump his nose on the handle bars and
meet a deserved fate in 4 collision
sooner or later, that will bring him
to grief and his senses. 1t was inevi-
table that mere speed of movement
should absorb the first experiences of
the slow, plodding feet suddenly en-
dowed with pedallic wings. but expe-
rience soon tells that what is gained
In speed is lost in pleasure and in
health, and the true wheelman comes to
feel that his position on his wheel must
harmonic with the grace and syrnmet-
ny OF its construction. He realizes the
greater pleasure of the erect posture,
with it's command of vision, its exemp-
ton from accident and It's decrease of
fatigue. not to mention its hygienlc
benefits.
But there are some things all wheel
men should be taught if their own
common sense is lacking. If they
have their rights on the road. they
have their duties as well. The vast
majority OF people still walk. and the
law accordN to them the right of way.
The wheelman is not exempt from the
law that governs the carriage and
obliges it to beware that it does not
injure the passer-by on foot He who
uses an instrument, be it vehicle or
what not. that, in it's use, may endan-
ger the safety Of others, IS bound to
use extra vigilance that, in using it.
he Injuries no one. The wheelman
has no right to dash along regardless
of others, but must beware that he
ride so as to give them their right Of
way. An observance of this law will
lessen speed somewhat, but it will en-
hance the pleasure Of the ride, and,
what is well to think of, remove causes
that may end in restrictive legislation.
The clubs should make violation Of the
law cause for expulsion.