The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-02
HOW QUAKERS WHEEL.
THE DIVIDED sKIRT ~ THE THING
ron GIRLS.
OF Course There Are skirts and skirts,
Howeyer-Itidiur in tho Parks.
The Free-,ilyer Danger

PHILADELPHIA. July A.-spcciai-
When left Richmond. three or four years
ago. there were not a dozen ladies' b.cy-
clos i'm town. Then the few courageous
ones embraced Do Alex. Schapp's clientele
rode together at night along Grace street
and under the trees by the Governor
Mansion. but none of them dared sho"
their wheeling procliWties in the garlsh
light OF day Then it was considereu
highly improper by most KchmondeF'
for ladies' 70 ride bicycles.
A few days ago I heard that cycling
had become quite popular with tIcnlHo"u
eirls now. 1 don't know how far tne cy-
clomana has penetrated lhe FEMININE
rank and file. bat ( thought 1t might be
a biz interesting for you girls to know how
ours ride aud draw their own compail-
sons.
Here I'm the Quaker city, all classes ride
who can afford to buy. borrow or hire
a wheel. Many of our gentle riders have
already passed the half century post IN
age The other day 1 saw a woman rid
ing down Chestnut strcct-and during the
day this is a feat. the thoroughiare IS so
crOwded-and she couldn't have been
younger than hlty-lve. She was wrinkicd
and gray, but she was "OH deck with both
feet on the other hand. in the big hicy-
Gle parade two weeks agQ. some few Of the
riders were not moro than four or i've
years old.
THE DIVIDED SKIRT
Spring was still with us when the gene
raj style Of wheeling dress had become
distinctiyoly familiar. Ii consisted OF
Sailor or Tam OShanter hat, shirt waist
ana jacket. divided skirt and leggins.
When warm weather came. the jacket dis
appeared. aud since the weather has be-
come positively hot. the leggins have also
taken flight. \ woman with lcggins on
now looks like a man in - olercoat.
Now, as 20 the divided skirt there IS
an undivided opinion here that IT is the
only thing u girl should wear TO look de-
Gently and appropriately dressed, and that
II is the only skirt in which she can work
her pedals TO advantage. or course there
are skirts and skirts: some are street
dress length. some are short very short.
From some you see a little foot only peep
out as the wheels 90 'rUund: others show
you a trim-fitting boot. with two or three
inches OF golf or black stockings others
display oxford ties with generous
stretch Of black or tan hosiery 70 the skirt
line.
All wheel women do not ride divided
skirts. nor do all wheelmen ride knee
breeches. but the women who don't are
regarded as quite as extreme I'm their
views as the man who wrote "The Woman
Who Did" or as their sisters, who wear
boomers. And II they will do II once they
viii be like the man who tries knicker-
booklets and low shoes. they will see such
an advantage and such an increase OF
pleasure that they will stick TO the new
garment.
A WHEEL N THE PARK.
Whatever part Of the town you 20 into.
you see the Quaker-city maiden awheel-
sometimes alone: sometimes. in the even
ing, in clubs OF twenty-five or more. for
the girls have distinct ORGANIZATIONS OF
their own. but most often you find her
with a masculine friend-her STEADY COM
pany," as some Of them call him. We
have miles and miles OF asphalt. over
which thousands OF our cyclers ride with
evident pleasure. hut the trucst and FUN
est enjoyment is obtained in the parks
and roads around town.
The roads and paTk-drives are stone
and you can 20 for fifty miles on the
macadam without turning back. OF course.
after dark, no rider is allowed TO ride
without "A light--lamp or lantern-and
sometimes where the heavy foliage shuts
out the electric light and makes piece
OF road I'm the park pretty dark, II is
even then "A bit dangerous As far as you
can see. there Is not z coming towards
YOU but hundreds vi moving lights. You
can't see the riderA and IL Is only by good
riding the usa OF bells. and a strict OBJ