The evening times., 1896-06-29
LADY TEACHERS THE FAD
Female Cyclists Taught by
Their Own Sex.
PREFER THEM TO MEN
GIrlBeginnersDoN On OF Like ethesterner
Sex-Teaclers In This City Have
All They Can Do-Hardest Thing
for Young Ladies' to Learn Is to
Mount the Silent Steed.

The advent Of lady bicycle teachers not
only proves that the field OF woman's
labor is broadening with every new fad
and fancy, but also adds another interest
ing feature to the popular craze OF wheel
ing.
Tie female Instructor is a novelty In
Washington, she having but recently made
lier appearance. The success. however,
which the several ladies now at the capi-
tai have met insurcs them as Il permanent
fixture. At present their fame Is little
known outside OF tile pupils who have re-
ceived instruction, but these have by no
means been few.
The first lady, it is said who ever made
profession of teaching her sex the art
Of cycling was a Frcnchwoman in Paris.
Her business at once grew To such propor-
tions and SO popular did her riding school
become that in u short time she was com
PEELED to hire several assistants. This
was one or two seasons ago. There are
at least three women in this city who de-
rive a large portion OF their income by
training tile more timid and bashful young
ladies To ride the bike.
TAUGHT BY COLOKED WOMAN.
Perhaps the best-known teacher OF this
new brand OF a popular young lady's edu
cation is Il buxoni young cofored woman,
aobut twenty-four years OF age, who num-
bers among her patrons many oftbe leaders
of Washington so2iety. Almost any pleas
ant evening she may be seen with her class
on the smooth and level pavement just
above Dupont Circle.
The favorite spot for her unique riding
school is generally on New Hampshire ave
nue., between Q and R streets. She is a
woman of not more than ordinary strength,
though somewhat OF an athlete. and what
might be called an expert on wheels.
Dressed in q uobby suit of gray material,
with short skirt, and leSgings, she and
her school have often attracted the atten-
tion OF passersby.
Sometimes n haif-dozen or more begin
ners, of all ages, ranging from girls ten
years old to matrred maidens, or married
ladies with grown daughters, are TO be
seen at practice. Now aud then novice
tumbles off and rolls over several times In
the street The ninIbie little teacher comes
to the rescue, tells her pupil bow grace
fully it was done; that she, fell by all the
rules OF Delsarte, which seems TO act as a
healing balm for all bruises and sprains.
In aLother Sc, ton Of the city white
woman may be seen giving Instructions TO
an eager pupil, along The supoth and shady
portions of Maryland avenue northeast.
FROM MUSIC To BICYCLES.
young lady, who is making a lucrati-e
women. She is an exceedingly bright and
highly cultured Young wonaD.g Her parents
| were 'well-tosio, and educated their daugh-
| ter to become a music'tca cher. She is sa id
TO have spent several tcrr4s at the. Best on
| Conservatory OF Music. For number of
winters she has had large classes, hut the
bicycle craze is no 'respcc,er.of persons.
| and Of late children whose fingers have
been wont 10 press the keys of the piano
have now found greater pleasure in plac-
ing theirfeet on the pedals.
The young lady was not long in dis
covering that bicycling was making large
| inroads into her former music classes. She
| is an expert rider and being quick to )b-
serve the emergency, resolved that If she
could not find music pupils there would lie
1 no difficulty in securing bicycle pupils.
| The result was entirely satisfactory. Dur
| ing the day she teaches music and at night
| givesinstruction on the wheel. Hcrspccialty
| is small children. In the majority OF cases
they learn more rapidly than older people
These lady teachers generally lease see
ond- hand wheels for their pupils topractice
| upon and in many instances receive n
| liberal commission from dealers for recon-.
| mendhg and selling certain make OF
| wheel. The rates charged are usually fol
| ten lessons. but the average beginner is
| able to make u success after five lessons.
"Ycs, have all the young ladies / car
well manage" said one of these teachers
to a Times reporter. You see, the idea is
a new one, and it seems to have filled o
loDg-felt want. There are so many really
timd and bashful young ladies, SO afrait
of a man, you know. They feel much bettcl
with lady.
| Another thing, you take a eiddy young
| girl and let a young fellow attempt to teach
her, and she becomes SO full of laughter she
doesn't know what to do, and the result il
she can't manage the wheel and doesn'
learn to ride. Others don'tlike TO he laughed
ataDd feel lmuch easier with female tea chers
i have taught a number of men, but, o
| course, the most of my pupils are young
ladies'. Ny customers, Us rule. are wealthy
people. and don't mind the expense of /;
private tutor"
TEACHING THEM TO MOUNT.
'The greatest difficulty 1 experience
continued the lady, lis in teaching the girls
to mount after they are able to ride alone
Their clothing not being constructed u
conveniently as mans apparel, they arc
not able 10 exercise the same agility in
throwing a limb over the wheel in artine
off with shove. They have TO get CON-
fortably seated and then adjust their
dresses and tip their hat on tne side be
fore they are able to go.
Zone point which make, and which is
generally more or less disregarded by
male instructors, is grace, ease and he
coming position on wheel. A lady MAY
make fine appearance or she may look de
cidediy awkward and clumsy. 1t is the
same as in daDcing, horseback riding, o.
even in the parlOr. becoming position
and ease in movement are everything on
wheel, especially to lady. l don't rec
ommend boomers, that is, without skirt
l rather discourage them. A short skirt
even to the knees, is more appropriate, ant
answers the purpose fully as we'll"
DETERMINED TO p1E.