The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-07-16
THE BICYCLE REVOLUTION.
Some of the Changes the Wheel Is Bring
ing About.

quiet social revolution which, like ali
such revolutions, is affecting many in
terests in an unexpected manner. BY
putting mankind and womankind on
wheels and converting the labor of To-
comotion into enjoyment, the bicycle
has materially altered the habits, occu-
pations, diversions and business rela-
tons of millions of people. That it
is benetiting the race seems to be be-
yond question. According to an emil
nent physician: thousands upon thou
sands of men and women who, till with
in few years, never got any outdoor
exercise at all, are now devoting half
their time to healthy recreation, are
strengthening and developing their
bodies. and are not only reaping benefit
themselves, but are preparing the way
for future generations which will be
born of healthy parents. We are no
longer to be the victims of dyspepsia
and rheumatism, but will correct in
discretions of diet and exposure by
timely spins. Our limbs, no longer
eXiguouS or preternaturallv fat. a~2 to
be padded with firm, well-tempered
muscle, and the quickened circulation
of the blood, induced by daily exercise,
will show itself in improved complex
ions and better spirits. Formerly it re-
quired an iron will to sustain the city
man or woman in taking the exercise
required to keep all the functions OF
the body in healthy play. Even well
man could hardly make up his mind to
| come daily to the scratch with his
dumb-bells or walk the prescribed num-
Der of miles; it was disagreeable, and
| the more the exercise was needed the
less was one disposed to take it. With
the bicycle the case is wholly different.
The rider enjoys his ride and is every
day eager to renew it. He is happier III
mind while astride his swift steed. His
heart expands, and social life is widened
by the sense of comradeship that is de-
veloped among wheelmen."
There are, however. draw backs which
are felt in various lines of business.
| The disposition of everybody to save tp
money to buy wheels is responsible FER
decreasing sales in many quarters.
The bicycle manufacturers are coming
money, but others are pinched. The
confectioner complains that the young
man no longer brings his best girl to
treat her to ice cream: and soda water,
| but both are economizing. His candy
and chewing gum are "a drug" Even
after each has purchased wheel their
former visits are few ard far between,
as they spend their leisure careering
| throughout the park. Jewellers find
| that parents give their children wheels
instead of watches, rings, bracelets,
etc. Smokers cannot smoke well while
riding. and this hits the tobacconist
| The consumption of cigars has de-
creased by 600,000,000 year. Similar
| ly the saloonkeeper suffers from the
| fact that the cyclist needs a clear head.
| K was but few days ago that a hus-
| band, charged by his wife with being
| drunk and violent. established his in
nocence- TO the satisfaction Of the 1h court
i by proving merely that at the time of
the alleged drunkenness he had Just
returned from a long ride. The hours
| formerly wasted in hanging around
| barrooms and billiard "parlors" are
now better spent in sweater" The
theaters complain that they are ruined
| by diminished attendance, the last sea-
son being the poorest for years. The
cause is the bike, for what with saw
| ing money to buy and riding it when
| bought, young people have no time or
| inclination for sedentary amusementS.
| So prevalent has the habit of riding on
| Sunday become in Chicago that tho
alters which formerly made money on
that day have had to close. The
churches, unfortunately, suffer to like
extent.
The tailors and hatters allege that
so many young men nowadays spend
| half their time in cheap bike suits and
caps that their other outfits last them
twice as long. The cheap bicycle shoe
also tells against the better grades of
footwear. 1t is the shoemaker's COM
| plant. in fact, that fewer shoes are
worn out now than formerly, because
| the bicyclist never goes afoot whei!
he can ride. The livery stables and
horse dealers tell much the same story.
Their wares are in diminished demand.
The bookseller says that people who
ride don't read, as formerly, to kill time.
The drug stores suffer equally, because
riders are seldom sick and physicians
are out of luck. There are gamers, but
they have little to say. Besides the
bicycle manufacturer, the butchers
and market men are making more
money, and the old-fashioned waysidc
inns obtain increased custom. I'm
proved digestion causes a liveler de-
mand for all farmers and middlemen.
Since the bicycle craze has become
general many new factories have been
established. Vast fortunes have been
amassed by selling first at $50, and
more recently at $1C0, wheels which
cost but $50 to make. The competition
is already telling upon the price, and
for many makes inside figures" are
lower than the published ones. Lower
prices are accordingly to be expected
in the near future, and good wheel sor
| $50 is not improbable. When it is
realized the use of the Wheel already
of vast extent, will doubtless be largely
increased, but there will be chance at
| last for the balIer and the tailor and