The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-12
PUBLIC MEN ON BIKES.
Speaker Thomas B. Reed as a
Heavy Weight Champion.
rEPEw A WHEEL ENTHUSIAST.
Cornelfus Vanderbilt Has Wheels fer
His Guests, and Only Grooms
Use Horses.


classes and conditions. There Is q much
quoted saying this; Death loves a sainsng
mark" ard II is equally true thar ''the
wheel loves = shining mark" From the
boy who works during vacation TO esrn
money to buy a wheel 10 the millionaire
who rides for health and recreation there
r. no intermediate class that IS proof
against the seduction OF the bicycle. Moth
.1g attests its popularity more than the
fact that men OF affairs. statesmen. fir,an-
ciers. merchants and others whose every
moment OF time Is in demand have taken
to the exercise and allow important bust
mass TO wait while they Chamber aboard q
"siient stes6" and go pedaisrg away. Age.
looks. weight and influences mean nothing
20 the bicycle. All are equal when astriis
wheel. and a more democratic lot than
bscyciists IL would be hard 20 dad.
One OF the most important subjects In
connection with cycling last winter was q
Bill at Albany known as the Armstrong
bill This provided that bicycle should
Do carried IN the state by ell railroads
running through II free OF charge Every
vhselnan knows how bitterly the bin was
opposea az Albany by Chaunccy NJ. De-
Pew and other officials or the New York
Central road. Mr.. Depews antsgonisnl
or The measure led many cyclists 10 believe
that be was not az all IN sympathy with
the sport Perhaps some surprise viii be
manifested when IL Is said that AIR Depew
In an enthusiast so far as the sport goes,
and Is a member Of the Michaax Club. Mr..
Depew's a1tipathy 10 the Armstrong bill
was based upon the ground that II would
make more work without adequate return
for his railroad. Ha did not oppose the
Oil through any enmity for the sport.
When the bill was finally passed he leaned
back In his chair in the Grand Central sta
ton and said in voice that was far from
bitter:
well. we railroad men have been
beaten. but we cyclists are on top. was
bound TO be disappointed or glad either
way, and so am happy"
Mr. Depew lives In West F1fty-fourth
street. At the Fifth avenue corner. near
his home. Is the large lot made vacant By
the removal OF the ST. Luke's hospital.
When the shades OF night have fallen. and
the crowds have thinnei out. a little CO..
terie of wheelsrs may be seen circiing
around this corner. and II you watch close
~ you may recognize Mr.. Depew astride a
wheel. accompanied by several members
OF his household. He says that he hasn't
become proficient enough yet to risk 1t IN
the broad glare OF day where the public
can see him.
His Horses Neglected.
At the magnificent Neweort resssence
OF Cornelius Vanderbilt. The Breakers.
In the country is maintained. While there
are enough horses in the stable TO supply
cavalry company, yet the horses are
so seldom used that the men In charge
have 10 take them out daily attached 70
light wagons 10 give them the proper
amount OF exercise. II a reason for this
neglect were TO be asked, perhaps light,
airy room in the stable would explain It.
In this room n pumher OF bicycles OF
ma ka ara AZ ar,-9
Is no member of Mr. yanderbilt's family
that Is not more or less addicted 20 the
sport and so popular has Il become that
a number OF wheels are kept for the usa
OF guests In Just the same manner that In
other days riding horses were provided
for them
Some time ago little whiri OF ats
approval went over the country as thu
result OF an interview which was credited
to ex-presiaant Harrison. In this Inter-
view the ex-president was quoted as maxi
ing some rather acid remarks about
women riding wheels. and about bicyciists
generally. The general later disavowed
the authenticity OF the interview, and II
any proof was needed that he ola not give
II little incident that took place In
Central park not long ago would be salts
factory. Before Gen. Harrison married
Mrs. Dimmiok, and In fact before his en-
spend great deal OF his time in New
York. IL was Whispered that he was here
upon grave political business At that
time Mrs. Mckee and her son, Familiarity
known as Little Ben" and "Raby Nc
Kce," were staying a. the Netheriand
hotel. Little Ben has grown 70 be an
active youngster now. and there Ia be-
tween himself and hts grandfather the
most cordial friendship. They are more
he sfe y~3..
ex-pres'dent used 70 come into the Fifth
Avenue ho.el with little Ben" tagging
at his heels. ana they would be chatting
and laughing Ike two schoolboys.
Now nowhere IN tfi- broad land ~ the-e
a more ardent eyclist than this same "Tat-
to Ben" Early IN the morning. when
staying al the Nefherlsv,s he wossls ret
up. and. taking his wheel. start FOR a spin
through tina park. The ex-presldent fire.
auentiy used 20 leave his hotel early In
tho Gay and walk from Twenty-thirf
etreet 90 Ffsty-ninth street. ard toiu his
daughter AZ breakfast az the Netherlan6.
After breakfast he would continue his
constitutional by Joining Little Ben"
and walking beside him as the boy leisure
" wheeled through the park. II was upon
one cf these excursions that Little BEN.
suggested that his grandfather ride the
wheel. The ex-presGent wasn't enough
% an enthusiast for that but +he vou-rs-
ter persisted A. II was early morning.
and tho park tbere was practically DESERT
ed the ex-pras.fert consented. He clam
oerr1 on the wheel. and trusale6 along
under Little Ben's'' sturdy guidance ana
he made good hssaway upon his frst les
con. He reported progress when be told
his family about -. ara his son Russell
in commertinv upon the ocrsS~rerca said
that "a far rs he knew Il was N. FIRST
time In the histo % IN. country that a
who had occupied The chair OF president 81
the United States bad ridden a wheel
The ex-presi1ent laughed nesrtfiy over
the affair. but he has not yielded 70 ''IAt-
sis Beng urgent appeal that he get
wheel and come 20 ride with him.
senator Tlkin'- story.
Last summer a telegram wss printed In
an evening paper In tfss city. which do
clarns that Senator Stephen g. Eakins.
OF west Virginia while riding a wheel
siorg the mountainous rozHs near his
home n West Virginia. had faiiSn and
wa. seriously hurt zt vas further satf
ths. AF. Egkirs was coming - New York
as fast aa a special train could carry him
in search 90 medical assistance. The sarns
Ga afr Eiksns vas found IN New York
"A the best o. health. and. ignorant o. al
the details q his hzir-brradfh escape That
evening ne was seated IN the cafe 81 the
Holland house with a number OF friends.
and ne talk crzsted aro0nd 20 wheeling.
NJ. E.1sin's alleged nnishap has been pref
~ Thoroughly aired. and he bal received
a number q Inquiries concerning II. In
che party were several men who rode ths
wheel an6 they spent the evening regal
ing ths senator with stories about acct
S@rfs frat Rad happened 20 wHsesrnen. arsf
VIA. CANCERS were involved tn TIRE sport
The senator listened sttsnfivsiy. ani. as
he ilaten-3. ths s~elfng vaguely e~@pt over
ts-, rat he was sssn~ oz&6ed lie rode n