The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-14
ALL BLAMED ON THE BICYCLE.
Depression in Various Trades Due &C.
the Sport-FrOm Champagne a.
ButtermiIk.

From the New York Tribune.
a good many people DO nor realize the
firm hold that the bicycle has taken ou
The public. Neither do they know The far
reaching effect of cycling upon tL- dilfer-
enI trades throughout the country sew
eral men were seated recently al a table
81 the cafe Of the Waldorf hotel discuss
ing the business outlook iu tle different
parts Of The country which they repre-
seuteG The first man 10 ,eu his tale OF
woe ald depression was well known
representative of 8 western dry goods
house He said. 'IraIe has gone all 90
pieces this year in 10y line There is no
business 20 speak Of. aud &c + all ON ac-
count of the bicycle. N N.Y. 4 Wrl- Meet
body ever saw. built my hopes * creme
ly high and firmly believed mat al me emo
of my spring tour among the meIchdli--
OF the west my commissions Woull ne 50
I'll September in Europe. Vow ] dld nos
sell - per cent. OF what j expected. ~
every place the merchants tuld me,
'PshaW. there Is no use TOT your uItss
goods. everybody rides bicycles snlrl
waists are what we want. Now IL you
have a good line OF shirt waists, we may
do business. %
Al this juncure The representative Of a
leading house in mems clothing ana lar-
uishing goods remarked: wv ny. you are
not in DO. You should have reserved your
hard-luck story until the last nav
travelled several thousand miles IN lne
last three weeks ana come nome without
a single order. All that IS required now IS
bicycling suits and boomers. ] expect
TO secure employment as an agent OF
bicycle company tomorrow.
A well-known hotel keeper ch-med in
with: you commercial travellers Away
monopolze the best Of anything that Is
going around but you don't inquire IN
the bicycle business, for j am the most
unfortunate victim OF the Fever. / Ike
10 ride a bicycle myself, ana tnlnk lt
.sf.r aFa-a nssn
at me a minute. ] have never been &C
cused of being what is commonly called
a Chump,' but If any man desired 10
call me one / should not object why, 1
was fool enough to lease a summer no.
tel in a locality where there Is not one
hundred yards of smooth level road Win
in five miles. ] am trying 70 get IL on
my hands, for / tell You the men VINO
have summer hotels i'm places where there
are good roads VIII reap a harvest inns
year. Richfeld Springs, Long Branch,
SARATOGA and Newport have much the
best OF the places where IL Is up anu
down hill. Now, If anybody wants 10
obtain the lease Of what is known a.
popular summer hotel, L VIII give iIeIh
one at 40 per cent. discount, because 90
not care to run it at loss, but / know
] shall make money al hotel that ! nave
secured where there are more good ROADS
than in any other locality ] know or
Now, you have all finished your sto-
res about the bicycles inroad upon your
business, but If you want 20 see Ieai
victim of the bicycle / am the man, ana
/ will bet any number of bottles Of wine
that YOU will all say so when you hear
my end of it," was the remark made by
a demure little man who was quietly sit
ting at the end of the table.
well. We are not betting, somebody
remarked, ''but If your story is the best
we will permit you to buy us bottle OF
two"
well. I'll stop you with my nrst SEN
tence. ] have been the agent for favorlte
brand of champagne for several years. MY
business has been principally with the
roadhOuses and country hotels. ! nave got
10 retire. Who ever heard OF anybody
going out to have good time and 10 paint
things red on a bicycle2 No bicycle rider
cares about putting his share Of ten or
twelve bottles of champagne under his 1er-
sey and attempting to ride home with 10
on a wheel Now, the champagne business
is a dead issue, so far as the roadhouses
are concerned, but / think l can make a
fortune In contracting with some OF the
dairies up the state for unlimited Quanu-
ties of buttermilk and establishing places
along the roads frequented by cyclists for
its sale at three cents glass. There would
be far more money in 1t than trying to sell
champagne in these bicycle times at $3.50
a bottle
The wine agent was permitted to buy a
bottle, although he requested everybody
present not to say anything about his
scheme for furnishing buttermilk to cy-
clists