St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-07
FULLY $4,000 PEOPLE GATHERED
THERE REMIND ONE OF THE
OLDEN TIMES.
BIG CYCLE SHOW OPENED,
DISPLAYS BEING EVEN MORE sue
CESSFUL THAN THE MOST SAN
GUINE HOPED.
BALDWIN LEADS THE RACERS
Female BicycIists Attract Large
Crowds to the Bowl-Shaped
Track.

The great cycle show at the exposition
building was formally opened yesterday
afternoon. The weather was well nigh per-
feet and there was nothing to complain of on
that score. The crowds began to arrive
early, and at 2 o'clock the building was COM
fortably filled all the afternoon but the even
ing was when the crush really began, it be-
ing estimated that fully $1,000 people were in
attendance.
There was no set programme, a band Of
music being sufficient to point the way from
the main entrance to the second floor, where
the exhibits are displayed. The racing part
of the series of entertainment that will be
afforded patrons of the show did not inter-
fere with the wheel devotees who care moth
ing about scorchers, male or female. The
race is a separate thing, enclosed in box
on the second floor and apart from the ex-
hibits There is nothing therefore to divert
the mind from the contemplation of wheels.
This arrangement has been highly commend
ed, for there are thousands of wheels to see
and the real enthusiastic prefer to take their
time in examining them.
The first thing that strikes the visitor is
the thousands of square feet of space in
which nothing but bicycles is displayed, and
then he begins to realize what big thing the
Northwestern cycle show is, and how emu
lous is the spirit that actuates the exhibitors.
The rivalry between them has led to the
most extravagant invention, and some re-
markably handsome displays are the result.
1t could not be otherwise with representatives
of millionaire bicycle manufacturers on the
ground trying to outdo each other.
The first thought of all is that where there
are only bicycles displayed there must be a
good deal of monotony in the general appear
ance Of the great hall. Nothing could be far
ther from the facts. The booths and spaces
reserved by the different firms are models of
decorative art, and are unlike as such
things can be. The tasteful manner in which
the wheels are disposed all around the great
floor is sufficient to excite admiration. There
are wheels of every possible description and
color all shown to the best possible advantage
in good light and under the most favorable
conditions. The
LIST OF EXHIBITORS
is an important one, and includes all of the
bicycle firms in the city, besides great many
representatives of wheels that are considered
the thing in the East, but which have not got
a foothold as yet in the West.
The display oil the New England Furniture
and Carpet company is one of the most impos-
ing on the floor, and is located just to the
left Of the main stairway. Immense mirrors,
sulmounted by one of the costliest glass signs
ever built in the Northwest, indicates the
abiding place of the Victor and the 'Vic-
toria."
Other displays and signs which attracted
great attention were those of the "Fowler, -
Kennedy Bros "Columbia," Fair Falcon, :"
the Gear" and Czarina,' the Thistle" ;"
"Ariel,' Liberty palace Wheels" "Har-
dy,' 'I1Igin King" Napoleon" ECLIPSE :"
Orient" ''Adlake," ''waverly," etc.
A delightful feature of the show is the i'm
mense poster exhibit in the old "art gallery
of the building. The display is most unique
and exhaustive, and one of the most preten-
tious ever undertaken in this country. Many
of the superb collections Of famous artists in
this line have been secured for this ex-
hibit. Every one with an eye for the beau
tiful should pay visit to the poster gallery
Among the exhibits on the main floor it
must not be supposed that the fully equipped
wheel stands alone. There are all sorts of
booths dedicated to the bicyclists wants, and
in the field where inventive genius has run
riot the exhibitors have planted their stand
ards. Bicycle clothing, for both ladies and
gentlemen, showing all of the latest designs
and wrinkles is shown by "The Plymouth
and other firms, while bicycle shoes, garters.
stockings, caps, and the thousand and one
things which wheelmen have use for, are dis
played in lavish profusion.
THE BICYCLE RACE
between noted female bicyclists was the great
feature of the evening and was witnessed
by about 5000 people. Farnsworth and Bald
win took the lead and finished even, making
thirty nine miles in the two hours riding.
The bowl track, built by H. o. Messier the
official scorer, proved highly satisfactory The
score at the finish was as follows: