The record-union., 1896-09-06
YE BICYCLE MAMIE.

YE BICYCLE MAMIE.
'Tis bicycle manne DER hys broken
wheel
That grieveth hymself full sore,
For we joye of it's newness hys hearte
shall feel
Alas ande alacke, no more.
When ye bryte sun tippeth ye hills
withe golde
This rider upriseth gaye,
Ande with panties brief ande hearte
that is bolde
Pursueth hys jaunty waye.
He gazeth at folks in We lowly crowde
With much superior air,
He thynketh 'Ha! Hal" ande he smil-
eth aloude
AS he masheth We mayden fair.
Oh, he masheth her much in hys nice
new clothes,
Nor seeth We cussed pup,
Tile he roots up We roade wyth hys
proude nose,
Whyle ye wheel wyth glee tilteth up.
That bicycle manne on hys knees, yet
he doth not pray,
Is pitiful sighte to see,
For hys pants in their interest parte
give way
Whyle merrily laugheth she.
Ande that bicycle manne in hys hearte
doth feel
That We worst of unsanctified jokes
Is We smalle dog that sniffeth anon Of We
wheel,
But getteth mixed up with ye spokes.
Harry ]. Smalley.
The discussion of the alleged immor-
ality of bicycling has evoked a series of
interesting opinions from Wash
ington clergymen, several Of whom are
wheelmen themselves. The interviews
which are here reproduced are from the
Times" of that city, and are practical
ly in praise of the bicycle as a moral
force.
Rev. George Luccock, D. D., Metro
politan Presbyterian: LAS I ride a wheel
myself, 1 naturally approve of the In
vention. OF course, 1t can be used to an
immoral end, like everything else. It's
greatest abuse, to my mind, is using 1t
as means of desecration Of the Sab
bath; but this is not the fault of the
wheel; it is due to the ungodliness Of the
riders.
The exercise derived by riding un-
doubtedly has the tendency of every
healthy form of exercise-that Of ton
ing UP mans moral side. I can con-
ceive Of nothing of immoral tendency in
riding for girls and women"
Rev. Adam Reoch, Fifth Congrega-
tional: THE bicycle is a potent factor
in good health and morals, and it has
come to stay. Because it can be made
4 D,~
gument for discarding the wheel. In
many ways, on the other hand, real
ize how it can act as a good moral
agency. To cite an instance: The rec
reation and the good health engendered
thereby will cause a multitude of young
men and women to turn their minds to
healthy thoughts, the almost invariable
outcome of good strong constitutions. .
Rev. Thomas w. Cooke, Church OF
the Ascension: THE bicycle is truly
called an agency which has a tendency
tc elevate mans moral nature, mas
much as it distracts the attention of
young men from places where the IN
fiuence is not elevating spiritually.
see no reason why mankind should not
enjoy such a blessing, brought about
by his mechanical ingenuity, not only
as a means Of convenience, but OF
pleasure as well.
The only danger in indulging in its
pleasure is that it might lead young
people to neglect their spiritual nature
by absenting themselves from Gods
house of worship on the day of rest
l. all riders would give their early
morning hours to attendance at God:
house of worship, / see no reason why
those who have such little time fol
I.rtc oh
recreation on Sunday"
Rev Thomas Chalmers Easton, East
ern PRESBYTERIAN: with other clergy
men. / have received copy Of resolu
tions passed by the Women's Rescue
League. June 20, 1896, condemning The
use of the bicycle among young women
challenges the league to prove tha
the alarming increase of immortality
among Young women is due to th'
nresent use of the machine. 1t is al
assumption on their part that 10 PEI
cent. will be an army of invalids with
ia the next ten years Neither can
he proyen that functional diseases aris'
from the use of the bicycle. | attrip
ute the great number Of invaiid WoHei
to other causes than the pleasure-sF
ing and health-creating outdoor exer
else of the wheel.
AN excessive use of the sewing ma
chine has not been condemned py IN
league. and yet the movement is almos
Identical So far as helping 10 swei
the ranks of reckless girls peneV'
there is far less danger, morally, thar
in long buggy drives. where close
proximity Of the sexes must De main
tained.
so far as the 'immodesty of dress \
concerned, I believe every gentieniai
will admit with me that the decollet
dress Of ladies In the circles OF Iasniol
are more suggestive and impruoen
than the a la bloomer costume of tn
Wheel
Here are a few definitions taken a
random from the mock dictionary OF TN
wheel appearing in the columns OF, In
New York Journal:
Air Pump Arp sockit; Ump-te
wum.) A mechanical device for infiat
ing rubber tires and then letting Ia
~, tho qDnrfr1rp CA