New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-06
BICYCLING AND HYSTERIA.

Now comes q furious blast against the Dl-
cycle It emanates from the headquarters OF
the Womans Rescue League, at Washington
D. c. In the form Of a printed circular letter,
signed by the president Of that organization
II Is addressed ITO whom II may concern"
and, as 1t refers to bicycling, 1t may therefore
be taken to concern pretty much everybody
How extensively 1t Is being distributed does
not appear unless in the weather reports. Judg-
Ing by the temperature OF the last few days. II
has probably been spread about pretty gen
orally in these regions 1t Is Just the sort OF
thing to set the mercury a-sizzling and cause
icebergs to go mp in spontaneous combustion
For the sake of their personal comfort In these
torrid days 1t IL to be hoped not many OF the
public have read 1t in its original state. But on
the good homeopathic principle that like cures
like we venture to offer IT, In proper dilution, as
a possible remedy for dogday discomforts.
In the automatic "whpreases" which preface
the document, we are told that there Is an
alarming increase of immortality" among the
young women Of the United States; that the
present bicycle craze has brought great curse
upon the country, and II 1t isn't promptly
STONED - per cent Of the cyclists will become
inyalids: that cycling Is causing an appalling
amount Of ill-health among young women. and
Is TO be deplored because OF opportunities Of
fcrcd by cycling sports; that cycling Is sending
more young women into evil ways than any
other thing, and that. finally, the bicycle Is
1.-The devils advance agent" Wherefore the
Womans Rescue League finds itself moved to
denounce bicycling by young women to advise
married women against II, to ask 'all true
women and cergymen' to Join them In so
doing and TO send copies OF this pronuncia-
mento wherever they will do the most good.
Doubtless the estImable women who put
forth this superheated document are taking
themselves and 1t quite seriously. Serious con-
sideratiOn Of 1t Is therefore indicated. despite
the facts that It's tone is comicay shrill. Its
grammar vastly worse than its tone. and Its
facts mt least one large ripe huckleberry be-
hind It's grammar. American women may per-
haps be privileged to say that the young wOn-
en- Of this country are becoming wantOns. Ger
tainly no one else may do so without being
| called sternly to account for the libel To say
| that the use Of the bicycle by women Of any
age is prolific cause Of disease Is fatty to con-
tradict the all but unanimous opinion Of intelli-
| gent physicians as we'll as the results Of expe-
| ripnce. We trust we may be pardOned for &C.
| cepting the Judgment Of the medical profession
| rather than that of the Woman's Rescue
| League. To say that a practice which takes
| women into the open air and into communion
| with nature. which develops their muscles,
| strengthens their nerves, gives them truer po'se
| OF mind and body, and teaches them elf-help
| and sef-relance Is transforming them into
| physical wrecks and moral lepers. Is an affront
| to common sense which would be more anus
| ing If it were less revolving.
| The Woman's Rescue League Is probably a
wellmeaning organization Possibly 1t Is also
weldoing, though Of that there is much room
for doubt. That It is we'll advised. there Is
| ample cause not merely for doubt but for actual
| disbelief II 1t will act upon better counsel
than any 1t apparently now has at Its COM
mand II will send all existing copies OF this
| circular letter not. as 1t says, where they VIII
do most good for there is no such place. but
where they will do least harm. The waste
paper basket might serve, but good hot fire
would be better. 1t will learn the difference
between purity and pruriency: and the effective
ness OF bicycling as a cure for certain forms OF
moral hysteria. 1t will also procure good b.
! cycles for all its members. and set them to
riding In rational dress. mt least an hour or two
each day Then we may hope to find its future
utterances marked with more wholesome views
of life and more wholesome estimates OF hui
manity