Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-08-05
Raraaes Of the BtcucIe Cra.e.


Evening Post of June 2, in which the ed
itor argues that the cause of hard times
in most industries is owing TO the bicycle.
Theatrical managers say they have had
the poorest season for many years, and
that after patient and anxious search for
the cause they have found it in the bicy-
Gle craze. They say that not only do young
men and maidens, but old men and wo-
man save up their money in order that
with it they may buy wheels. This of it.
self is disastrous TO the theatres, but
worse remains to be told for having
bought the wheels they ride on them IN
the evening instead of going TO places OF
amusement. They ride also on Saturday
afternoons, and in Chicago they ride so
universally on Sundays that the theatres,
which formerly gave successful perform
ances on that day, have discontinued
them. The Sabbaiarians might find en-.
couragenlent in this fact were it not rue
that the churches are suffering almost as
severely as the theatres from the same
cause.
Business men are as loud in their COM
plants as the theatre managers. The
watchmakers and jewellers say they are
nearly ruined that all pin money which
the young people saved formerly with
which to buy watches and jewelry now
goes for bicycles; that parents, instead OF
presenting boy with watch on his twen'
ey first birthday, Row give him bicycle,
and that all the family economy IS now
conducted with the object Of equipPing
every boy and girl, as we'll as father aud
mother, with wheel. The conleclioner
cries "me too" to this plant, declaring
that about all the business he does Is in
chewing gum, ice cream and soft drinks,
while his candies find few customers
The tobacco manufacturer says his Is the
worst hit of all, since few riders care 10
smoke on the road-for which there is
reason for profound graiitude-and the
journals of the trade say it is a fact that
the consumption Of cigars is decreasing at
the rate of million day, the total &C.
crease since the craze became general av'
eraging no less than 100000 year. In
stead Of sitting idle and smoking most Of
the day, hundreds of men now ride, and
smoke only when they are resting.
The tailor, the halter, the bookseller
the shoemaker, the horse dealer, and tic
riding master, all tell similar tales Of woe
The tailor says that so many men g
about half the time in cheap bicycle suits
that they do not wear out their good
clothes half as rapidly as formerly. Tb'
halter says so many Of them wear cheaI
caps. in which there is no profit TO tb'
maker, that their hats last them twice a
long as heretofore. The shoemaker say
he is even worse of, for while they bu.
cheap shoes for the bicycle, they do no
even wear these out, and they refrain
from walking much in any kind Of shoe
whatever, so that his loss is almost totaI
The bookseller says people who are rush
ing about on wheels, days, nights AM
Sundays, no longer read anything, an'
his business has become practically worth
less. As for the horse dealer, stable keeT
er, and riding master, 1t is notorious wha
has happened to them. They are Il
longer "in it," and like the horse, are
drug I'm the market. Even the saloo
keeper groans, for he says that Will
many riders drink beer, the number wb
take soft drinks is much larger, Will
the number who take "hard drinks Is d
minishing, which must be the case IN
pastime which cannot be followed wit
an unsteady head.
But the greatest gamer Of all Is th
American race. An eminent physician
quoted as saying that mot within 20
years has there been any one thing whic
I has so benefited mankind as the inyer
lion Of the bicycle" that thousands
p men and women who till within fe
years never got any outdoor exercise
speak Of, are now devotiDg half their tin
). to healthy recreation, are stIeDgthenIn
and developing their bodies, and not onl
0 reapinp benefit themselves but preparln
$ the way for future generations who
d will be born Of healthy parents. Ibel
is no doubt about this As people II
Americans have not taken sufficient ou
n door exercise. We have been nation
h dyspepiics, simply because we do not tai
sufficient physical exercise 10 develop ar
q strengthen onr bodies. The bicycle is
wonderful builder up and purger OF Il
= system. 1t not only abolishes indigestI'
and dyspepsia, but rids the system OF tn
Y curse Of middle and old age, rheumatisl
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