The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-08
heralded always II the pedestrian happen


ance risk. and therefore the cost OF In
surfing those who rode the deadly bicycle
should he increased over what II had
formerly been.
We do not believe that cycling is guilty
of the charges thus brought against IL
by these insurers. True, the large num-
Der. the very large number. IL might be
said. OF new riders of the bicycle who
have sprung up during the last year may
have increased the number OF accidents
attributable to riding the bicycle, but
proportionately the number Is not greater
than IL was In former earsy, and neither
then nor now are the insurance COM
panies warranted in CHASING the riding
of a bicycle among those occupations
whose danger entities the company TO ask
the insured 20 pay a higher premium
than that demanded from the average
polIcy-holder.
70 OUT 2.ON.
To prove that the Boston meeting was
not warranted by facts In their declaring
against the bicycle, We have examined a
list Of 1000 accident claims allowed by
one OF the largest accident insurance
companies in the world with the follow
| ing results: Falls on pavements, 5s1: car
riagc and wagon accidents, 43: cut with
tools and glass, III. fall OF weight on
person, o. bicycle accidents. 7G. Taking
these as a basis We find that person is
seven times as liable TO injury while
walking upon the sidewalks as he is
when riding a bicycle on the street; he
| is more than three times as likely 20 be
injured by riding in carriage or wagon;
nearly twice as liable 10 be cut by glass
| and edged tools. and almost half again
Is his liability OF injury from q falling
weight found 10 exist Despite these
facts, the insurance companies would
! have us believe that cycling Is more dan
gerous than carriage riding. for example.
Studying the figures further we find
that horses kicked and bit within one OF
the number OF people whose claims for
| damages were due 10 the bicycle, 70 acct
dents being charged to these causes, while
falling down stairs claimed 70 machinery
IS: ball and tennis playing and horse
! back riding each claimed exactly A. ac-
cidents Compare the number OF those
! who are brought in contact with horses
| In any way with the number OF those
who ride a bicycle and then discover, II
! you can, the extra percentage OF danger
| in the case OF the bicycle. In comparison
| with ball players tennis players and
equestrians surely the bicycle has a hum
| dred followers where each OF the others
| have one, yet the number OF accidents
| from these sources are more than half as
| great as those from all cycling: where
| then, IS the suddenly discovered hazard Of
| cycling? We commend these figures. OF
whose existence the gentlemen present at
the Boston meeting must have been
| aware, TO those gentlemen with the re-
quest that they duly study them. and.
after so doing, twist them into proofs
OF the danger OF riding the bicycle IL
they can.
CALICO CATS AND CYCLES.
According to the report OF the Presby-
terrain Board OF Foreign Missions. the
wheel now forms no inconsderable por-
ton Of the miscellaneous supplies for
warded 20 missionaries abroad
Toothpicks. rat traps. woolly dogs. rag
dolls and stuffed calico cats have long
been standing orders. the Board has sent
whole houses I'm sections 70 South Amer
lea; but now. wherever the roads are
good. there Is a running demand for
bicycles. The ministers are said TO find
Them invaluable in going from station TO
station. They are used in Syria in num-
bers; in India, where the fine English
roads afford excellent opportunity for
wheeling. and in Japan. where even the
natives ride.
The only available means OF locomo-
ton In North China is by wheelbarrow:
there especially the bicycle becomes
prime necessity. The single wheel OF the
barrow has worn admirable cycle tracks
through the provinces. and along these
tracks the dominies spin at a lively pace
EXPERTS.
In no branch Of sport has there grown
up such a large army or critical Judges
as in cycling. The first thing a rider
does after he is thoroughly at home with
his wheel Is 10 find out all about it and
compare Il with other makes. In shis
way he Is quick 20 observe weaknesses
and defects, and in a remarkably short
time becomes very fair judge OF what
is best i'm the wheel for his needs, whether
II be for ordinary riding, touring or rae
ing. There IS no more faithful adherent
TO a good, reliable wheel than a cyclist:
at the same time. there is no one who
will so quickly condemn one that goes
back" on him.
LITTLE MAN. LITTLE WHEEL.
Count Magre, the thirty-inch italian
who stepped into Tom Thumbs shoes
eleven wears ago as husband OF the wo-
man wi stlll TO the public retains he
name o. her first husband, has placed an
order and had measurements taken Tor
what will be one OF the smallest bicycles
on record. IL will, however he construct
ed out OF the finest materials and VIII
cost $3.50. The machine is TO have four
teen-inch wheels. and its weight Is not TO
exceed ten pounds
SPARKS.
Atlanta. Ga. attempted TO pass
cycling ordinance limiting the speed or
cyclists on the city streets TO six miles
per hour The ordinance was defeated
because IL was shown that the city per-
mitted trolley cars 10 travel at twelve
miles per hour. and trolley cars were
rightly declared TO be more dangerous
than bicycles under any circumstances.
a.. 4vhf n with
Of these scorchers" said the man with
the dyspepsia, "as he speeds along, his
body bent over like a school-boy with the
collie his nose poked forward as much
as TO say: Here comes my head; the
rest of me Is coming later.
one would hardly expect a daily news
naner a Boston one at that. at this late
date. to declare that the bicycle us pri-
msrilv an article of luxury" yet this Is
what the Beacon editorlally declares a
wheel 10 be.
The force that rider loses upon
defective saddle in slidngs and reinstate-
ment. can. by the use Of a perfect sad
die. be employed as foot-pressure upon
the pedal
ont OF the 5000 wheelmen in Moscow,
less than one-half have permission 10
ride within the city's limits. Russian law
as applied TO cycling is beyond the under
standing Of man.
She was daring on her wheel.
Fear she never seemed TO feel;
To the perils Of the cycle path her
eyes
were
blind;
But she tainted dead away
When she heard one wintry day.
That her feet were pressing pedals OF the
rat