The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-19

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wheeling etiquette Is not yet In an ad-
vancea stage. although few rules have
been laid down A gentlemen should
never mount until the lady with whom
he IS riding is settled in her saddle. Then
lie may mount and follow her. When
practicable, they should ride abreast, the
lazy always on the right side When a
marrow road makes this Impossible. the
LADY should 80 ahead, 50 that her escort
uay Know at once should any danger
menace her. At the conclusion of ride
the gentleman should first dismolnt that
he may relieve his companion OF her
wheel ~ soon as she has jumped from IL.
But a gentleman should never assist
LADY TO mount. Such thing would be
very distastcfm TO the Independent spirit
C' wheelwoman.
White chaperones are not considered
necessary by high-spirited American girls
it Is certainly good form for young lady
10 he accompanied by a more elderly
mCTbcr of her sex. Into cycling, Is irlo
everything else. leaH-year entertainments
have crept. In tandem riding a LADY al
Ways sits in front, but now faddists
would have us reverse this order OF
things. That usage, Of course, VIII be
discontinued after leap year, when nor
ma conditions viii once more be in vogue.
GkON Elk > lENriNDl 1.
This Is what President Cleveland has 20
say regarding the bicycle: "The influence
Of the bicycle is broader than would be
meeined until the matter IS looked into.
IL pelmoates our whole government and
is making Itself felt in no uncertain man
ner in our social world. Its benefits are
mary. and 50 long as the riders them
selves find enjoyment and benefits in iis
use | am certain my opinion, no matter
whether IT should be favorable or other
wise, would have no effect upon It's gen
cr9l use. l only regret that l am rot
tult upon the accepted plan OF a sue:
ccssful bcyclist."
GENERAL MILES A FRIEND OF THE
WHEEL.
General Nelson A. Miles has for long
time been recognized as foremost friend
Of the bicycle and the bicyce-rider. lie
advocates Il wholesale adoption OF the
wheel into the United States army ser
vice in these words:
in q country like ours In its present
condition and on an occasion OF great
emergency is would be practicable 10
equip 10000 men with this means OF
Transportation. which would render them
ono Of the most effective and efficient
armies ever organized. Any government
or commander utilizing this means OF
transportation and putting a large or
small force upon the cycle would com
pei an opponent TO 10 likewise or else
have him at a great disadvantage.
"As an appliance for war purposes its
utility has been fully demonstrated. II
will be used by every Intelligent com
mander wherever the circumstances ard
conditions Of the country make IT avail
able, and it has been proved that 1t can
lie used in nearly every country and IN
almost all seasons of the year. There
might be some conditions Of country ana
some seasons Of the year in which II
could not be utilized TO advantage, but
this Is also true Of wagon transportation
or any other method of manoeuvreing
armies"
General Miles also points out that there
are at the present time IN the United
States army nearly 5000 officers and sol
dlers who use the wheel. either In SER
vice or for recreation, and he seems 20
feel that the next era of war will be the
cycling era
POTENTATES on THE WHEELS.
The latest recruit TO the ranks OF royal
b'cyciefs is the ameer Of Afghanisian.
The Sultan Of Turkey refuses TO try the
democratic bike" although his physi-
clans have been extolling its merits TO
him for six months. a weekly pilgrim
age 10 the mosque, barely a quarter OF
mile from the palace. is the sole e2er-
else Of the Sultan during these distress
full days. Even then it is by no means
certain that his majesty does not travel
more III the Imagination Of his subjects
than I'm fact for Abdul has adopted the
trick that Napoleon III found TO answer
50 well lie has discovered a man VINO
looks exactly like him. and who attends
most. If not all. Of the public functions.
The people imagine that they are gazing
on the Sultan going 10 his devotons,
while in reality Abdul is at homo in the
Ylldiz. II the double" should be assas-
sinated Oh one of these devotional pill
erimages, the Turks would not be shock
ed at Abdul for Sinking his prayers
They would regard it as miraculous
preservation.
RACING EDITORS
one Of the latest developments Of ln-de-
steele Journalism is the employment Of
professional athletes as sporting editors
This has been especially marked in the
bicycle line Among the riders who are
now spending their spare time in turning
an honest penny on fancy work Of this
king are Zimmerman, who j. cycling
editor Of the New York World: Bald, who
has the same position on the Journal ana
Hamilton. who is doing a similar work
for the Denver Times. 1t is rumored
that they DO most OF their writing, out
side what is done for them, with their
feet.
A FREAK OF THE SHOW.
The bicycle shown in the cut is one Of
the freaks Of the late cycle shows. II
is a kind Of condensed bicycle, In which
the front leg Of the triangular frame hold
ing the seat IS Joined 10 the axle Of the
.,h.aI ipcfead OF reaching merely
TO the sprocket. Ii also carries the han
dle.bars, and turns in it, cap 10 permit
steering. This compilation reduces the
architectural OF the wheel to what looks
ike the minimum Of simplicity. The
wheel could not be ridden by woman
in skirts. however and seems TO be meant
for little more than an interesting play
OF fancy.
Mobile (AlaD wheelmon have big fight
on their hands. IN that city for some
years past an annual tax Of 20 cents per
wheel was imposed by the city fathers
Recently, however the aldermen thought
that Tie tax ought TO be higher, and so
they raised the ante to 81. The wheelmen
refused to pay the tax, but instead chip
ped lis and retained eminent counsel
The result will probably be that the tax
will be wiped out altogether.
The secret of the popularity OF wheels
is not appreciated by the average layman
until BE finds himself astride OF one and
subject TO It's magic influence. It's whole
value seems 10 lie in the fact that the
wheel has revealed TO man that his nat
ural powers Of locomotiOn can be multi
piled. with the same amount Of energy
REQUIRED TO take one stride a rider on a
7O-gear bicycle can cover IL feet of ground
almost a realization of the magic mower