New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-26
A NEW USE FOR WHEELS.

The ruinous effect Of the bicycle craze upon
many arts and industries has already been
chronicled. The horse. as we all know has be-
come thing Of the pasta pleasant reminis-
cence as Bismarck said Of the Bulgarian crown.
The carriage and harness trade Is ruined. Peo-
pie have use for such things no longer. The
rubber overshOe industry is dead; man or
woman a-wheel has no need for such pedal pro-
lection. The jewery trade Is languishing;
money must go for diamond frames instead OF
diamond rings. and for lamps and saddles in
stead of watches. Book publishers are practical
ly bankrupt; people have no time for reading.
The tailors are in despair; Jackets and knicker-
bockers all they get a chance TO make for
any man. Hat factories have become a refuge
for owls and bats; for the whole world Is wear
ing caps The tobacco trade is all but snuffcd
out; for no a bicycle face and
smoke cigar cigarette at the same time.
The liquor shops are in mourning, for the wheel
men must keep sober
The latest Industry to show signs Of distress
is that of the manufacture and sale Of walking
sticks It is indeed rapidly ceasIng to exist. 1t
IS not only that men do not carry canes a-wheel.
But even on the rare occasions when they do
walk. they have discarded canes for wheels.
This fact is perfectly obvious to every one who
has noticed the throngs on Broadway or in the
cars. No more are men seen carrying wands Of
digniled malacca or sportve hazel. trim
bamboo or stately ebony gold-mounted. In
stead each carries in his hand a wheel, pneu-
matte tired, with tangent spokes. Where for
merly each INDUCED his individual fancy in
crutch-handed shepherds crook. buck s
horn, taste is now displayed in varying styles of
tire of hub. Of hickory. or oak, or maple rim.
or other features Of the wheel.
The practical advantages Of the new fashion
are obvious. For one thing. the wheel Is better
suited by It's size to be an object Of support than
was the cane. The latter was too long. The
wheel is of just the right diameter to touch the
ground. that HYPNOSIS bcyciistarum has so
reduced the stature and bowed the form of man.
1t is safer. too for a wheel cannot be carried, as
was the wont Of men with umbrellas and canes
at deadly level under the arm. to gouge out the
eyes Of those behind upon stairway. or to punct-
ure the ribs of those upon the streets. Even
were IT thus carried. the rubber tire would rem
der II innocuous 1t is reported that since this
change Of fashion was effected the business Of
the eye and other hospitals and the trade In arti
fetal eyes have both materially declined.
Tho aesthetic effect Is also marked. The wheel
Is far more highly decorative adjunct to the
fashionable pedestrian than a mere stick could
be In this years political campaign 1t Is under
| stood that the members Of the business mems
parades" instead OF wearing high hats and carry
| ing canes, as of old. will wear caps and carry
wheels. Such Is already the case In the church
parade" in Fifth-ave. and in the best theatres
wheel racks instead of cane racks are being
placed on the backs OF seats. Indeed. the effects
of this change of fashion are as widespread as
human society itself and doubtless so will be Its
| benefits This is the state of man." Either he is
carried by a wheel. or he himself carries wheel.
| It is the age Of wheels.