The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-08-14
is BICYCLING IMMoRALp
The Womans' Rescue League
Claims That it is-Nym Crinkle
Tells What Immodesty
Really Is.

Apropos of the great increase in the
use of the bicycle by women comes the
protestation of certain christian leagues
against it, on the plea that it promotes
too free and easy intermingling of
the sexes and consequently proper
tionate increase of immortality. Miss
Charlotte Smith, President of the
Womans' Rescue League, is the Good
Samaritan going around delivering
lectures, submitting to newspaper in
terviews and trying to convince the
people that the bicycle is the curse of
humanity and the cause of all moral
degeneracy. She takes very pesse-
mistic view of the matter we think.
The wheel is no more promoter of
loose morals than the buggy ride, the
moonlight excursion or the picnic in
the mountains. Each has its elevat-
ing and degrading tendencies, if you
will. But why single out the bicycle
as the one sole enemy;a concentration
others. Appended We give the views
of noted writer, "Nym Crinkle,' on
the subject, which appeared recently
in the New York journal, whose ideas
will receive the endorsement of all
fair-minded, unbiased readers:
Isn't Charlotte Smiths idea of NOR
ality somewhat inert? She opposes BIZ
cycling because it has been abused by
reckless aud Inscriptions women.
This is the radicalism OF inertia. Let
US be molluskS, because there are en-
larged temptations in being anything
better.
We used TO have this argument APP
piled 10 dancing and TO cards and 10
hard cider. Girls had caught cold GO
ing from ball in their slippers.
Therefore bodily rhythm and music
should not be countenauce0 together
Men have lost their souls as well as
their fortunes at gambling, therefore
let US regard painted card As a curse.
The temperance prudes rather run
their argument into the ground In
toxicatlOn ruined millions, therefore
let us SOW orr vineyards with salt and
impr.son men for making wineglasses.
a wheel will not make a woman
immodest, any more than will pull
lev or an inclined plane. 1mmodeSty
does not spring from mechanics, or n.y.
draulIcS or pneumatlcS. The woman
who Is modest on chair or a lounge
or in hammock will be modest on a
bicycle. because modesty Is the mere
expression of certain purity of
thought, or condition of the mind, and
not the outcome of furniture or dress
or motion.
Ny own impression is that the wom-
an who is afraid of wheel Is without
faith in her own rectitude. The really
immodest woman Is she who is afraid
somebody will discover her weakness.
\ pruieut prude Is always saying:
Il hope 10 heaven that nobody will
discover that l have got legs like ev-
cry body else"
Now, as TO the inherently immodest
woman availing herself of the bicycle
TO exhibit her natural propensitles, il
may as well be said that the woman
who Is immodest will avail herself of
any and every natural and healthful
opportunity. The woman who Is a
dipSomaniac will drink cologne when
she cannot get gin. But cologne re-
maius grateful and invigorating af-
fair in spite of her, aud it ought 10 be
added for the benefit of Charlotte
Smith that the kind of immortality
which she has in her "a ind, and which
the Reform League ought TO concen-
trate its best efforts upon-whIch, in
deed is the cuISe of modern society
springs from Incidence, voiuptuous ill.,
ertia, lack OF vital functions; an over
stimulation OF the SensioilitieS at the
expense of the muscles.
Debauchery of the mind which pre-
eedes debauchery of the body Is TO be
found among the laced darlIngs whose
circulation is weak. whose muscles are
tiaccid like their minds, who dream
through their desires OF delights which
require no physical effort.
The mother of voluptuousness Is las
sltude, aud the children are puny
vices. Get the blood into a girls eX-
tremilieS aud the oxygen into her
lungs and her system hans't time for
immodesty. Wrap her in laces aud put
her in hammock with notion that
she has nothing IN life TO do but read
Ouida and wait for somebody 10 come
along and admire her, and you are
laying the cornstarch foundation OF all
the effemiDacy and folly that rise
fiounced aud frivolous along the prim-
rose paths of dalliance.
girl who has sufficient Yigor 10 drive 3
wheel five miles has also sufficient re-
sisting power TO keep the ordinary bal
cony moths at safe distance. Other
things being equal. will bet on the
morality of the girl who has arterial
blood in her limbs.
1t Is the swooniug beauty, who has
a French maid to carry her copy of
Swinburne around; who is made of
gum tolu Sud the Ladies Home Jour
nal; that we must exploit if we would
get upon the scented immortality which
now, as in the days of Pompeii, sweet
~ eats away the virility aud candor
of the race.
We are not in need of more Asp4Sias
or CleopAtras st this time OF dsy, but
mole Gretchens- IF we could Danish
forever the mock angels that we have
created and get back the normal aud
vital woman. we might store up hallelu-
jShS for the coming race.
AT all events, If we give our girls
something that will keep their muscles
healthiiy employed they will have less
time 10 employ their cratic and erotic
emotions If we can tire them out in
the air and sunshine they will not
= - Il l.