The record-union., 1896-06-28
BUREAU OF INFORMATION.

Eds. Record Union: VIII you tel
me why when men begin to ride a BIZ
cycle they must dress in such ''get-ups''
as they do? What is the necessity for
the wool outside shirt and the short
clothes and stockings and the extra
coat and the cap or hat with a big from
tispiece or rear piece? 1 really want to
know why men cannot ride a wheel in
everyday costume just as well as when
riding a horse or in a buggy. i think
they make themselves look horrid ON
wheels by their costumes.
A WOMAN READER.
Sacramento.
After consultation with several gem
tlemen who are skilled riders, and after
consulting reason and good sense, we
are able to say to our fair correspond
ent that these are some of the reasons
for the bicycle costume: The stockings
keep the leg warm and the dust out
Short clothes leave the legs free and do
not catch in the treadles. About all
outdoor sports and games are followed
in short Clothes such as base and foot
ball, sports Of recreation grounds, etc,
for reasons of comfort. safety ease,
freedom of motion and other good
causes. The large visor is worn on the
cap or hat to protect the eyes from sun
by day and flying insects by night and
to break the force of wind motion. Some
riders have even to wear glasses In ad-
dition. The double visor cap or hat,
front and rear, is worn to protect the
neck from the heat of the sun and to
afford ventilation to the head by per-
mitting a false head band to be worn,
which the visors conceal, and undel
which the air moves about the head
freely Finally, the wool overshtrt, or
sweater, is worn to prevent taking cold,
to prevent chilling after one sweats well
from riding. Besides. it is close lifting
and leaves the body free IN mouon.
The extra coat referred to is to draw
over the sweater and button up as eX-
ira precaution against taking cold ana
also to complete the costume neatly
when off the wheel. We find that wheel
men disagree with you about looking
horrid" AS for ourselves, we submit
that these things are all matters of
convention. If you attended at an Eng
lish race course of the most genteel
character. you would think probably
the men looked ''horrid." They on their
part freely say that we in dismal black
and large coats and stiff hats and baggy
pantaloons look horrid." We really
think the cyclists costume is one for
health and ease, and that when it is
more generally used no one will think
it 'horrid"; on the contrary, well fitted,
it is neat and graceful.
Eds. Record Union" Will you kind
ly state the terms on which a non-resf-
dent can use the Free Library of your
city? YOLO.
The subject is now before the Board of
Trustees of the Library, we understand
On paying twenty-five cents month a
nonresident properly guaranteed, can
use the library under present rules.
Eds. Record Union" What is the cor
rect pronunciation of the word Lew
ellyn? SID.
sacramento.
AS if spelled Loo-el-in.
Eds. Record -Union:" Which is the
proper word, ''roil" or "rile?" S. Nc
Roll Usage makes rile common and
acceptable, but it is coarse.
Eds. Record Union" A dispute has
arisen as to when the French got Anan
over that country. Will you decide 1t!
The French, we understand, do not own
the country MATTHIAS.
Sacramento.
No. The French do not own 1T, but IL
is much the same thing. They extended
a protectorate over AnSm in 1884. "A
large part of the commercial value OF
the country is owned by France under
certain concessions wrung from the
Anamese.
Eds. Record -Union:" When was the
Bank of England established and lot
how long? =.
Suisun.
1t was chartered in 1854 and its lease
of life is practically perpetual under us
charter. That is, it lives as long as the
Government does not recall the charter-
In Labrador and Newfoundland IS
found a partially webfooted Newtounu-
land dog, valuable for hunting blrds III
a country of morasses.
Soda water and other cooling bever-
ages are manufactured according 10
27S patented methods.
Astigmatic Qrregular Curvature).