The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-25
HER VACATION AwHEEL.
SIZE VILE 90 IN a NEW-FANGEKD
BKIRT ON A DIAMOND FRAME

Tnsir Summer Tours-The Buneie ana the
arnent In It-TiHhtr, Bieomers. ana other
Things 70 ne worn or 70 Ne LEFT nehind.
The weather has boon in tho sulks during tho
last weok, and 30 have the whoelwomon. Their
spins have been entirely too few and far be-
tween to suit them. and thoy declare that they
believe forty days rain is at hand.
Trvdble began on last Sunday. whom tho
wheelwomen woke up 10 tho tune OF q down
pour. At irst It looked like q passing summer
shower, but It didn't pnss In q hurry. Every
little while tho clouds grew lighter and thon tho
girls would begin to smile, but before they could
say Caterpillar" down came tho rain again.
This won't on until Il was too late and 100 wet to
take q spin that day. The clouds and the sun
have had q daily struggle ever since and the
sun has como out second best.
whats the good of such weather r. asked ono
pretty young enthusiast. Nobody likes II. and
its moral effect is terrible. Think how many
people such q spell Of weather disnppoints, and
you know disappointment docs not soften the
majority Of characters"
But" answered a gray.haircd one, tits good
to have such q spell OF weather occasionally, for
we appreciate and enjoy our wheels and good
weather and roads all the moro afterward. For
my part. / get 30 much moro fun out Of my BIZ
cycle after being kept off tho road q few days
that I actually enjoy a little rain. It's like fall.
ing out with ones sweetheart and making up,
only It's more satisfactory"
81 don't aRree with you at ALL" said tho
young one. II love my wheel SO we'll that a
flood couldn't make me love 1t any moro, and /
already appreciate good weather and good roads
and all the things that make this earth a
heaven for those who wheel as much as 1t Is
possible"
That's right spoke up a buxom girl in q
now tangled divided skirt. 1.-The only good that
i can sec in such q spell OF weather is that It
gives one a chance to arrange runs and vaca-
ton tours. By the way, do any of you expect to
take an outing on the wheel this summeri 1t
seems to me that nearly every woman who rides
is going to take a vacation awheel."
"That's the proper thing to do this year,
answered a middle-aged matron. My husband
gets only two weeks of, and he and our boy and
girl aud 1 expect to spend tho entire time
touring"
'Tell us all about It." urged q dozen fresh
young voices.
do you all know" she began amiably, 81
think she bicycle girl has about ousted the sum.
mer girl. We hardly hear anything of the lat
ter now. Everybody talks about tho bicycle
girl. and the greatest advantage that she has
over the summer girl is that age in her case is
not against her. Well, nearly all Of the bicycle
girls 1 know have said Rood-by to convention.
ality. and when the proper time comes they
wheel away for one, two, three weeks. or even
longer, and. what is moro, they wheel away on
diamond frames"
Nor gasped three or four voices in unison.
why. of course, you %stupids.' impatIently
exclaimed a tall woman with sharp, bright eyes.
where are your witsf Don't you know that
women are taking to diamond frame wheels :
All you have TO do is to keep your eyes open and
you can see this for yourselves"
"1don't know about that" said a thin. angu-
lar woman in a crash skirt. II think it's per.
fectly lovely that a woman nowadays can ride q
diamond frame wheel and the casual passer-by
won't know it at all. That all comes from some
persons having had gumption enough to design
o skirt especially for the diamond frame. II
such q skirt had been on the market when tho
craze for wheeling first broke out I believe that
very few women could be found to-day riding
hitting boomers, sounded the death kneii. at
least Tor a time. for the diamond frame as far as
nail on the head. But about your vacation tour"
she concluded. turning to the matron. "You
say yon and yopr daughter are going to ride dia-
Yes" ans , cred the matron. for 1t was on
that condition we were allowed to make the
trip. My husband and sou were going, and
when l suggested that l should prefer going.
too, to spending the two weeks at a fashionable
cal for women to tour. In the trs, place they
want TO take a hundred pounds OF luggage. and
carry it But, i protested. 'wheelwomen are
touring in great numbers this season, and.
but diamonds, and ns Tor luggage. II you viii
consent to my going III bet you a nickel with a
and so is my daughter. We've both mastered
mond frame, and in the last week have con-
cludcd that riding a loop is poor fun compared
decision in favor OF the diamond frame. am con-
WINGED, is no rad. 1t is the outcome of a serious
To begin at the beginning, the diamond frame is
from 70 to Sla cheaper than the loop frame of
stronger and more, rigid. and Therefore moro
9omtorta6lei II is Lighter and more graceful
Every woman knows how impossible it is to
fasten a luggage carrier on a drop franc wheel.
All that one can do is TO fasten II small bag on to
the handle Gd bar ran and strap an extra wrap behind
must be carried on her person. and that is most
uncomfortable. BY experience | have found
that the necessary paraphcrnalia for n two
nts into the diamond frame, and that IL will not
inconvenience me in the least or add materially
What kind OF n carrier is itf' asked a short
skirted girl, tpgging at her solf sto, king.
diamond. answered the matron. 1T Is obtain.
able from any house handling sporting goods,
and costs from $3.50 to $40. The canvas ones
wear and tear SO WELL"
"What are you going to tako in IT, asked
1T is all packed" was the reply. and rye
II have three silk and Isle union suits. two
pairs OF thin stockings and a pair OF golf stock.
ings for cool, damp days; an extra pair OF black
tights. a, thin nIghtdrcSs. two wash silk shirt
waists. handkcrchiefs, soap. comb, toothbrush
and powder. and such little necessaries. | shall
wear n sweater most OF the time. and strap my
coat on the back of my saddle. You see, my
underwear and stockings can be Numbered
where ! stop at night and be- fresh and clean Tor
the start next day; OF course, I have an extra
pair Of low shoes in. What more could want !
expect to spend two Of the easiest weeks OF my
life, and so do We ALL"
Are you going to ride In boomers T. inpo-
Gently inquired u gum-chewing sister.
"bloonGrsT' repeated tho tourist in astonish-
ment. We'll. l should say not. Boomers are
so completely taboocd that very few women
even sethem as an undergarment now. Tights
have taken their place for this purpose al
together. They are far cooler. less bulky, and
less apt to catch on the saddle in dismounting.
They are used altogether by women who have
adopted the diamond frame and can be bought
In 6iack, white and gray cotton, Isle, silk or
wool or in mixtures Of any two of the materials
mentioned. I'm going to wear one OF The
new diamond frame skirts that have made a
Cleverest combination OF q divided akirt md