The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-04
Did Bicycles Save Women?

| women 90 well 10 rue tue WnccI, says
| DR.. sayre of New York. 1T means a
| stronger, healthier race of men and women
| for the coming generation. Women Were
going into decline. Their nervous force
| was wearing out That means grea,
deal, for the decay of a nation being al
| ways with the breaking up of the nervous
system of its women. Nordau's book on
degeneration had some excuse, as Is shown
| by the discussion it brought about. He
had some strong points on which to base
his argument, but he was not thoroughly
justified. and even If he were. the bicycle
| is proving itself to be the remedy. 1t is
giving women healthy diversion, teaching
them self-control and seif-reliance, and
making them fit physically to be the moth
ers Of q race of giants.
81 know that some OF the women reform
ers have objected to wheels. and with JUS
tice too; but now that saddles adapted for
women are a specially with saddle makers.
the chief grounds for objection are removed
Saddles for men and saddles for women
should be different. The ordinary saddle,
modelld for men, Is not at all suitable for
women 1t is more than likely 10 do them
serious physical ilarm But with properly
formed saddle there is no danger whatever.
American women are prone to be morbid.
II is a result of the busy life of the nation.
They have stayed indoors too much, and
have gotten into the habit OF thinking about
themselves. worrying and fussing when
there was really no need of IL. Now the
bicycle gives them inducement TO go out
into the open air. to enjoy the country, to
be in touch WITH other people. 1t gives
them opportunity to breathe, and to breathe
na,y,S hetter flood.
'sThey leave off their corsets when they
ride though they will not do so at any other
time. Perhaps the bicycle will kill cor
sets. That would be grand victory for
the wheel.
Or Townsend has taken pains TO study
this bicycle question. He has reports from
eighteen women physicians in Boston, all
but one of whom heartily recommend wheel
ing, especially in cases of malnutrition and
chronic pelvic diseases. II is a mistake TO
saw that wheeling developes curved spines
IT doesn't-that Is. unless riders insist upon
.scorchin1' The best-by which / mean
the easiest and most graceful-riders are
straight backed They have more power
IL they ride erect That IS one great rea-
son why wheeling benefits women. 1t makes
them sit up straight II they WIFI do that
consumption will be an unknown disease IN
three years.
mo amount OF preaching about dress re-
form has the influence OF the bicycle.
Theory is good and logic is good. but put
ing a woman on wheel and letting her go
out on our smooth RAIDS, where she has
freedom she has not thought OF before, Is an
argument that is effective Il wins her 10
freedom. She gives UP corsets and heavy
clothing; she dresses for work instead or
for play: she begins 10 see that clothes may
be governed by intelligence. and as a result
she is healthy.
The need OF keeping balanced makes
wheel riding of especial value 10 women. FOR
II is a demand that they control themselves.
II also teaches self-rellance-sonething
great many Of them need. woman guild
ing herself olang the streets learns that she
is bile 10 take care of herself. even II there
- not a man at her elbow. She Is sur
prised. probably 20 find this out. but II
she keeps az wheeling she viii learn that
she is every bit as strong as man physie-
ally as well as mentally. She can develop
physical power quite equal 20 mans. and
she can use IL to as continuous advantage
The bicycle viii prove this to her satistac-
.;o, ard - .he hero<7. of her race