The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-11
DOES BIKING AGE HER 7
a TERRIFYING oUESTIoNooNFRoNTS
THE BICYCLE GIRL.

One woman Asserts That the Btcyols Face
Brceds Crows Feet ana Wrinhies-serrow
and Distress In tho Academy Crowd-Last
Week Among the
New York got q touch Of weather last week
that caused tho enthusiasm Of tho wheelwo-
men to flag just a little; not enough to make
them stop riding, but just enough TO keep them
riding oil tho time, because, ns they put 1t, there
wasn't enough air for breathing purposes OK
copt on n wheel.
Monday was one OF those onorvating days
when the hoat seems to come from above, be-
low, and around ono in clustering waves, but
tho girls nll had to turn out that day because 1t
was Monday, II for no other reason. They
always do turn out to talk over their Sunday
runs. On Tuesday the heat was worso and
thero was more of Il. Tho only persons out
Of tho city's thrco million who had energy
enough to kick wero the one million who ride
bicycles, and thcy kicked, pufrod, and perspired
from morning until night, but did not once
cease pedalling.
at can't DO so bad tomorrow" said one girl
In o short fimsy crash skirt Providence
couldn't BIO so unkind as to force US into max
ing a six-day race at this season, and that's what
we will have to do to live at all II this torrid
wave keeps up"
1t was almost as bad tho next day, though a
pAao iVosp ~ y ouBkOotaoh
Of the soa in it made the morning more bear
able. That afternoon. however. great black
clouds covered the sun and threatened every
minute to send down torrents Of rain. But
the sun wasn't TO DO ousted In that way; he got
the ocean breeze to go into retirement, and
brought on a wave Of humidity that caused
the wheelwomcn to gasp as they wheeled along.
On Thursday and Friday there was no let-up
in the heat and Farmer Dunn would not promise
any. SO the merry wheelcrs said that 'out Of
pure spite they would go ahead and plan their
Sunday runs anyhow, and they did.
When they came together for their chats this
week they took to the academies for two rea-
sons. One was because tho ceilings are very
high in most of the riding schools, and the other
because they said it made them feel cool to see
the beginners, who were really SO much warm
er, struggling around In the ring trying to mas
ter mounting. pedalling, and steering, On one
or those afternoons, when n calm in the tropics
was cool by comparison, the women in an
academy on the boulevard found out a secret
A handsome matron.of about 80 has been COM
ing to the academy nearly every day for months
S Would S' Just shg sit hs and n watch of tSe f Gd a I Sg sGc h SnT
and hear the other wheelwomen talk. She APP
peared to derive the greatest amount of pleas
ure from this passive interest in the sport. The
wheelwomen couldn't understand It at all.
They each repeated countless times, after the
turned, that it was a case beyond their com
prehension; But none q them, dared ask her
point blank why she did not ride. All limited
around to find out, but she was as elusive as
an eel on a hot summer day.
You can't imagine what pleasure there is
In riding" one would remark. until you ride
YES, there must be-" she would answer,
placidly, for ITS even great fun to me to
you would look stunning a-wheel,'' an
other would venture, FOR you carry ourscif 30
well, and your clothes always look SO well on
you
Tho young matron didn't 30 much as nibble
at such bait. Most women usually gulp il down
whole. Finally. on this very hot afternoon, the
enthusiasts saw her coming. Perhaps it was
her cool, fresh look that cxasperated them; per-
haps the intense heat made them brave.
Here she comes" remarked an athletic
young woman with a face old beyond, her years
say it, I'm going to lind out why it is that that
woman comes here day after day and takes the
to wheels, wheelcrs. and wheeling, and yet will
You wouldn't dare ask her. hastily spoke
up a girl leaning on her diamond frame. There
Is such womanly dignity about her that l would
hate to ask her personal questions"
approached with one OF those smiles and looks
that include everybody present and make the
ones sio who h s%e E' ysid 5hf the a P2Rpa1inr s TSm Catching
her atfectionately by the arm as they all seated
themselves near an electric fan, I'm going to
me impcrtinent, but you know we've all come
to like you verSy, much since we've been meet
lHR you HtTt. y u WHY ~ u lnkl YOU Der
sistently refuse to ride a wheel"
The matron laughed and flushed %gui!tily:
You won't laugh at met she questioned
quito seriously, recovering herself.
Nc, indeed ChOrtlcd the crowd.
You criss:cross your hearts and declare pom
your word Of honor you WON'T" she asked ear
We do" murmurod every woman, going
through "A my site sign thai would make tho
average Mason open his eyes in wonder. The
Little lnatron seemed perfectly satisfied.
Well, III tell you why 1 don't ride" she
hnDun inNIErlpl hpr ynirYa IN "A Snlnnhn pif.I
Riding II bicycle makes Il WOMAN look OLD"
A burst OF Indignation followed this state
"Ncver!' cried one.
"Bosh!' shricked another.
Such nonsense l never hcard!' exclaimed a
Tho others gaspcd.
Upon what do you base your opinionl' an
elderly woman finally managed 10 ask. II
too TO tho wheel because ! was told that it
woI.d make me grow young again, that wheel
..s kept the heart young. and 40 long rs Tho
heart was young that personal devil OF woman
kind, Time, could make no ravugus on the body
and face, Many hundreds. yes, thousands. OF
women who ride bicycles today do so because
they think it will help them stave off Old age.
surely we haven't been dupcd by the artful
manufacturers OF the steel steed. But tel us
what makes you say thatf'
My opinion is based on the results of my
given themselves up to hiking for tho last three
years. answered the matron. firmly. ''or.
rather. upon tho effect OF Wheeling on their
looks. l say unhcsitatingly that wheeling
makes a woman LOOK old, and that is the reason
! do not ride. Don't you suppose 1t ~ one OF
10 make, .this not ridingi ! simply cant afford
to. I've reached that agc where | will begin
to fade now, and ] must take caro- of myself.
,Wait unit, I'm through she said energeticnl-
ly, a. n tail, lovely, girl interrupted. 'Iou ali
used 10 laugh AT ali the talk About the bicy Gle
face and say, that IL was Il deluslon OF some one
who opposed wheeling. You were mis, a zen.
There 10 such II thing rs the bicycle face. ana II
lines itself on every one who rides n wheel to
any eNtont. aud there 1t stays anu there It will
sIay until death removes II. My husband WAS
the first one 10 call my attention TO tho fact
that constant riding of II bicycle made n woman
LOOK worn and faded and old before her time.
The first yCpr tho craze broke out we were
travelling in Egypt. When we returned we
round All OF our friends, nicn, women, and chill
dren, bicycle mad, and nothing would do me
but | must get i suit, u wheel. and take out n
course OF tickets. The night after Ia taken
said:
my dear. don't want you to ride a wheel.