The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-06
Z
GOSSIP OF THE. WHEEL.


GOSSIP OF THF WHEEL.
In Chicago the newest TAD among lovers
OF the bicycle is the midnight wheeling party.
Already a number Of society women on the
South side have organized little groups of
n; ten or twelve, enthusiasts who take a fort
boulevards encircling the city. They start at
IL o'clock sharp and reach the starting point
again some time after sunrise. The werdness
ure Of these so-called .tmidnixht'' runs have
made them the sole theme ,for discussion
among the smart set who ride. as well as
one of the most popular diversions Of the
season.
1t was Mrs. Leland Norton. of Drexel boule-
ward, who originated and planned the first
midnight wheeling party. The midnight ride
has everything in the word to recommend 1t.
1t Is unique, for at the time 1t is taken the
rest Of the wheeling world, is, in the land OF
nod. That ride of forty-two miles around
the boulevards Is made generally without
meeting another wheel but those of the party.
The latest bicycle preacher is the Rev. ].
B. Randolph, colored, pastor of Shiloh Bap-
is mixed as to hue of skin, but Is said to
be highly cultured. When he took the church,
few months ago, the congregation was slim.
while now every pew is filed. I don't want
bicyclers,' says Mr.. Randolph, ''to get the
idea they must dress up before coming to my
church. If they are riding by with kncker-
bockers on, let them come in, knickerbockers
and all They can worship God just as sin
cerely and successfully in knee breeches as
in any other kind of Dress "How abour
5ioomers?" he was asked. If woman wants
to come to my church with boomers on, let
her come. Boomers are Just as holy garb
as any other kind and there is no reason
why woman shouldn't wear them to church
if she feels disposed To-
Lieut.. James A. Moss, of the Twenty fifth
U. S. infantry; who led the wheeling expedi-
tion from Ft. Missoula, Mont, 400 miles over
the main divide of the Rocky mountains to
FIT. Yellowstone and back again, last fall, will
start June 1 with 20 colored soldiers Of his
regiment on 2,000mile ride. The route will
be from FIT. Missoula to st. Louis. across the
toughest, rockiest country anywhere in the
United States, Upon the result of this trip
will largely depend the adoption or rejection
of the bicycle for army usage in this country.
A suit of interest to wheelmcn was held
in the city court of Baltimore. 1t is an action
against the city and suburban street railway
company for $1,000 damages, for personal in
jures received by Michael j. Reed while rid
ing bicycle. Mr.. Reed alleges that he was
proceeding at a reasonable rate of speed along
the street when car approached him from
behind and ran him down without warning.
He was thrown from his wheel, VIII Ch was
shattered, and he received severe injuries.
1t has been held by New York court that a
railway company is Liable for damages where
a wheeinan is run down from behind.
Here is the way Mayor Harrison, OF Chi
cago differentiates between the equestrian and
the bcyciist: when Itgo horseback riding
the mayor says, "the horset gets the exercise.
He doesn't exactly get it all, but he gets the
best part of it. On the other hand when l
go bicycle riding all the exercise is nine. l
man can feel that he is doing something
for himself when he is riding a wheel, and
there is great deal of satisfaction in that"
ocJyo 10
rider of another as they stood with their
wheels on a downtown corner.
''Nope," was the reply.
''Why not?"
''Going to rain was the short answer,
E'Get OUT it's as clear a bell today
said the first speaker.
That's all right, but I know. I noticed it
coming down today. My tire feels mushy and
soggy. and that's surer sign than barom-
eter. I've been riding these tires nearly two
years now and they never missed on the
weather yet. When they get half dead like
they are today. it means rain. They dent
need pumping up. they are hard enough, but
there is a sort of dullness about them that
never fails to be sure indication of what to
exnect in the weather line; .sae a.-1.;s.
Inquiry was made this point among
some of the bicycle men. Some Of them
laughed and said that there was more in it
than cne would at first suppose. The COM
pressed air in the eppa is subject. of course,
to all the climatic Influences that barometer
is. and a person who had given the subject
the prober amount of observation and Hattele
tion might acquire The knaeko of foreteilng
the weather in that way, just the same as a
farmer can by His cows ore theDhairs ons his
doI,@colunfbus DISPATCH Ho@idat.
Columbus .wheelmenG are concentrating e. a
concerted movement against the thousands of
dogs which infest the streets of the city.e:A
dog can cause wheelrnan more trouble to the
square inch than ANYTHING on four feet..'.%19,'
: t'D:d you ever try to learn the bicycle Capt.
Barnacles?' aE@.
''Do vou think" roared the old sailor. 'that
I would be found aboard craft that had its
rudder in ndanapols Journal. a.
e 3: = .tsy5.S.
Cvce stands similar to cab stands are to be
started in Berlin. 1t is proposed to nut $50
wheels on hire in various parts Of the city.
and the fee for hiring vii he the modest
sum Of 1 penny for twenty minutes during
the day, and twice that sum at night. - =
Ruling Hands
The hard that rocks the cradle
Doesn't rule the world today
For we've ceased to do our rocking
In the ancient, simple wayi
Now the hand that'rules this plane
AS it whirls among the stars -
Are the ones that rest upon and III
Guide the graceful bandebars,
Cleveland Leader.
They Went After It-1fGreat Scott, Rastus.
1Uu lOOh dS IL yUo -DSeu HSHlih6 d DuEZ-
saw" 49,.
'Yassah. was in dat smashup in de Buck
town wheelmen S race a-.,s3'sss -
t'I heard about that. How did it happen?"
'fDollah fell outn de pacemaker's pocket
right in de middle OBJ. de race. Cincinnati
Enquirer. -xi.lf..
A Red Cross corps vii! be organized among
the bicyclists of Chicago. The members Of
the corps will be drawn from every section
Of the city. so that on the principal boule
wards frequented by bicyclists. and in. the
parks wherever accidents are likely to hap-
pen. a Red Cross cyclist will be within call
Each member will carry the few remedies
necessary in emergency cases.
rider wholhas experieHced the .ipeopven-
ience of punctured. tires gives this bit Of
advice: "a sharp lookout should be kent
while passing buildings that either in
process of construction or being demolished.
The wagons in which material is taken to or
hauled away from these buildings never rum
be off without jolting some of their contents
out on the street. Chips or brick or stone,
af,,&a air,t1 49, ,Gr4o