Evening star., 1897-03-13

oI'ei III other cities. Several years ago.
when the number of female riders was Iim-
fted. there was very successful club in
existence. known as the Nomads which
lasted for some ume but which gradually
aIopped out OF existence. 1t would seem as
though some of the riders OF The fair sex
shouid get up club Of :heir own. for the
general good that would accrue.
Lillian Russell. who has been singing this
week at the Columbia Thea,er, Is an en-
thusiastic wheelwoman. Sne has several
bicycles that have been presented to her
and daily spin Is one Of the regular oc-
currences on favorable days. She has given
out a number Of interviews on the .ubject.
and expressed her unbounde,l admiration
for the use of the silent steed for The fair
sex, which. she claims like 4 good 1r any
others, emancipates women.
Lottie ellison is another ardent cyclist.
Camille D'Arville. who has appeared in this
city a number of times. is also an enthu-
siastic rider. Alkaline 'Terriss, who former
ly played In His Excellency'' Company.
has been riding for four years. a top.ing
the wheel in preference 10 driving her
horse running away one time and giving
her such scare that she was always
afraid thereafter to drive. She says that
she rides about an hour and. half at
time. being as long as she can comfortably
stanu.
1t is a ludicrous sight to see female
rider towed along when a novice is doing
the hard work. Especially is this SO when
one sees the sight for the first time The
writer saw the tow line IN practical opera
tion .ast fall out on the Coatliit road for
the first time. The day was quite windy.
strong breeze was coming almost due
north. that raised the dust in LIQUIDS and
caused tears in the eyes of all those who
faced it. Riding mp the road was mach
harder than the return trip. as the wind
was struck more sq,Iace;y. The wind WAS
tinged with enough cold to make 1t Gisa-
greeable. While stal,,in. at u weyside re-
sort a man was seen slowly pushing his
wheel. and later II developed that D y oman
was perhaps twenty feet behind him. A
rope drown taut was fastened from the
mans saddle post to the head Of the wo-
mans wheel. and while The man was puff
fins and blowing like {. small sized porpoise
the woman was taking things "asy. nav
ing her feet on the CCs.iiiug bars and only
keeping the wheel straight. Behind the
two came another young man with a little
girl In tow IL similar manner, the party
evidently being one family 'our for pleasure
bent. 1t might have been pleasure for the
women folks. but from all Indications it
was anything else but that for the men.
The towing process might come in good in
| the case where young lady becomes too
! tired or sick while riding. but it appears
to be much harder work than pushing a
| tandem for the man.
Female racing is yet in It's infancy in
| this country, and there are many females
| who hope that IT will never be encouraged
| TO such an extent as to become popular.
| 1t Is all right and proper, they think for
| the men to race. and perform recor,l-break-
| ing feats. but 1t Is something entirely out
| side of womans sphere. So far there have
| only been limited number of female
| cycling races held in this country, the most
| prominent being a recent six-day go-as-you-
please race. The venture did. not prove as
| successful as was expected. and. in fact.
| the managers lost money. The League of
| American Wheelmen is opposed to female
| racing contests. and will not issue a ss nc
| ton for them. 1t goes still farther and
! threatens to suspend any male riders who
| compete on a track where there are female
| riders. This somewhat strengthens the
| cause of those opposed to women racing, as
| the league is the power of cycle racing In
| this respect The matter has not yet been
| permanently decided. nor is 1t likely that
| such will be the case. and from now Gu the
pros and cons of the question will be dis
| cuSeed.