Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-17
Cannon takes his wheel with him on enter
ing the Capitol and deposits it in his COM
mittee room, as do several other congress
SIGNAL wheelmen.


mfttee room as do several other congress
SIGNAL wheelmen.
COngrcssmcn on the Wheel.
Representative Babcock of Wisconsin is
new addition to the wheelmen. He was
chairman of the committee on the District
of Columbia in the last House. If he sue
ceeds himself his advent among the wheel
men will be hailed with delight. A new
criminal has been developed in Washing
ton. He is akin to the scoundrel who ruins
ladies' dresses by throwing vitriol upon
them. He scatters chunks of broken glass
in places frequented by wheelmen. His op-
erations extend throughout the city A
hint from the chairman of the District
committee to the Commissioners might Sc
cure his apprehension and conviction. In
his excursions upon the wheel Mr.. Babcock
is accompanied by his wife, who is a grace
full rider. Nor is he the only congressman
whose wife accompanies him in his ex-
petitions. Mrs George B. Mcclellan fire.
quently rides to Alexandria and back with
her husband.
In riding about the city you often meet
Representative Shafroth of Colorado, SEN
ator Bacon of Georgia, Senator TilIman of
South Carolina, Senator Wetmore of Rhode
Island, Senator Perkins of California, Sem
ator Butler of North Carolina, Senators Ell
kins and Faulkner Of West Virginia, and
Senator Kyle Of South Dakota. The latter
has as companion daughter who usual
ly sets the pace for. the father. Senator
Wolcott of Colorado, now absent in Europe,
Is greatly missed by the wheelmen In
Washington during the present session.
Representatives Foss of Illinois, TAYLOR
of Ohio. Latimer of South Carolina, Sher-
nan of New York, Curtis of Kansas, and
others, belong to the congressional .bicycle
brigade. All are enthusiastic Wheelmen
Representative Sprague of Massachusetts
has won more than the usual notoriety by
appearing on the floor of the Senate in a
wheelman's costume The costume fits hin,
to perfection, and is evidently the work of
a Boston tailor. Jerry Simpson is an old
rider, and one who understands the ethics
OF land navigation. He wears knee breaches
and Is not ashamed to wear them More
astonishing than this, however, is the suit
of Col. William G. Sterett of Texas. He
appeared upon the floor of the House the
other day with golf stockings and a butter
nut roundabout. The suit is uniuue and
Characteristic. The coat may have come
from the plains of Texas but the stockings
are a symphony in hosiery. The services
OF no Boston tailor were required 1t re-
calls the story of well-known captain in
the navy, of whom 1t was said that he
made his own clothes and cut his own
hair.
All Over the District.
A conspicuous figure in quiet streets of a
cool afternoon is Commodore Samson of
the ordnance bureau He rides a high
fraWe wheel with aplomb and dignity. In
days gone by the commodore was a favor
lite In the tennis court with Secretary o.
ney OF Massachusetts. They played on the
lot adjoining the residence of Mrs u. s.
Grant. The commodore is full as era ceful
Oh the wheel as in the tennis court
The Conduit road and the shady drives
about the Soldiers Home are fayorite
courses for wheelmen. Toward night they
appear here by hundreds. Accidents are
comparatively few, because scorching is
strictly forbidden. The ordinance is en-
forced by bicycle squad of uniformed
police officers To those standing upon the
csplanade of the Capitol ON the last night
sylvania avenue presented a fairy-like spec
tacle. 1t was filled WITH w7leelmen and
their lights were as numerous as firefiies
IN summer. The avenue was fairly phos-
phorescent with them, and the scene was
made more animated by the music of the
bands which were to take. part in the in
augural procession. The plaza fronting the
Capitol presented a scene even more STIR
ring. The air was filled with the tinkling Of
near on every road in the Capitol grounds.
And still the old fogy doubts! A member
of the confederate cabinet recently express
ed his establishment at seeing a friend upon
a wheel ut is the only Indication Of
lunacy that have ever seen in you," he
remarked.
The wheelman replied I'm quarter of a
century you will see one hundred wheelmen
where you now see one. All the rising gen.
Grafton are infatuated with the wheel 1t
Is even more useful than ornamental"
simply. fad. Within ten years it will die
out, and you will not see one wheel where
you now see a hundred"
AMOS J. CUMMINGS.