The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-14

be small enough for a model a plaything,
it is believed that 1t will be the smallest
bicycle ever built for actual use. The frame
for the bicycle will be the regulation wom-
an s drop frame. The height of the frame
will be seven inches and that of the ordi-
nary bicycle Is twenty-five inches. The
diameter of the wheels will be eight inches,
and the ordinary bicycle wheel is twenty
eight inches. The length over all will be
are nearly six feet. All through the machine
the same proportions are necessitated, be-
cause Chiquita is perfectly formed little
woman. The cranks will be two and a halI
inches long, against the regulation six and
a half inches. Her feet are the size of an
infants two years old. they are about
nary woman is a good deal larger.
To build this bicycle is quite task. as
every little part must be perfectly finished
small and dainty that they would answer
for a dolls plaything. The saddle will be
smaller than anything of the kind ever
order. The chain-for Chiquita has chosen
a chain wheel, as she does not approve OF
beyel gearing-will be one-quarter of an
inch in width--just about the right size for
watch chain for an ordinary mortal.
Every part will be silver plated.
The whole wheel complete. will not stand
as high as the axle of the ordinary bicycle,
and the little rider will be able to do her
training on top of large dining room
table. She could bend forward on this wneel
and ride through the rim of the wheel OF
the regular model.
Chiquita is immensely pleased-if so small
a body will admit of that expression. She
has seen the cycle in years gone by, but
until some seven months ago never thought
of riding one. The first time she read in the
papers about Jimmy Michael she saw that
he was called the welsh midget and
this set her to thinking. She did now know
how small Michael was, but naturally con-
cluded that If one midget could have a
bicycle and ride, another one could; so she
asked her manager for one.
But Chiquita's hopes were then dashed,
for he told her Michael was a midget only
by comparison, and for time the subject
dropped. But. after a while, this little wom-
an revived the idea. She has always been
an athletic little body. and takes her morn
ing exercise regularly. She is quite an
equestrian, riding her pony and a trained
dog, on each of which she has a harness
and side saddle.
On her arrival in Providence the ques-
ton was settled when q local matchmaker
announced that he could and would build
a bicycle just her size. But from that time
on a momentouS question arose, and ever
since Miss Chiquita has been wondering
about the style of dress that it will be prop
er for her to wear on the bicycle.
Boomers were at first suggested, but she
at once decided that they were too immOd-
est The short skirt affected by many
wheelwomen she placed in the category of
the vaudeville stage, and not to be seriously
considered, and yet she did not think that
a long skirt was the proper thing for ath-
letic exercise. Finally, the sonora decided
that she would compromise with the popu-
lar taste and has ordered her costume
to be made up with a short sAirt-that is
one that will come just to the tips of her
boots-and will wear this with a short
jacket.