The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-08
FOR WOMEN CYCLISTS.

An interesting story Is told of two
young lady bicyclists who live at
Brookville, N. Y, whose names are
Miss Addie Curtis and Miss Flora Hill.
The pluck Of the young fades was full
ly demonstrated in a way that pleases
everybody. The two girls were out
riding recently, and while resting on
the roadside, near Hayesville, saw a
tramp scatter something on the road
in front Of them, and then disappear
in the bushes which bordered the road
side. The girls were forced to ride by
the place and saw that the tramp had
scattered pieces of broken glass along
the road with the evident intention of
puncturing the tires of their wheels.
Looking about, they caught sight of
the tramp hiding in the bushes.
you did this" exclaimed Miss Hill,
pointing toward the man; come out
here at once and pick up the glass"
The tramp laughed insolently and ut
tered a coarse remark The two girls
held a brief consultation. Then one of
them walked coolly over to willow
tree, from which she broke off two
small branches The two then advanc-
ed resclutely toward the tramp. who at
once capitulated and picked up every
bit of glass he had strewn on the road
few moments before. Then he
slouched away, but when at what he
regarded as a safe distance he hurled
back a volley of abuse. The girls
jumped on their wheels and in a min
ute had overhauled the rascal, to whom
they administered e thorough thrash
ing with the switches.
A new field for women has been open
ed in London, in the shape of bicycle
repairers, and instructors in riding.
The city has been invaded by women
in this respect. They have a long list
of customers, and instead of having
patrons come to q shop the women re-
pairers visit the house or place of bust
ness once week. These women are
familiar with the different parts of
wheel, having studied and graduated
at bicycle school, and are competent
to make all needed repairs. Their work
appears to give satisfaction.
Miss Porter, who recently left Chi
cago for a ride to New York, covering
a number of centuries during her trip
is a good and enthusiastic rider. She
is not professional rider in any sense
Of the word. Her long ride proved ex-
tremely pleasant, because, she said
it was 50 nicely planned. Her first three
centuries were made over roads of the
toughest character. She did not lack
for company all the way. She never had
less than two pacemakers, and some
times had as many as thirty, all vol
untary She was so nicely and gentle
manly treated by her escorts that she
became provoked when she heard peo-
pie talk of the demoralizing influ-
ence of the bicycle. Any pastime or
companionship may be made demoral-
izing just as readily as can bicycling,
she said, though she always found
more gentlemen than loafers riding BIZ
cycles. Miss Porter was dressed en-
tirely in white, from white cap to
white shoes, including white boomers,
and as a result she attracted consider
able attention all along the route.
The attention of some of the female
riders of Scranton is called to an act
committed unthinkingly by them, but
which does not cause them to present
a pretty or graceful figure. 1t is the
practice of standing in the street rest
ing with one foot on the ground and
the other foot on the outside pedal.
Some girls have acquired this habit
and do it regularly. 1t is best to take
the foot Immediately off the pedal when
GisnOunting.
Blind riders are novelties, and some
time ago a paragraph was published in
this column regarding the wonderful
accomplishments of Helen Kellar.
There is another blind wheelwOman,
and she is Miss Kate Helmke, teach
er of the Missouri Asylum for the
Blind at st. Louis. Her first effort was
on a tandem, and after months
practice she rode unattended, contin-
ing herself however, in the asylum
grounds. Not satisfied with this she
determined upon a trip on the streets
of the city. After being attended over
a smooth course of several blocks she
went unattended over the route. The
tour was made without mishap, her
keen sense of hearing warning her of
the approach of vehicles.
Mrs. A. r. Lawton, of Savannah, Ga,
will erect a church in memory of her
deceased husband, which will cost some
thing like $4,000. In agreeing to es-
tablish this church, Mrs. Lawton has
made several interesting provisions. She
stipulates that it must at all times be
open to itinerant ministers and lectur-
ers whose objects are worthy ones.
There is no church or building in the
city now which provides for this OBJ
ject and Mrs. Lawton has always held
that there should be. Mrs. Lawton is
also a believer in bicycling, and she
wants the Lawton Memorial to be popu-
lar with bicyclists. With that end in
view she also stipulates that there shall
be a room in the basement of the
church in which the wheels of all who
desire to attend services can be kept
The congregation has agreed to the