Evening star., 1897-01-30
WHEELS

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Bicycling during the week was killed by
the cold weather. The opening days were
anything but favorable for riding owing
to the intense cold, and the snow Wedncs-
day made things worse Riding Thursday
was almost impossible, and those who i'm
agined that they would like the cruncning
of the snow beneath the wheels found the
poetical side of the case lost entirely and
inconvenience and hardships so great that
the attempt was abandoned in quick order
Cycle Club Voting Contest.
A novelty in the way of a voting contest
will be introduced in the city next week in
connection with the production of Nancy
Hanks at the Academy of Music. 1t will
be vote for the most popular club in the
CITY, and it is expected that considerable
interest will be aroused in connection with
the matter The idea originated with Mr..
Harry Askin, who manages the company
and who introduced the scheme in several
other northern cities, with very successful
results. The voting will commence Tues
day evening, February . and will continue
through Wednesday evening closing
Thursday night after the performance
Every patron of the house will be per-
mitted to vote. Ballots containing the
names of all of the cycle clubs of the city
will be printed, and each person voting
VIII place cross opposite the name of
their favorite club. The ballots will
be handed around between the acts by the
| ushers, who will also collect them count
Will be made each evening. The total re-
suits will be counted Friday evening. This
night will be known as the bicyc,e night
and the house will be decorated for the oc
casion with all of the different club colors.
There will be bicycles in evidence, and
| many of the jokes of the comedians for the
occasion will be the subject A good
many of the local clubs will engage boxes
| for the evening, and the night is expected
to be interesting to every one.
Al! OF the clubs have been notified of the
coming contest and, of course they will
make rally to show their strength in the
voting. The club securing the highest
number of votes will be given handsome
SILK banrer, which will be Inscribed Pre-
sented to the most popular club in Wash
ineton, u C., =, in voting contest at
the Academy of Music. February 5, 1897"
The banner will be handsome and costly
| made specially in New York. 1t is expect
ed to reach the city this afternoon and
Monday morning will be placed on exhibit
tion at one of the local stores.
Cycle Board of Trade.
Washington will not have a cycle show
this year. This is the decision reached by
the cycle board Of trade, and is final In
taking the step number of reasons in
| fiuenced the dealers against making such an
exhibit. In connection with the present
financial depression il was deemed unwise
to go to any expense in making an exhibit.
when it was thought that the result of the
show would not warrant such a step. This
II formation will be rec eived with regret by
many OF the local people, who calculated
upon seeing such an exhibit this year.
The cycle board of trade, it was under
stood, was organized with the giving of the
show as one of the primary objects. The
matter has been discussed at the various
meetings Of the organization, and last year
the secretary was instructed to write to
the national cycle board of trade and secure
a sanction for the local show. The sanction
fas not as yet been received, and though
there is no doubt of It's being favora BILE, the
local association has changed its mind and
decided not to give the cycle show. Even
II the sanction does arrive it will not be
used. The proposed show was to have been
held the last week in February. AS the
dealers have all the say, and they are
the only ones to support a cycle show no
club or individual will endeayor to start
such this spring.
The clearing house project, published
several weeks ago in The STAR has been
put into prac ctical working order Mr. Ben.
Dakin, the well-known cycle repairer and
cycle detective. has been assigned in charge
of the establishment, as appraiser He has
already received his appointment and
started in on the business of his office.
Queer Wheclmen.
The "only a whisper smoker Of the
Queer Wheelmen was given Monday even
ing at the club house, 1923 18th street, and
like the other public events of the club.
proved to be an excellent success. In spite
of the intense cold weather, the club house
was crowded all during the evening, and
every one spent a pleasant time. There
were refreshments served in abundance
and no one was sighted. The club quar-
ters We're prettily decorated and illumi-
mated The club colors were everywhere
visible. with Chinese and Japanese lanterns
Of the same hues. The Little German
Band played the overture, and several 9TH
er selections during the course of the even
ing. Paul Won Boeckman, the strong man
of the club, gave an exhibition of his
strength and among other things was the
lifting of 16O-pound dumb bell with one
hand, and tearing in bits two packs OF
ca.ds. His chest expansion was found to
be over ten inches. The Mandolin Club
gave number of selections. and various
other individuals gave assistance for the
evenings program. Bob Dobbins rendered
comic song, and SO did Billy Emerson
and Mr.. Fitzgerald.
The club will enter the voting contest
next week, and has been rallying its forces
to secure the most votes for the banner
The club has already engaged box for the
evening of Friday, February 8.
Arlington Wheelmen.
The Arlingtons, under the guidance of
Capt. Frank c. Potts, took short cross
country run last Sunday, starting from 513
9th street northwest. The club rode to
Benning. turning to the left and over a
road lately explored by Lieut.. Murphy of
the club, to Seat Pleasant from which
place the return to the city was made
over the Central avenue, via Anacostia
and the navy yard, completing in all about
twenty-five miles. Capt. Potts had with
him Lieut.. Murphy, Messrs. Stone, John
and Henry Walker and Papa" Dawson
Capt Potts hopes that more of the club
members will show up on the winter runs,
they being short and enjoyable and always
over by dinner time He also contemplates
a mid-Wfnter run to Brandywine, within
the next three weeks, at which time he ex-
poets that all Of the lovers Of that village
Will join him, host j. X. Smith having
everything nice for the boys at that end Of
the line. President -Gettinger will most
likely be one of the fixtures of this trip.
Lieut.. Murphy has been doing some ex-
ploring on his own account and discovered