The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-18

mofocyclng its faddish aspect in France.
Were even aerial navigation a perfected
and safe accomplishment, people WITH
serious interests IN life would not Tor
long delight in exploring the clouds or
chasing the wild swan in its own ele-
ment 70 the detriment Of their earthly
pursuits. in the long run every new
thing finds IT'S place according 70 us legl-
innate importance. and not according 10
fancy The cowboy transplanted TO New
York city puts away his pony and MS
gombrer0. Only hotel walters wear tull
dress every day in the year yet tul
drcss falls not I'm disuse. only pfoie5-
sional cyclists and numskulls cycle TOT
cvcling's sake. and the former usually
cease 10 do so when the financial induce
mont Is removed II there has been any
general misunderstanding according 70
which person who buys a cycle should
be expected 10 80 on forever investing
his spare energies In pedal-tuInins' IL
has hardly been shared by those VINO
are accustomed 10 observe the course oil
human affairs.
The question which remains, IL, how
ever II the natural and sober reaction
AGAINST cycling excuses, which Is being
noted. fs a matter Of regret 10 the cycle
trade. e. should be so from a purely mn
anclll point o. view. An important dis
tnctl0n IN this respect is lost sight
Of by the pessimists, who claim that
the trade may prepare for decay when
reason begins 20 prevail II IS their as
sertiOn that eastern cyclists cycle less
than formerly, but not that the NUMBER
Of people who cycle IS decreasing. Inc
latter assertion could not possibly be
maintained against the reports 70 the
contrary which are made BY the cycle
90
who cycles less Will soon not cycle az
ALL and VIII induce others BY his eN-
ample. lies the fallacy OF the pessimist.
REASONS OVERLOOKED.
He overlooks that all the valid reasons
FOR purchasing bicycles which ever e1-
listed still remain in force. They can
not be removed by any new FAD that
may arise. but continue IN operation by
virute of their intrinsic strength.
The bicycle places its owner IN POSI-
ton 70 receive many impressions In
quick sucoesslon-the charm OF speed
while allowing him perfect liberty 20
choose his course and leaving MIN the
satisfaction Of accomplishing this plea
sure by his own exertiOn and gradual
ed In respect OF speed and expenditure
of energy By the needs OF the individual
It's n0iseless action enhances the plea
sire By excluding that continual inter
ruDti0n from disturbing and valueiess
sounds which mars the attractlveness OF
other forms % speedy travel These
features OF the bicycle constitute nearly
all that may be said IN favor OF cycling
for cycli7gs sake. but In the busy mod
ern life pleasures OF this kind cut TOO
deeply into the time which is money
unless they are enjoyed incidentally WIN
other functions which should not De
= H-~ ~ "
clinz Tor its own sake. But fortunately
the bicycle combines with these advaa-
tages the much more practical one OF
enlarging the range OF sociabiity- In
cities and IL the country II furnishes
the readiest means for bringing people
together who live apart. II has opened
the front door for the feminine world,
enabling woman 10 get out OF the house
without infractlon OF the rules Tor good
and safe behavior. II has changed the
public street into an unexceptionable
promenade where life pulses more at
trac,lyely than in the drawing room or
the veranda.
DRESS FREEDOM
The liberatlng effect which the bicycle
continues 10 exert in the matter OF dress
Is also one which subserves permanent
human requirements. and although all
these functions OF the bicycle DO not
strike 50 deeply at the root OF civilized
existence is 10 be absolutely imperative
or compel the use OF a bicycle for all
possible purposes that involve lccomo-
ton. they are at least as important In
their way as the reasons which compel
a man 10 own good clothes even II he
does not use them every day. or as the
considerations which induce uianufac-
turer to install the best appliances for
economical production in his factory even
II these appliances will ease only a part
OF the work there going on The bicycle
is a tool for rendering more effective
many OF the efforts for improving that
part OF life which Is carried on outaidA