The Saint Paul globe., 1898-08-07

tween Bald and Cooper, with the curly
headed Chicagoan out Of it. Gardiner
has overworked himself, or is lying low
with the intention Of scooping things
at the national meet. In any event,
his recent races have not been charac-
terized by the dash and abandon Of
his earlier contests. Cooper Is riding
superbly, while Bald seems content to
drag along, taking an occasional first,
but more often seconds and thirds.
The slump In cycle racing, in common
with most other sports. is directly
traceable to nothing else but the war
with Spain, for 1t is the history of ma
tions the world over that in time OF
conflict the little luxuries Of life, the
anusements. the recreations and the
sports are first to suffer With fathers.
brothers, sons and friends at the front
engaged in mortal combat in the cause
of humanity there is too much at stake
for the American public to become in
terested in the enjoyment that marks
life during times Of peace, and the
sporting manager who prepares great
and expensive programmes and expects
enormous patronage to bring him sue
cess takes a step that is not warrant
ed by prevailing conditions. The sport
Of cycle racing is all right. It will
recover from the slump of the present
season When people are inclined to seek
amusement; but so long as the present
conflict continues and public interest
is drawn entirely to war, it need not
be expected that the game will prosper.
The big managers of Boston, New York
and Philadelphia have discovered this
TACT only at great cost. When war was
remote probability the National Cy-
Gle Track association, the International
Team association and the American
Cycle. Racing association laid plans
that promised for America the greatest
season in the history Of the cycle sport.
The war came, and with war light at
tendance, and in one case at least, alb
solute failure. Senator" Morgan and
his associates in the international or
ganization risked everything they pos
sessed in the world, the bottom fell out
of their air-castles and today they are
seeking employment in other fields.
Lamentable failure greeted the we'll
laid plans of worthy men, but, in spite
of all that has been said to the con-
trary, it is not believed that this failure
will have a lasting effect upon the
sport. When better times come cycle
racing again will become popular, and
then if the old managers do not come
to the front, prepared to furnish high
grade programmes new faces will ap-
pear in the arena seeking the honors
anu Lue UNdC Idll IO Tie lOl
of the progressive promoter who chooses
well his game and his time.
Gardiner still leads in the percentage
table, having GOT to his credit out Of
seventeen starts. Cooper. Taylor, Bald
and Stevens come next in order. Few
or no changes have been made during
the past week. A. G. Mertens. the st.
Paul rider, who is we'll known here on
account of winning several time prizes
in the Waukesha road race, is now in
twelfth position, having made a big
drop.
The Century Road club is going
through a hard season. So many mem
bers have failed to renew that the ex-
ecutive committee has decided to ex-
tend the renewal season still another
month, while, in order to hold as many
soldier members as possible, it has
been decided to remit the dues Of those
century riders who have gone to the
front. Some time ago First Vice Pres
ident Fourdrinier handed in his resig-
nation to President Kreitenstein, who
finally influenced the Boston gentleman
to "stick to the ship" and now comes
the resignation of Chairman Charles
w. Mears, who was elected last April
after hard battle with the then Sec
retary AndruS, of Chicago. Mr.. MeayS
quits Office because the duties were too
arduous. He has been succeeded by
Charles M. Fairchild. formerly Of Chi
cago but now of Cleveland, who served
the club as secretary for several years,
but resigned last fall.
Many makers are of opinion that
seven-inch cranks will be used extern
sively on mems bicycles next year. The
increased length is called for by in |
creased size Of the average gear used.
Cyclists in particular should realize the
unwisdom of doing anything to violently
check perSpiration, that automatic process by !
which our bodies kept cool on a hot day. |
The perspiration on the skin. in evaporating. |
becoming dangerously warm. If profuse per-
spiration is allowed to evaporate suddenly |
too much warmth may. be. taken from the
body, with the result of a dangerous chill.
Like Mr.. Pickwick. many an ex-manu-
facturer of bicycles is now Illuminating on the
strange mutabiiity of human affairs.
1t is we'll to go easy in buying alleged
high grade machine which is listed at very
low. price with the cents column filled out
Bad food and Indifferent lodgings will spoil
any cycle tour, even if one travels with an
up-to-date, latest-model bicycle without
more. and the extra exercise is paying in
ves.ment.
Tom Linton, of the National Track Team
association. holds more worlds competition
records than any rider in America.
Otto Z!egler. the little California demon, Is
reported married and settled down on some
valuable property near. San Jose Cal.
Eddie Bald. the hardest racing man in
America to handle has parted company with |
the best trainer he ever had-Pat Mcdonald !
of Albany.
TONE Cooper is crowding Arthur Gardiner |
for first place. Cooper trained at Chester |
park and saws his good condition is dua n
the splendid training quarters.