The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-18
The Bicycle In China.

Statistics of the expectation of American
bicycles in the past few years make very
little reference to the demand for wheels
in China, and probably nowhere has cycling
been less popular than in that country.
Cinnamon seem to have regarded the bicy-
Gle with as much superstition as they re.
gard everything new; until recently they
preferred to walk rather than risk that
novelty's invasion. Within the past few
months. according to a report of the United
States Consul at Shanghai, cycling in the
Flowery Kingdom has become 80 popular
that the spectacle of a wheel-mounted Chi
anna is by no means
As may be suspected, however, credit for
the bicycles introduction in China is not
due TO the Mongolians there. 1t dawned
upon the foreign residents of the Empire
that outdoor exercise was as essential to
good health in that part of the world as
elsewhere. and the wheel was unanimously
recommended as n means of securing it.
Two or three things were difficult for the
Chinese wheelman to overcome. His ma
tive dress was long and clumsy and i'll
suited to pedalling, n his queue was apt
to make trouble by catching in the spokes.
The former obstacle was removed either by
abandoning the awkward garment alto
gether or by turning 1t up and fastening it
at the waist, while the queue was brought
forward over the shoulder and likewise
made fast. Those precautions taken, the
riders freedom was assured.
Doubtless the wheels worst enemies in
China are the public highways. Throughout
a large part of the Empire these are said to
resemble cow paths moro closely thar
roads, and their improvement depends en-.
tirely upon the disposition of tho persons
whose property they adjoin. Only in the
larger towns and in the cities are to be
found roads that really deserve the name.
Most OF the paths are too narrow to accom-.
modate four-wheeled vehicles, and. when
not clouded with dust. deep mud generally
renders them unsuitable for cycling. The
inhabitants give little thought to the con.
dition of their highways, which, when left
to look after themselves, naturally grow
worse instead of better.
Now, a very interesting query Is sup.
Restcd. If the wheels popularity In China
increases at anything like the rate of It's
Increase in other countries, may we not
In "a few years witness a marked change in
the habits of the Chinese racel Certainly
the probability is not remote. To be con-
WINGED OF this, 1t is only necessary to re-
view the bicycles career IN our own coun,
try. Consider the deplorable condition OF
many Of our highways before the advent
OF the wheel. While, after a fashion, they
answered their purpose, five times as much
power was often required TO haul a load
go ALa-n 80 -
roads that were not narrow and rough
were loose and sandy. or covered with
stones, or so muddy that travelling over
them was extremely difficult or utterly i'm,
possible. Distances which are now covered
In two hours 1t then took u whole day to
complete, and the value of property which
had to be reached by way of such wretched
roadways was steadily depreciating.
How did the bicycle improve things
! Its riders quickly discovered that In order