Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-12
.pIcYcLE FACE AND NECK"

A northern contemporary recently de-
voted no little OF It's editorial space 10 d
| comment on the disappearance OF wheel
mems peculiarities." and the passing OF
| many eccentrIcities which have hitherto
characterized the bicyclist.
First OF all. says the editor. the bicycle
I face" has disappeared. and the reasons
| for its departure remain a mystery. a
few months since we saw II everywnere-a
horrible dcformity of countenance which
terrified brave pedestrians and puzzled
the scientific mind. Possibly it had its
| origin in the mental anxiety incident TO
much activity OF leg. but be that as II
may. II IS now a thing Of the past We
stil have the wheelmen-yea, more than
ever before-but their bicycle faces are
lacking. Doubtless the sun has taken
upon itself the duty Of "scorching" and
relieved bikers of this responsible duty.
And along with the bicycle face" has
disappeared the bicycle nose" The two.
Of course, were always inseparable COM
panions, and It is but meet that they
should quit us together. This alarming
feature had its genesis in England. and
British physicians were the first to dis
cover It, Psychologists never salts
factorily explained its advent, but there
it was. nevertheless, poking Itself into
good society. and always acting as pre-
cursor for the contorted face. Being Eng
lish, 1t was, of course, adopted by many
Americans, who soon found they could
not do without It. On the whole, however,
it was not a bicyclistic sine qua non.
Many genteel people got along without II.
There have been scientists who maintain |
ed that the peculiar olefactory protube-
rance was due to the inhalation Of large
quantities of gravel and pulverized mica
ceous substance while whirling swiftly |
along A refutatiOn of this purely physi- |
cal theory is found in the fact that we |
still have the atmospheric grit, but lack \
the peculiar nose in question.
"Ostrich neck" got to be very prevalent |
in this country at one time. Full-fedged |
scorchers had to have 1t. Necessity was |
the mother of its invention. In order,
while ploughing through the air. to see in |
all directions, wheelmen stretched their
necks until elasticity and length was ulti-
mately acquired, and the thing got to be
a recognized institution. 1t was very use
full as a protection against policemen, and
largely to the violation Of
our laws. We drop tear to its memory.
The bicycle hand" doubtless due to
over-exertion from prehensile fingers,
likewise became epidemic at one time. 1t
excited curiosity and misgivings. but
never had the same prominence as "os-
trich neck, In truth, no case of genuine
bicycle hand" ever actually developed
In this country.
OF more importance than some of the
other complaints was bicycle leg" which
seems to have been a kinsman Of rheuma-
tism or a near relative of paralysis. 1t
originated with female riders, and was
for the most part confined TO them. We
rather suspect, however, that despite the
luondam existence OF this drawback, our
EGGS have, above all our other members,
been the greatest beneficiaries from bicy-
cling.
This eulogy would fail in comprehen-
;iveness were It TO omit at least kindly
reference TO bicycle wrist" knock
knees" 'pigeon-toes." and several other
which used to be common
variance.
But they "have all gone and parted"
md whether among strangers made
heir homes or not, we cannot say. At
east we hear of them no more in this
save as memories.
The bicycle blush,'' healthy, ruddy,
,enial and glowing, alone remains among
Is, worthy Illustration of the survival
# the fittest.