Evening star., 1898-07-23
FOR UP-TO-DATE WOMEN
Suggestions as to What One Should Take
on Cycling Tour.
The Great Thing is to Take as Little
rs Possible - Suitable Shirt
waists-RidinE Skirts.
Special Ccrrespondenee Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
NEW YORK, July 81, 1898.
The first move in the direction of a bi-
cycle tour is a long and serious contro-
versy with ones luxurious tastes and
habits on the matter of things which must
be left out. For 1t is settled fact among
these who now spend delightful weeks
every summer in going about the country
with their wheels that half of the secret of
success and pleasure unmarried by care is
the smallest possible amount of parapher-
MALTA. While riding about their own coun-
try luxurious travellers may often arrange
to have their luggage go from place to
place and meet them, but If this is done
every day it entails an endless amount of
supervision and the necessity of never go
ing ahead of whatever route one has
mapped out in the morning
Sc me of the women who spent two weeks
or more on bicycles last summer bought
diamond frame wheels especially for their
travels, had divided skirts made and
quietly learned to mount under the shade
of night on their new steeds. A diamond
frame solved many difficulties in the mat
ter of luggage, for there are cases built
which fit directly to the frame. In this all
necessary articles can be carried If made
of the proper material
But few women can go to the expense of
purchasing a diamond frame ana learning
TO use it for a short summer tour. even
though they inclined to ride one. So
the disposition of luggage becomes prob
lem to be solved only by doing without most
heroically. At least two bundles will have
to be carried, and their disposition will be
a matter of thought and perhaps friction
of temper al first. This of course, is on
the basis that one does not expect to get
at ones base OF supplies very often, but
has had small trunk or large one. as the
case may be- sent to some point ahead.
Suitable Shirtwaists.
Silk, flannel and woven goods must be
used instead of cotton, they take up
less room and muss less easily. A fresh
cotton shirt waist is very alluring but a
few miles would put it quite out of com
mission, and to carry one in the very
limited packages which can be transported
a wheel would render it unfit for ap
pearance in any society. The flannel called
"taffeta' in some of the shops is very light
and comes in pretty patterns. One can buy
SKIRT waists of this material ready made if
desired, or can have them made TO order.
The ordinary flannel shirt waist, which
is worn during the spring and fall months,
is quite too heavy for touring. If one pre-
fers, wash silk shirt waists may be worn.
and II one carries coat, which should be
obligatory in a climate like ours, the silk
shirt waists are perhaps the most comfort
able. Whether one decides upon silk or
flannel, OF wishes to try both, one thing
Is quite sure, DeSlQeS the waist one wears
there will hardly be room for more than
one other. Two very light silk ones might
be squeezed in This is something of a
hardship and will entail fleeing the maids
at inns and hotels at night to wash them
out, or one must cen turn laundress her
self for the nonce with a basin for tub.
So will start with one or two shirt
waists to be snugly packed for transporta-
ton. A travelling comb and brush can be
procured which will take up very little
room, the toothbrush can be snugly pack
ed in a celluloid holder, soap should he
taken in the shape of small thin sheets
which resemble paper they can be had at
any drug store), an extra pair of stockings
or SO should be added, and an extra pair
of union undergarments. which are the
only kind to wear touring, and which may.
be light silk, Isle thread cotton, which
ever one is in the habit OF wearing. People
addicted to the flannel habit declare that
they should be of the lightest weight fan
mel. 1t is Eot adyisa BILE, however. to put
on flannel in the middle of summer unless
one is accustomed to ii. A night dress Of
dark blue or black wash silk win have to
be added, besides an extra pair of hoomers
of silk or linen, and the fair tourist will
find she has already quite an array Of ma
terial, not counting handkerchiefS, which
she must have, nor the jacket of her cy-
cling suit which she is likely to need in
the first shower and must take with her.
Fresh collars are also necessity, al
though they are not recommended for the
time when one is riding. Then it is a good
plan to have a soft, loose dark ribbon
about the neck. or, better still, soft hand
kerchief which will protect one from the
sun and yet not chafe the neck or inter
fere in the least with freedom of move
ment.
Corsets for WheelwOmen.
Women who have been accustomed to |
corsets would tire easily without them, yet
it scarcely seems feasible to wear such
tight, hot affairs on a summer tour involv- |
ing a great deal of exercise There are |
various excellent substitutes in the shape |
of waists made of thin materials, but she |
who is welded to her idols in this respect |
had better not experiment leaving off stays |
for the very first time when she is attempt |
ing something unusual There are, how 1
ever, short corsets with elastic instead of |
batiste between the whalebones which are /
THE GIRL HE LIE
Copyright, 1898. Life Publishing Company