The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-08
ENGLISH WHEELWOMEN,
The Sports i'm which They Take Part and
the Decorations of Their Wheels.

IA bttofalionS OF theif wheels.
Bicycle parties of one sort or another
were popular last summer. At several
of the resorts bicycle sports were ar
ranged on an elaborate scale. Races,
trick riding and polo We're the chief fea-
lures of the programmes, and the wo-
men took part merely as decorative
spectators. In England the thing was
managed differently, and the bicycle
sports planned and carried out at the
country houses were charming affairs,
In which women took active part.
One Of the most successful of this sea-
sons bicycle teas was given at a coun-
try seat near Henley, England. The
guests al arrived upon bicycles artis-
tically decorated with flowers. On the
lawn large arches had been erected and
Irvine with flowers. 4 of
young people who had rehearsed for the
occasion and were dressed i'm fancy COS
tunes mounted their wheels and. to the
accompaniment of music, executed in
tricate maneuvers, wheeling in and out
among the arches and going through
graceful dance figures. There was a
May pole dance by the same bicyclists,
and, after that, a Gretna Green race, in
which the first couple covering the
course, ~dismounting. exchanging rings
and returning to the starting point. re-
ceived rings as prizes. Dozens of other
tests Of skill followed, among them a
polo game. i'm which the girls played
against the men and came within an
ace of winning. The programme ended
with a procession Of the bicyclists and
the awarding Of prizes for the most
beautiful wheel decorations, and then
the guests attacked the refreshments,
which they had fairly earned.
In England wheel decoration has be-
come an art, and an astonishing variety
Of effects is possible. 1t is usually adj
visable to carry out a design in one
color or shades of one color, the result
of such a scheme being more striking.
II one is willing to go to considerable
trouble, IL is wise to first wind the
spokes and frame of the wheel with
cotton stuff of the color to be used. OF
course 1t is a necessity that the flowers
should be fresh: and so ii is impossible
to begin putting the flowers upon a
wheel long before ii is to be used. The
background of cotton may be arranged
and smilaX or asparagus fern added;
but the flowers must be kept in water
until the last moment. although they
should be wired and ready for hasty
use. Great care should be taken in the
choice Of flowers. for in the long run
lasting qualities rather than beauty are
what wins. The ways of trimming a
wheel are legion. Some riders content
themselves with covering the framework
With flowers and great
sheaves of blossoms to the handlebars.
\ wire arch over the saddle trimmed
with flowers and luttering ribbons is
pretty. An old umbrella stripped of its
covering and recovered with ribbon and
flowers may he set in a socket at the
back of the saddle so that it will cover
the rider. and one Of the most charm
ing fancies is to fasten a pole with a
crossbar in front of a flower-trimmed
lFL.-T- a --.. -
twined with flowers. and two pretty
tlDwor-crowned and garlanded children
are harnessed TO the pole and driven by
Te.ns Of ribbon or flowers. This last de-
vice calls for some skill on the part of
the rider. who must be able TO wheel
very slowly and steadily. in order not
10 hurry or push tha children.