The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-10-25
DUE TO THE WHEEL
Women Being Greatly Benefited
by the Bicycle.
The Greatest Safeguard Against De-
generatton-lt Is Better Than
Dress Reform for the
Fair Sex.

Women do we'll to ride the wheel"
says DIR. Sayre. at means stronger,
healthier race of men and women for
the coming generation. Women were
going into decline. Their nervous
force was wearing out. That means
great deal, for the decay of a nation be-
gins always with the breaking up of the
nervous system of its women. Nor
dau's book on degeneration had some
excuse, as is shown by the discussion
it brought about. He had some strong
points on which to base his argument,
but he was not thoroughly justified,
and even if he were, the bicycle is prov
ing itself to be the remedy. 1t is giving
women healthy diversion, teaching
them self-control and self-rehance, and
making them fit physically to be the
mothers of a race of giants.
81 know that some OF the women re-
formers have objected to wheels, and
with justice, too; but now that saddles
adapted for women are speciality with
saddle makers, the chief grounds for
objection are removed. Saddles for
men and saddles for women should be
different The ordinary saddle, mod
eled on the plan of the comman horse
saddle for men, is not at all suitable
for women. 1t is more than likely to
do them serious physical harm, but
with a properly formed saddle there is
no danger whatever.
american women are prone to be
morbid. 1t is a result of the busy life
of the nation. They have stayed in
doors too much, and have gotten into
the habit of thinking about themselves,
worrying and fussing when there was
really no need of it. Now the bicycle
gives them inducement to go out into
the open air, to enjoy the country, to
be in touch with other people. 1t gives
them opportunity to breathe, and to
breathe means better blood.
"They leave off their corsets when
they ride, though they will not do so at
any other time. Perhaps the bicycle
will kill corsets. That would be grand
victory for the wheel.
Or. Townsend has taken pains to
study this bicycle question. He has re-
ports from IS women physicians in Bos-
ton, all but one of whom heartily rec
O1iAhiShu NhOSAiiS, NSPCNiuAAJ III Nu5S1
of malnutrition and chronic pelvic dis
eases. 1t is mistake to say that wheel
ing develops curved spines. 1t doesn't
that is, unless riders insist upon
'scorching.' The best-by which
mean the easiest and most graceful
riders are straight backed They have
more power if they ride erect. That i!
one great reason why wheeling benefits
women. 1t makes them sit up straight
If they will do that, consumption viii
be an unknown disease in three years
mo amount of preaching about dres:
reform has the influence of the bicycle
Theory is good and logic is good, bu
putting a woman on a wheel and letting
her go out on our smooth roads, where
she has a freedom she had not though
of before, is an argument that is effec
tive. 1t wins her to reform. She give
up corsets and heavy clothing; sh
dresses for work instead of for play
she begins to see that clothes may b.
governed by intelligence, and as re
suit she is healthy.
1.-THE need of keeping balanced make
wheel riding of especial value to WON
ell, lOI IL 10 d UClhdllu OAeAO OhOJ SOhOAO
themselves. 1t also teaches self-reli
something many of them need
A woman guiding herself along tn
streets learns that she is able to tax
care of herself, even if there is not
man at her elbow. She is surprised
probably, to find this out; but if sh
keeps at wheeling she will learn tina
she is every bit as strong as a ma
physically as well as mentally. She ca
develop physical power quite equal t
mans, and she can use it to as contir
uous advantage. The bicycle will prov
this to her satisfaction and to the benz
fit of her race."-N. Y. Herald.