Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-05-18

wheel may have seemed to lose its pOpu-
larlty for a brief time, but it has come
back to Stay,-nOt, as some one says, as
a fad, but as a hOmely custom. The day
has probably gone by when people go
bicycle mad, although when one sees
The wheels of the present day one can
pardon an occasional attack Of mania,
but the time has arrived when the
bicycle is a matter of course not only for
getting about the country on errands
and the like, but also factor in devel-
oping higher physical standard. Any
thing that will make stronger hearts,
that will stimulate torpid organs and
clear the brain is bound to have the sup
port OF thinking people everywhere. A
horse or an autom )biIe may take one
about and awaken a love Of outdoors.
but horse or an automobile is not with
in the reach of persons Of moderate
means. Therefore the wheel possesses
advantage for the everyday man and
women that can be offered by no other
uu6dIIS OI lUCOIuOGiOu.
So good thing as this should not
sink into condemnation because those
who use it are too weak or too careless
to conquer the few drawbacks connected
with it. There is no reason why a
bicyle should be the cause Of bowed.
hunchel-up back or an unpleasant
countenance, if it's riders will pay as
much attention to their attitudes and
their expression as they do to the cos
tunes they wear when riding.
The case Is the same with golf, "the
royal game" More and more it grows
in popularity. The business man finds
in it an outdoor sport which gives him
exercise and amusement at the same
time, and the girl who plays golf has
become recognized feature in our social
outdoor life. The game is worthy of all
commentator and is doing the work of
life saving station for men who could
never before be cOaXed from their Offices
during the daylight hours. But is it to
leave an unsightly mark upon those
who partake Of it's benefits? Shall that
which is admirable on the golf course
be transported to the street and tne
drawing room? Shall the half closed
eye which scan the space to be re-
covered in the next drive be fixed upon
ones yis-a-Vis at the dinner table?
Shall our girls and men take their after
noon stroll or their promenade to church
with long slouching steps, dropped
soldiers and swinging arms. The poise
that is acquired by shouldering the bag
of golf clubs or by posing oneself for
the drive is out Of place except on the
links.
Yet if one must choose between these
and the dispirited droop of mouth and
shoulders that ale found among The
women who live the stay-at-home life
and know nothing Of the joys of free
exercise in the good open air, let us, for
the love OF mercy, have anything that
the bicycles or the automobiles or golf
or tennis can give us. The one, at least,
is sign of healthful mode of life. |
however much we may deprecate the
form it takes. But why should one have
either?
Already | have tried to indicate in
these papers that one need not sacrifice
a complexion in order to win progcien-
cy in outdoor sports. The small amount
of care that is given to the skin will
keep it in tolerable order and the atten-
tion that is bestowed upon the express
sion will not be thrown away. Only re-
Gently have our women come to appre-
ciate all that fresh air and systematic
exercise will do for their health and
looks. There are still too many of them
who neglect all these things and are [