The Washington times., 1912-12-08
OTEMPORA! MORES!

One Qay just aIteT tnc fTcSlQcHt-cIcCt nau TcdCT-
ed the leisurely shores Of Bermuda word came from
some faithful Pepys of the press that the great and
kindly gentleman had wheel with him on which
he had gone riding and it was said moreover that
those trips to pleasant places were to be reason
able part of well-earned holiday. 1t was slight
thing that the correspondent did thus to mention
such excursions but it was enough to bring back to
memory the pictures Of many a soft-tinted piece OF
country side and with that recollection regret for
the passing of custom as full Of good health it
was innocent of vulgarity.
Why it is that cycling has vanished as one Of
the pastimes Of the we'll to do we cannot tell You
may ask philosophers and sporting writer's; you may
inquire Of the servants Of every trade from tailoring
to tinkerng; you may search statistics and dwell on
the mysteries of social infatuatons; but from none
of them can you CLEAN any light on this dark puzzle
of the disappearance Of the wheel"
In favor of the pastime there was much-as there
still s-to be said against there is nothing 1t was
not expensive. 1t was not dangerous. 1t was not
monotonous. 1t took US aield under the sun and
the rain. 1t gave US clean muscles, a moderate
thirst and notable appetite. 1t was in derogation
OF the dignity OF neither man nor woman. And there
was pleasure in mounting the easy slope to coast
down into some pretty town that some Of us have
not even yet forgotten.
When the road was bad one could walk across
its stoniest places wheeling the machine by its nan
die and smoking the while pipe Of serene content.
ment. When the road was good it sang a song under
the spinning tires that was music to the ear, and
gave the calves and thighs swing Of conscious
vigor The pace could be fast enough for variety
and not too fast for the enjoyment Of the eye and
the wind whisted past you as you bent the han
dies for squirt on a piece Of level highway as il
whistles when you stand for'ard near the anchor
chains and watch the stars at sea.
There we're roads between hedges to be passed
and miles of sandy strips by tine yellow beaches, and
there were Inns here and there a patch Of grass
to rest on when the was low. OF in the distance
at such time the town yyl had in view for your rest
ing place that night would lie snug and comfortable
beyond the trees, and there was, perhaps, the plan
of an Early rising and ten-mile ride to. another
town before breakfast that you remembered taking
that time last year.
Sometimes there were punctures and in bat
weather the chain would creak bit with slush and
grit; and there were saddles to adjust for a change
OF body and an occasional cottar pin to tighten Blu
those things were the modest hazard Of the game
they tried neither the purse nor the temper ane
when the patch was dry and the tube pumped tigh
you sailed on blithley whistling in tine bany after
noon.
But the wheel" with us has gone and of caus.
that no mind can fathonl. Abroad it still holds it:
place the friend Of poets and statesmen and ever
prosperous merchants; whilst we know it only ht
scorching steed Of some messenger boy who is in
spired to an unseemly and haste when he thinks
that he can make US duck and dodge and double It
escape collision.
Pcrchaace change is coming to this neglected
vehicle; it may be that the new President is Of
stouter courage than we think; and one fine morning
in the spring Of the new year the gentleman VIII
guides our desnies may be seen astrde his saddle il
tan shoes and stockngcd calves, pedang for dear lf
down the Avenue with pouch in one pocket and
pipe in the other and prayer in his heart for al
! hour of windy peace