Lay It To Bicycles

It has been 'discovered tbat tbe hard times have beeu caused neither by the ianger of free silver, nor bv tbe de,inojratic party; but by bicycles. According. to some reoent rèports the ery is a;oing up frotn all trades except the bioycle maunfacturers. Theatrical managers say that everybody goes out wbeeling in the evening and the theaters are empty. The cigar stores coruplain at men do not smoke while on their wheels, and tbat the falling off in the nnmber of cigars consunied is enormons. Saloon keepers declare that their wares are beiug deserted for "soft drinks, " as bicycling more tban auy other spoit requires a olear braiu aud steady nerves. Moreover, rnen are goiug around in cheap bioycle suits and not purcbasing expensive clothing. They are wearing cheap caps in which there is no proflt. And, in genera] every man, v.'oman and child in tbe country is saving up euough to buy a ■wheel, so that nothing is spent on confectionery, on jewelry, on theater matinees, and other luxuries. It is estimated that there are 250,000 bicycles in New York alone, and that thay represent an investmeut of $12,000,000. ?bere are 80,000 bicycles in use in Buf!alo. These figures are representative. One authority states that tbe presúmanle expenditure for bicycles thus far vill reach the sutn of $100,000,000 nd much of this represents a mortgage n the incomes of the people of moder ate means who are paying for their wheels on the "installment plan." It s safe, however, to assnre the oom üaining tradesmen that the bioycle ha some to stay, and tbis as everybody cnows is conclusive argument. Aud i s comforting to reflect that it promise as great a revolutiou in general healtl as in trade, and that entirely for th better.