FIGHTING THE INSECTS 



prominent in the professions. Others who began in this way 

 have eventually come back to Washington as Senators or as 

 members of the House of Representatives. 



When the tall bicycle first came into use it was rather ex- 

 pensive. I think that an old so-called Columbia wheel cost one 

 hundred and fifty dollars — perhaps more. Living was very cheap, 

 and these boys who were drawing one hundred to one hundred 

 and fifty dollars a month were able to buy wheels. On the whole, 

 it was a well-educated and rather financially independent set 

 of young men who started the club, and it stayed in existence 

 for many years. Friendships were formed that lasted through 

 life. There were long runs and race meetings, and there was a 

 club house and congenial club life and college songs and dances. 

 In fact, it opened up a side of life quite new to a young fellow 

 who had come from an outside environment. It must be con- 

 fessed that during the years prior to 1886 this club, with its 

 many activities, its visits from the clubs of other cities and its 

 visits to other cities, filled more of my mind than it should have 

 done. But on the other hand it was broadening to a certain 

 point, and it kept us all out of doors much of the time, so on 

 the whole it made us healthier and better men. 



It is difficult for people nowadays to realize the activities of 

 the old tall bicycle clubs. The men of my age who could afford 

 it nearly all belonged to one or another of these organizations. 

 There was a national group, and it published its own journal, 

 The American Wheelman, which, by the way, was founded 

 and edited by S. S. McClure, who became so prominent in later 

 years as the head of a publishing house, the founder of a maga- 

 zine, and later as a writer. In fact, many men of later prominence 

 belonged to those old clubs. I remember, for example, a visit we 

 once had from the Germantown (Pennsylvania) club. One of 



[58] 



