160 THROUGH TOURAINE ON TYRES 



head, he sped along this consummate highway, enjoy- 

 ing the best imitation of flight which apterous biped 

 can ever realise. 



Not the least advantage of cycling over railroad 

 travel is the power to stop when you will. Many a 

 village has a church worth looking into, generally 

 wholly or in part of Norman work, such as would make 

 a whole English county famous in antiquarian or 

 architectural circles ; and, of course, all the churches are 

 open. Why is this not so in England ? Are we ashamed 

 of their ugliness ? or have we more reason to suspect 

 'Arry of felonious intent than Antoine or Auguste ? 



In one respect we are entitled to claim advantage 

 over our French neighbours. Whitsuntide trippers 

 greatly favour the bicycle in France as much as in 

 England. But our lady cyclists rarely disfigure them- 

 selves by the atrocious knickerbockers which French- 

 women seem to think indispensable. The knicker- 

 bocker or Zouave unmentionable might be rendered 

 picturesque or even graceful if it were brought as high 

 on the body as the male wears his trousers; but to 

 preserve a long-pinched waist with bifurcated attire 

 is only to ensure the disastrous effect of a huge 

 unwinged insect. 



It was gratifying to hear this impression confirmed 

 by a withered old woman wearing the ordinary blue 

 cotton gown and white cap of the peasantry. Standing 

 in the street of an out-of-the-way village as an English 

 lady rode by with well-cut petticoats, she observed to 

 her gossip, ' Mille fois plus joli ya que le pantalon.' 



