he text for a
long sermon; but long sermons are never popular; therefore, it may be
better to state briefly that he must always be on the alert to assist
his fair companion in every way in his power--he must be clever enough
to repair any slight damage to her machine which may occur _en route_,
he must assist her in mounting and dismounting, pick her up if she has
a tumble, and make himself generally useful and incidentally
ornamental and agreeable.

He rides at her left in order to give her the more guarded place, as
the rule of the road in meeting other cyclers is the same as that for
a carriage, to turn to the right. In England, the reverse is the case.

Assisting the Lady.

In mounting, the gentleman who is accompanying a lady holds her wheel;
she stands on the left side of the machine and puts her right foot
across the frame to the right pedal, which at the time must be up;
pushing the right pedal causes the machine to start and then with the
left foot in place, the rider starts ahead--slowly at first, in order
to give her cavalier time to mount his wheel, which he will do in the
briefest time possible.

When the end of the ride is reached, the man quickly dismounts and is
at his companion's side to assist her, she, in the meantime, assisting
herself as much as possible. This is done--that is, dismounting in the
most approved style--by riding slowly, and when the left pedal is on
the rise, the weight of the body is thrown on it, the right foot is
crossed over the frame of the machine, and, with an assisting hand,
the rider easily steps to the ground.

In meeting a party of cyclists who are known to each other and desire
to stop for a parley, it is considered the proper thing for the men of
the party to dismount while in conversation with the ladies.

As to the furnishings of the bicycle, to be really complete, it must
be fitted out with a clock and a bell, luggage carrier and a
cyclometer, the latter being an absolute _sine qua non_ to the woman
who cares for records. From five to six lessons are always considered
necessary before one can master even the details of riding.

On the Road.

On the road the woman who wishes to ride _a la mode_ has to know a
number of little things that are overlooked by another woman, just as
the smart set have a code for riding and driving that is as inexorable
as that they should not eat with their knives or put sugar on oysters.
Society insists on an upright position,