Show A GOLDEX WHEEL Lillian Russell Killer a Bicycle That Is a Model An enterprising firm of western bicycle bi-cycle manufacturers have presented I Miss Lillian Russell the prima donna with a golden wheel This is the second sec-ond presentation of the kind to the I j singer About a year ago one of the i big eastern concerns made her a present pres-ent of a machine which had the solid II parts plated with gold But the latter present is by far the most valuable The manufacturers themselves are I the authority for the statement that this bike cost complete 1400 Every part of the wheel which could be plated I plat-ed has three layers of gold and the value of the bullion used in the plating plat-ing process was 800 During the recent I re-cent bicycle show at Madison Square Garden the wheel was exhibited by the I I j firm but the fact that it was to be presented to Miss Russell was not generally I gen-erally known In general appearance it is not unlike un-like other wheels of the 96 models I There are however two exceptions both of which emanated from sugges I tions made by the diva when she was in the west recently with her company One is in the saddle which is somewhat some-what smaller than the average ladies saddle and has concealed in the rear a set of springs Again the handlebars handle-bars are nearer the rider than ordinarily ordi-narily This is accomplished by having the bar which runs from the drop a trifle shorter and inclined towards the rider at a greater angle Every part of the wheel has Miss Russells name engraved on it This even extends to the delicate spokes each of which is emblazoned with the owners name on the tripleplating of gold The gold is not of a brilliant color col-or but of a dullish tinge This however how-ever is not indicative of its fineness The makers are willing to swear that the metal is the genuine stuff and that it will last forever or at least as long as Miss Russell cares to ride a wheel The rims are of course devoid of plating They are made of curly maple ma-ple and polished to brilliancy The I cyclometer was included in the plating plat-ing as was also the lamp which by I the bye is lighted with electricity from I a small but strong storage battery Miss Russell wishes it positively understood I un-derstood that she does not wear red bloomers as some one has maliciously I said She says she does not intend to I wear bloomers at all though she has I no personal objection to their use as a I bicycle costume For herself she prefers pre-fers a divided skirt which falls to about I six inches below the knees where it I ismet by boots and laced up the front to the knee A derby hat and her costume cos-tume is complete The craze for having the endorsement endorse-ment of the well known actresses for their wares which has become a mania man-ia with some tradesmen has extended to the wheel manufacturers and no actress need think of buying a wheel Miss Russell so far has had six different dif-ferent makes sent her free in return for which she is expected to write a nice little note of thanks The dealers are satisfied with the ad and she expresses herself as well pleased with her end of the bargain New York I Journal |