The Daily Banner, Greencastle, Putnam County, 22 November 1967 — Page 23

Wednesday, November 22, 1967 SUPPLEMENT TO THE DAILY BANNER

Page 11

Age-less gift bicycle provides status for kids, fitness for adults With 16,000 mile an hour supersonic transports just around the corner, it is something of an anachronism to find that one of man's most basic inventions — the wheel, in one of its happiest applications — the bicycle, is still the most popular of all Christmas gifts. It is also interesting to note that recent industry trends indicate not all Christmas bikes are being bought for youngsters. Thousands of adults are now buying bikes for themselves to ride alone, or with the family for fun, physical fitness or pleasant outdoor recreation. The bike has always been a favorite with the younger set, and many a small eye has filled with tears of joy over that first two-wheeler. Sociologists point out that the bicycle represents a “coming of age” to the youngster. He has instant acceptance with his peer groups, an outlet for his natural spirit of curiosity and adventure, and a new sense of independence to go where and when he chooses without needing Mom to drive him. He also feels, it has been noted, that by giving him a bicycle, parents seem also to be giving a vote of confidence in the developing of a youngster's sense of responsibility. Red, it seems, is the favorite bike color for youngsters, although there do not seem to be any pat answers as to “why?" For the growing number of adults who are returning to the bike, there are a wide variety of models and styles to suit every adult need. The emergence of bicycling’s popularity among adults has caused a revolution in the field of recreation planning. New York’s Central Park, Rock Creek Park in Washington, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and many others throughout the country have become cyclists’ paradise on weekends as they have been closed to all but pedestrian and bicycle traffic. New bike trails, paths and Bikeways have sprung up in more than 200 cities, and the U.S. Bureau of Census reports that cycling popularity has increased by 105% in the past five years . . . much of it with adults. All of which is to say whoever you want to please this Christmas morning, chances are a bike will do the trick. From small wheels to three wheels, tandems, unicycles or sleek racers, there’s an American-made bike to delight the fancy of any youngster on your Christmas list... no matter how old he is.

The "Father” of the American Christmas Card is Louis Prang. He created exquisitely beautiful cards in his lithography shop in Boston in 1874. Soon he was selling his cards nB over the United States for several dollars each. Prang’s card appeared in as many as 20 colors.

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