The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-28 00:00:00

BW WESTON "TRAINS" FOR BIS
WALKING FEATS.

11: Weston, the distinguished pedestrian, delivered
a leare in Liverpool the other evening, on "What I
Kne about Walking." He said the idea of a man
traing for a pedestrian performance was simply
abed. He should always be in training. Let him
be atan and an honest citizen, and be careful of what
he es and when be eats it, and he can dispense with
the iisance of a trainer, and the rubbing down and
thuuing and rolling in bandages, and crackers steeped
in wi3 or brandy. The only difference he made from
orditry life was that he avoided eating pastry and
presees ; and as to a trainer, he never had one, with
the e:eption of a servant to take care of his wardrobe
and I his shoes, and that for the simple reason that
he wa too lazy to do it himself. He had been asked
to she the boots which he wore when walking, and
to deribe the manner in which he took care of
him's. He exhibited the boots to the audience,
remaring that the boots did the walking—his feet
simplguided the boots. The boots only fitted across
the keep, and were three sizes larger than the shoes,
he ustily wore when walking in the streets. The sole
was cuposed of two thickuesses of leather running
from te toe to the heel. That prevented it from
giving,and the foot struck the ground fiat. They
hardlyesed the feet except to preserve their equilibrium
—the 11) guided the foot. In order that the feet should
not benne sore, before he started walking in a morn-
ing he placed them in a bath of salt and water, corn-
posed f a cupful of Tidman's sea salt and about a
gallon )1 water. The salt must be dissolved in hot
water, md then it must be allowed to cool, and the
feet met be placed in it for from three to five minutes,
and tha thoroughly wiped, care being taken to wipe
dry bet,een the toes and under the knee joint. After
that, in order to harden them, bathe them with Bal-
moral el Irish whisky ; and after the boots were placed
of the fet by means of a funnel made for the purpose.
on the fet, pour about a gill of whiskey to the bott im
This vial keep the feet cool during the day.
Knitted woollen socks must be worn, as they
keep th feet from blistering. Should any blisters
rise on the feet be immediately pushed a needle
through them and if it was done before .
the feet tere ptit in salt and water they would B 3 e
nothing nore of the blister. He also exhibited a belt,
about twi inches in width, which he said he had worn
during 2(000 miles of walking. It must not be fastened
on too tiihtly, but so that it would support the waist,
and in else they became tired with walking they could
put theirbands behind and rest their loins' and injury
to the sphe was thus avoided. He had, often been
asked if me was stiff in a morning. He held in his
hand a bottle containing a preparation composed of
two parted olive oil and one part of ammonia; this be
raunbkeble.d
iirtt
mo
uhsitsbelimribbsbefrdesnlimtphlye thigh down
to
downwards.the After
that he ptt on red flannel, which prevented stiffness.
ie this preparation was rubbed about the knee joints it
prevented ;eking cold or having rheumatic pains. Mr.
Westen spice strongly against the use of stimulants
taken intereally, and advocated walking exercise as a
means of enuring health.