The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-27
WESTON THE WALKER.
Mile in Minutes and 30 Seconds-yHr,
Greeley as Starter.

A Mile In - minutes ana 80 SeCOudA-Mr.
Greeley starter.
Weston, the walker, delivered his lecture on
athletic Exercise" last evening" at Steinway
Hail. The lecture was well attended, about one
third of the audience being ladies. Mr.. Horace
Greeley and one or two other equally prominent
gentlemen appeared on the stage about
O'clock, their approach having been signalled
by peals of heroic music, produced by Dod-
worth's band, which occupied the upper gallery.
Mr.. Greeley was loudly applauded, and, indeed,
his kindly face beamed with joy and antieipa,
ton. The programme of the evening contained
the following note, which had evidently made
the audience well disposed towards its author
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, NEW YORK, March Is, 1870
Mr.. Edtudrd PdysOn Reston:-My Kind Friend:-I
cheerfully comply with your request that preside
at your appearance at Steinway Hall on the 26th
lack encouragement to elevate the exercise OF walk
ing in our country in popularity and esteem.
Yours HORACE GREELEY.
A gentleman, on reading the above said quite
audibly, 81 do believe that if Dan Bryant were
to ask Mr.. Greeley to preside at Shoo-fly seance
Mr.. Greeley would do so, and say that he earn
estly wished to promote the shooing of flies in
this country" ...-...r
Mr.. Greeley introduced Mr.. Weston in short
and pithy speech, in which he said how sad a
thing it was that Americans should neglect
athletic exercise when it was we'll known to be
of such invaluable service However, we were
improving in this particular, and il would not
be long before foreigners would have no right to
call us a bilious, lazy, self-neglectful, absurd
and uncomfortable people. We used too much
tobacco and alcohol, and our cookery was not
good. He was glad to learn that Walter Brown,
the oarsman, was trying TO make match in
England, and hoped he would succeed. But as
the audience had not come there to hear him
talk he would sit down, and allow the lecturer
of the evening to do the talking.
AS soon as Mr.. Greeley had become as good as
his word, Mr.. Weston took the floor, and spoke
for about an hour and a half. Whenever he
said anything about the evil effects of the use
of alcohol, his introducer smiled a smile of
bland appreciation. When the lecture was
finished, Mr.. Greeley told the band to play; and
of course it obeyed.
At this moment the excitement was absolutely
alarming. Mr. Greeley took out his watch and
called time, before time was but when that
important thing actually appeared, it seemed to
attack Mr.. Weston from behind, and send him
forward with frightful velocity. Eighteen times
and little over he had to speed around the
room before catching up with the other end of
the mile, which had been fastened TO the floor
Immediately in front of Mr. Greeley, to prevent
it from escaping Once the terrible walker has
passed the judges stand. The ladies are stretch
ing their pretty necks TO see him in his mad
career Twice, thrice-nnow you see
He begins to switch the calves of his legs
can this be to make them keep up with his
body? Horrible thought 1t cannot belt
must not! AT the twelfth time of passing Mr.
Greeley's face has become absolutely severe
simpler naunditiis. Mr.. Weston seizes a glass
of water and drains it before you can say 'Jack
Robinson" Mr. Greeley's face is becoming
grand. Oh that the walker were to round
twenty times instead of eighteen Then that
face would be transfgured and transhxed sub
Unity. Seventeen times Mr. Greeley's hands
are cOnvulsed, and his feet begin to twitch
Eighteen times Hurrah! And as the judge
says 'the feat was accomplished in 930," q
hland smile seems to fill the stage, for there is
yet hope for the youth of America.-N y.
World, to-day.