Connecticut western news., 1873-01-03
About Walking.


 A gentleman who lately made pedes- trian tour, from Portland, Oregon, to San Francisco---some eleven huAdred miles--gives the following particulars relative to the experiences of his party {:
 Before starting, was strongly urged to wear shoes, English walking shoes'O and my own prejudices were in their favor, but careful deliberation told me of the fearful dust to be encountered, following, as we would have to, most of the way, & thoroughly travelled road that had not seen rain for months, and also of the necessity of having to take boots or shoes off many times each day to bathe the feet. This decided me in favor of high top boots, the wisdom of which l had no occasion afterward to doubt. The pants were also protected from the dust by being worn inside of them. The feet can be saved much irri- tation and many blisters by the use of insoles (boots or shoes having been made large enough to admit them). The greater friction between an eassy fitting boot and the foot is at the fore part of the front foot. Every time the heel raises, the relative position of the foot and the sole of the boot must change, causing great friction, as the entire weight of the body is upon the foot at the time of change between foot and boot. An insole, if trife shorter than the beot, will take much of this friction from the foot, as it must then take place, to great extent, between the insole and sole of the boot A second insole will relieve the foot still more. They will also furnish the additional advantage of relieving the feet when much swollen, by taking them out. No matter how toughened the feet become, they will blister very readily if rapid walking is persisted in, say for three or four hours, while, at a pace that is not unduly ex- hausting the system, they will not feel the slightest discomfort
 We practiced bathing feet, hands and heads very often, say from three to six times a day, when water was found, and when we were tired and exhausted it would have very exhilarating effect.
 Rapid walking "spurts," at the rate rate of four miles an hour, of two or three hours duration, or long marches, say twelve miles or more, without a halt, is very exhausting. If indulge :. in, in the early part of the day, it will incapacitate one for the balance of the day, or if at the close of the day, its ef- fects will be felt the following day. The same will apply to ascending high hills or mountains. Movements in such instances should be sufficiently moder= ate to avoid getting into a "pud" or precipitation, more than when moderate ly walking on the level.
 The Graham crackers, upon which we principally existed, were baked hard and dry hke sea biscuit, and we found it necessary to moisten and soften them before eating, and we resorted to the use of boiling hot water, breaking the crackers into it, and allowing them to absorb all the water they would. The hot water seemed so grateful to us that we soon fell into the way of taking it freely, and were often astonished at the quantity we consumed. Its use did away with much of our thirst while walking, and was benefcent in all of its effects l venture the assertion that there is a virtue in the use of hot water, where great exertion is to be endured, that is not generally understood. By hot water mean water that has been made to boil and then taken as hot as it can be borne; tepid water is unpalatable.
 In our preparations, 1t was proposed that we carry sun umbrellas. i did not second the proposition, believing their use would not compensate the trouble of carrying them; yielded, however, and subsequent experience convinced me of their great value to us. Our es- timate was that we could perform one fourth more with than without them, whenever the temperature was above 90 degrees.