Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21
MISS LIZ FEASc's wALE

The exhibition Of physical culture given
by Miss BERTHE LeFmnc ut the town hall last
Saturday. called out an unexpected degree of
interest among all classes in the community.
and as the young woInan's self-imposed task
of a walk Of - miles inside of II hours neared
it, completion at late hour in the evening.
this interest was aroused TO a genuine enthu-
siasm on the part of the large audience which
filed the hall and was composed very largely
OF our best people both ladies and gentlemen.
The track upon which Miss LeFranc walked
was Il inches wide. and was composed Of
earth and sawdust in order 10 give a suitable
softness and elasticity. As stated b.st week
this track was 30 feet long, and precisely ~
circuits OF the hail were required for each
mile. Inside TINS track and adj ioining it was
laid second one in which Miss LeFranc's
trainer or some person from the audience
who wished to test his or her pedestrian pow
ers, walked by her side from time 10 time
Shortly before quarter 10 IL. Miss LeFranc
came from her dressing room in readiness for
her walk and seated herself in u chair on the
track at the starting point in the centre of the
platform, and awaited the word go" At pre-
clsely 1915 the signal came and on the in
slant she shot away with quiet dignity. and
an ease and elasticity of step. which at once
won the admiration Of all who Were present
Miss LeFranc's costume was Of plain brown
WOODEN cloth with white trimming: on her
head she wore plain brown hat simply trim
med, and on her feet We're brown wooden
stockings and loose fitting calf-skin shoes
Sba s /.
not a little of the admiration which she awak-
ened was due TO her simple and unaffected
bearing and the evident absence of any at
tempt TO create n sensation. The score during
the walk was kept by Messrs Franks. Elliot.
Wells, Miller and Wait. and the completion of
each mile was announced by the striking of a
bell. Miss LeFrauc's first mile was accom-
plished in - minutes and 4 seconds. the sec.
ond in l9;5l, the third il 1924. the fourth in
1928, the fifth in 1921. and the sixth in H.
54-this (the sixth mile being the quickest
which she mnde during the day and the quick
est which she has ever made during a public
exhibition. The first ten miles were done in
hours, minutes. seconds, and the first
20 miles IN hours. II minutes 80 seconds.
This Is the shortest time in which she has ever
walked distance of 20 miles and is the first
time that she has ever walked that Distance
without taking rest. At the end of the 10th
mile rest Of SO minutes and - seconds was
taken, and at the end of the Both mile. at
about 5:45 Miss LeFranc took another rest of
20 minutes. The remaining 20 miles were
accomplished without taking any rest Aswe
have already indicated, as the evening wore
on, and the long task neared its successful
completion with no apparent loss of freshness
and elasticity and with no indications of un
due fatigue or exhaustion on the part of the
ItdestrienHC, the interest of the large audi
ence grew more intense. The completion of
every mile was greeted with rounds of ap-
plause, and when, finally, the last mile was
reached and the announcement was made that
II minutes and 30 seconds remained for its
accomplishment, the enthusiasm knew no
bounds, Each circuit of the hall brought
forth fresh outburst of applause, and as
Miss LeFranc's speed and vigor seemed to in
crease, the excitement grew more intense, UNI
ill., at the close when amid shower of flowers
from the platform, the announcement was
made that the tiftieth mile had been COM
pleted in - minutes 81 seconds, with min
utes, 30 seconds to spare there was a contin-
uous round of shouts and cheers and clapping
of hands, in which the ladies took their full
share. Miss LeFrnnc, after making an extra
circuit of the hall, stepped upon the stage and
made brief acknowledgment of the kindness
shown her by the audience, after which she