San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-04-27
BERTHA Won HILLERN.
Some Interesting Facts Concerning TIT
Queen of Pedestrians.

We saw this little woman finish her
walk of SO miles in 26 hours, without
sleep. She walked the first heat from .
O'Clock at night till 8 next morning
without stopping. Then with few
minutes rest, twice, she continued the
walk and finished nine minutes before
the specified time, 10 o'clock. She will
not walk for wager or in competition.
She receives challenges to walk matches
every week, but will accept none. A
club of ladies has already been started
here in Washington for walking expedi-
tions. They have pledged themselves to
eat an oatmeal breakfast, put on q
loose walking-dress, and take long
tramp in the country at least three times
week. This will add to their health
and beauty if they have that genius for
continuance which most women lack.
Miss Won H;llern seems to arouse IN
woman sort of infatuation to 60 on
the tramp wherever she goes, and as
soon as she appears they begin to
straighten themselves up and feel the
calves of their legs. If she causes wom-
en- even temporarily to 60 out doors and
view the beauties of nature on foot,
then heaven speed her. Walking out
doors is what American people need
above all things.
When not on the track, Bertha Won
Hillern lives and eats and dresses like
other people, with few exceptions.
She sets her face like iron against alco-
holic stimulants, sweet things and pas
try. She will not even let her agent rub
whisky inside her shoes to keep her feet
from swelling, for fear people will smell
the whisky and think she is tippler.
Rare beef, vegetables, oatmeal and
plain, solid food form the "chief of her
Diet" like that of the little old man who
would never be quiet. After finishing
one of her public walks she goes to bed
and drops asleep at once. Toward MORN
ing, about or 4 O'Clock, her maid
awakens her, and walks her about her
room little time to keep her limbs
from becoming stiff. After one of her
severe walks she suffers somewhat from
what are technically called "walking
cramps" which are pains around the
knee-joints. To alleviate this her legs
are rubbed with salt and water.
Physically there is nothing abnormal
or startling about her. She weighs ITO
pounds, is rather below medium height,
and has the face which, after all, is the
best for steady wear in this world-a
face which would not be noticed for be-
ing handsome OF homely. Her hair is
very heavy, and of the fashionable
blonde gold color. She would like to
wear it cut short, but out of respect to
peoples prejudices wears itlong. Fur
Their, it may interest some dress re-
formers to know that she wears an Or
binary corset during her walk. Bertha
came to this country about two years
ago. She was famous among her ac-
quaintances in Germany for her walk
ing feats as schoolgirl. She is ma
tive of Freiberg, in Baden, and is a zeal
Gus and pious Roman Catholic.
She carries about her little instru-
ment called pedometer, which regis
tiers every mile she walks. 1t is kept
going bythe motion of her body in walk
inc. When we saw her she wore sort
of lowered polonaise, reaching down
little below the knee, with high felt
hat, of the "pork pie" shape, on her
head. She is more muscular than
Plump, and her movements are energet-
ic as well as graceful. AS she races
around the track she looks like fish
darling through the water. She is as
straight as an arrow, and her shoulders
are very broad and square for wo-
mans. Her walking is not in the least
like that of ordinary persons. 1t is like
that of an Indian on long journey.
She seems to propel herself along with
her arms and shoulders as much as with
her feet. The peculiar swing of her ell
bows and shoulders reminds one con-
tinually of the motion of birds wings.
Her toes do not turn out, as civilized
peoples are supposed to. They go
straight ahead, and the left foot, per-
haps, points slightly inward. She al
ways turns upon her left side as she
rounds the curves of her track, and this
constant turning to the left has made a
slight difference in her sides.
She is very popular with ladies every
where, but dislikes exceedingly to have