Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-08-20
From the New York suar August 10,
The Great Walking Match.
NORMAN TAILOR, THE VERMONT riRr
Eater, PREPARING ron IT,


that the next great international PC
destrian contest should DO ~ this
country, and probably in this city,
Sun reporter suggested TO Mr., Nor
man Taylor, otherwise known aS the
"Vermont Pic Eater that no should
enter the next race for the belt, Tay-
lor was known ~ q remarkable TWEEN
ty-mile runner, aud ID was thought
that be might, by iudlclous trainings
become q formidable long distance
runner. The Vermonter did not seem
TO care much about entering q new
field Of pedestrlanlsm. lilo Ii mod
est man, and not particularly sangalne'
The Sun published an interview with
HIN 10 which Taylor told what no had
done, aud gave his peculiar ideas Us to
diet, training, and the like, The re-
suit OF this article was that q well'to-
do Newburgh gentleman wrote to the
Vermonler asking whether he would
DO competitor Tor the Ashley belt II
he was well backed, To this Taylor
answered that 1t would depend entire
" upon when and where the contest
took place. A. soon as II was decided
that the race should take place here,
and IN September Taylor went up TO
Newburgh TO see his correspondent,
lie found the gentleman still eager 10
back him, and the result Of their con-
ference was that on "Wednesday the
Newburgh man deposited $500 with
Drcvel, Morgan 81 Co., as tho en-
trance fec for tho race for the belt,
and telegram was sent to London
announcing the fact hat Norman Tay'
lor wished TO compete.
In n later article tho San reporter
reports as tollows'--
Sitting in his hotel last eveaing,
the Pie Eater, who, with his sun
burned hands and face, close cropped
whiskcw aud country attire, looks
much like farmer, said:
~ have already begun to train fol
the race, and hope to be all ready
by tho 22d Of September ! always
am in good condition, and l never felt
better than ! do now"
"How abou, tho pie and tea and
cheese Diet Will you stick to it?"
ayes, il feel like it. But I think
l must add something u little strong
or. II a man compctts with giaSts
he must prapare we'll for his work
so I am beginning to try beef tea ard
eggs. lind that l like them first
rate, and they seem to agree with me,
and I shall depend n good deal on the
beef tea"
"What are you doing IN your train
ing?'
"Wsll, Pm working all the time. l
do my work on the track Of the Man
haitian Athletic Club. Yesterday ]
took o run of twenty miles, at the rate
Of eight miles an hour. A day or two
before did sixteen miles in little
more than two hours. Tomorrow
shall try little more than twenty
miles; and in this way l shall gradu
ally increase the distance, taking care
never to tire myself. 1t is no trouble
for me to run at the rate of SIX err sew.
en- or eight miles an hour. I can dc
that easier than / can walk fast. So
that what walking I do in the race
will be at the rate If three miles an
hour. The first day shall try and
run at the rate OF seven miles an
hour, walking. only to rest myself. !
don't believe that there will be any
danger of those Englisbmen worrying
me on the first day by trotting around
at my heels. After that [ cant tell
I may 60 all to pieces, and not be able
to do anything, but it seems to me
now that l eau keep it up tor six days
My feet are very tough. You know
have always run in my stocking feet,
and the soles Of my feet are like leath'
err. I have pair OF running shoes
and shall try them, and if they are al
right will use them in the race. My
backer-he doesn't want bis name
mentioned-says that I shall have ev
erything / want. Ishall have regu
lar trainer and two or three attendants,
and hope to make decent race
There will be at least two full
bloodeI Yankees in the great race
Weston, the Rhode Islander, and Tay
lor, the Vermonter.
Andrew Simonds and Lewis q
Flanders of Hopkinton, charged
with cruelty to a horse, owned by Mrs
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