The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-06-12
THE WALKING MAMA.


The telegraph brings the cheering
news that in July next there will be two
six days walking contests for men and
women in San Francisco. The first
prize in either match will be a gold, dia-
mond and silver belt and $1,000; the
second prize $50, ;he third $500, and
the fourth $3.50. The rule will he ''go as
you please" the one making the great
est number of miles in six days TO re-
ceive the first prize. We are glad we
have the telegraph; it would perhaps
have been several days longer before we
/ received this news Of the evident ad-
vaDcement Of women. There will be no
question by the crowds of idle men and
women that frequent the hall Of contro-
versy as to the right of the women to
enter into a contest Of this nature and
exhibit to the world the wonderful
powers Of endurance possessed by
them. No question Of propriety
will disturb the tranquility of the list
less throng that gazes on the wearied
and worn creatures who toll night and
I day in their endeavor to cover sufficient
laps to get the coveted "prize belt -
The match being for females" alone,
there is no danger that any hue and cry
will be raised because "the women" are
encroaching on the privileges of men.
And again, the sacred guardians of
rights will not discuss the expedieney
OF allowing the contestants to patrol
their beats day after day aud night after
night while they are TO be managers,
sleep long hours, handle the receipts, re-
ceive and control the profits Of the
tournament, and suffer no extra exer-
ton more than may be required in wax
ing their respective pedestrians at
stated intervals. The poor creatures
who suffer this test OF endurance will be
admired and flattered by the silly men
and women who will throng the ball.
The. painted beauties and oiled aud
curled darlings will never give a thought
to the children that need their mothers
a. ANAAAN hAAA ANA u 04A against AatAH
escape from "woman's sphere 5" will
not have in their minds eye visions OF
undarned stockings, buttonless shirts,
unwashed dishes aud unmended clothes;
will not think Of the times the poor Pc
destrians might vote "early and often"
during the time wasted in ceaseless
rounds-uo, If they should think Of the
votes that might be cast by these poor
worn creatures, they will straightway
discover that they would be degraded by
meeting and passing at the polls the
men who will pay their quarters to
study the gait and discuss their physique
and probable powers Of endurance. II
they should, perchance, think of the
possibility Of one Of the walkers taking
the rostrum in evening dress Instead Of
her scant walking apparel and deliver
ing an address on womau's political
equality before the law, temperance,
dress reform, mental improvement and
culture Of women, or any Of the thous-
and and one topics which are occupying
public attention, they would raise a cry
Of "strong- woman, as though
woman, equally with man, should not
be proud Of the possession OF a capable
mind, and the independence to give to
the world the benefit Of her ideas and
experience. The large dailies Of San
Francisco will publish in their news
columns graphic descriptions of the
walkers, and the editorials will perhaps
contain columns Of twaddle about the
ballots destroying the native modesty
Of women and making their natures
coarse as mems. None Of the brilliant
journalists, who affect so deep a knowl-
edge Of the attributes Of women and so
much solicitude therefor, will have the
candor to denounce the walking mania
as degrading to womanhood in general
and damaging to the participants in
particular; perhaps none Of them will
ever think of publishing the fact that an
abnormal muscular development is at
variance with the laws Of nature, and
that no athlete whose exhibitions Of
power earned him livelihood
ever enjoyed his life to his prime even.
Muscular exercise is as necessary for
women as for men, and should be en-
but constant muscular strain,
Of which this contest is a specimen,
deserves severe condemnation.