The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-19
When Will the walks Endf

During the past week national and inter-
national walks have been varied--if varied
be the word to use--by an Interstate pedes-
trian tournament at Boston between self
constituted champions of Maine, Massa-
chusetts and Rhode Island; while Balt-
more. which had before been but partly
afflicted with the walking maady, bloomed
out tardily with n female tourney, In which
some Of the woman walkers, we'll known to
fame here, distinguished themselves.
When tho philosopher views the late--in-
deed, we are obliged to say. the still reign
ing walking epidemic, among its note
worthy features he must notice its Selling
all sorts and conditions Of men. A Sir JOHN
ASHLEY equips IL with gold belts, Senator
BLAINE with bouquets; n Minister THORN
TON and millionaire VANDERBILT snatch
hours from statecraft and railroad buying
to watch the men who walk. And I'm the
contagiOn for this fame. age, sex, and race
have not been spared. Women by the hum
drcds have done quarter miles in quarter
hours for weeks together. Infants and octo
genarians have footed It featly on the same
track: for, not less wcl-attested than the
Is miles in q hours. with a Jig at the
end, of eighty-ycar-old Mr.. ODoNNELL,
was the public match OF the Misses
HIdDEE against two other misses, the
ages Of the athletes ranging from to o
years. We have seen the scdcntary shoe
maker contendng with the 1.-the letter car
rier. lime burner overcoming fruit
vcnder, and an unsentmental butcher pacing
the measured mile with all the enthusiasm
of Miss RICH, the Boston book agent There
is Mrs IL. ToURTELLoT Of Stockton, Cali
iornia, who is said 10 have walked As hours
without food, drink, or rest, being feet
high and weighing 1913 pounds There have
been walks by fat men, by black men, by red
men, and by bogus red men. One mans
entry on the arena seems to have been due
to his being feet a inches in length; a
pedestrian is said to be now crossing the
continent from San Francisco with wheel
barrow; while reputable citizen has been
anxious 10 make a match for walking three
days up and down stairs.
The world that walks has made its influ-
ence felt also in many other spheres Of
usefulness. Holsters and clothiers adver-
tse pedestrian shirts, trunks. and tights:
shOemakers OF course have found their
golden age; enterprising tapsters bid for
the bar which forms SO necessary an ad-
junct Of walking matches; photographers
profit by the mania, as the public must
have pictures of its favortc walkers; the
designers. printers. and bill-stickers cover
the dead walls with pedestrian figures
Even the animated curiosities in the Bowery
museums are obliged to add walking TO
their other industries so that now the
giants, dwarfs. and living skeletons the
lady who writes with her toes, and even his
Majesty the eX-Emperor Of Tong tong, all
feel that it is useless TO rely on their ordi-
nary attractions, and that they must make
quarter miles in quarter hours If they hope
to have an audience.
On the 2sth OF this month Chicago will
be thrilled by n match for 1.-The 75-hour
walking championship Of the world pos
sibly to be followed by the 74-hour or the
76-hour championship match. The great
event in question is under the auspices Of
Mr.. O'LEARY, and will be participated in by
Mr.. PETER GRASSLAND, an eX-cutler Of
Sheffield, and n renowned walker. who
arrived here from England in the Nevada,
last week, expressly TO take part in the
Chicago match. Presently we shall have
the London ASHLEY belt or worlds cham
pionship to think about; various summer
! gardens seem to have made arrangements
for due supply OF beer and Professionalism
! during the hot months; and O'LEARY has
already published his programme for prize
| walking in the fall.