, 1879-03-11

concerts tho nihtl,n Tor ttBht"ropo wa!k1nBi
tho manta for Shanghai rooaters, the ugliost
md most worthless fowl Divine Providence
ever allowed 10 be created, good for nothing
during hia life, and unfit to eat after death;
tho inania for oats by tho seniors and but
tons by tho juniors, both being comparative
ly Of abont tho samo value; tho manta which
has attracted ovory womnn in tho country for
i'ainting napkin rings, sowor tiles, and din
i.or platos, tho valuo OF tho danb depending
upon ltp uglinoss; tho tnanta for base-balf,
which haa drivon out tho notisr game Of
cricket; tl,6 mania for tho flth OF oporn
bouffc, which ts now superseded by tho ma
nia for TINT nonentity "pinafore," which,
however, hns tho morie Of boing
Glenn. Tho latest mania ia Of q peripa.
toto sort. From walking certain long
DISTANCES without regard 10 timc, 1t pro-
crossed to wink OF givon number Of miles
In q gtven time for money; then to walking
matches betweon man md man, next bo-
tween man and woman, thon between woman
and woman, aud now wo hoar OF men walk
ing against horses, which we presume will
be followed by thrilling match betwaon
such matches II progressed to walking 80
many consecutive miles in 30 many oon-
eccutivo hours, then lalf.hours, then quarters,
mud now there ARG women walking 80 many
consecutive miles in 80 ,nnny consecutive ten
minutes, to tho accomplishments Of brass
bands and yelling crowds.
So long na n mania ia harmless In It's re-
| snlts and injnres no ono, and. people aro
| pleased with It, thoro is no particular ronson
for finding fault with 1t. These walklng-
matches, however,, as thoy arc now oon-
| Quoted, aro not harmless; Oh the other hand,
thny are SO much In tho nnture Of m Outrage
rs to oalt for police investigation. The
scores Of wretohed women now walking in
various cities aro in tho hands of hoartloaB
spoc,llators, who force them upon tho track
at the risk Of life and with tho ccrtninty Of
impaired hoalth, that they may pocket tho
gato-monoy aud such sums as they can
mako by gambling upon the venture. Once
in tho clutches Of these harpics,
1t Is worry difficult to get ont, aud no amount
Of suffering and physical exhaustion Gun in.
duce them to relcnt or give them rost. II
nnturo seeks to assert her demands for 70.
poso and sleep, they aro forced to their
wcarisomo task, md dare not rofuBo. Tho
brute who should treat horse in this man.
ner would promptly be punished by the at,.
thorities, but woman mny bo driven mile
by milo without rost until nature is OK.
laustod and sho drops In her trucks. It is
almost incredible that crowd can be gath.
erod 10 applaud ono Of these hnggard, mis-.
orablo oreaturea, with jadea spirits, tired
limbs, and b1istesed feet, urged or
to her aouseless work with sti1nlllants
and sometimes with thronts md even
blows, and seeking to accomplish d feai
which can only be accomplished at tho OF.
ponso Of all tho vital forces and at tho risk oi
lifo itseif. It is somewhat astonishing thai
many papors hnvo commended this walking
mania for its hygienio benefit, when there il
no benefit but positive injury acoruing from
it. People who walk in the cool bracing nt
mosphcro, not to tho utmost endurance o.
tho body, but in moderation md systematic
ally, improve their health and fine
q tonic better than my tho drug
stores contain. A brisk morning wall
stirs tho blood and stimulates the vita
organs OF tho body, and ia special.
beneficial to those whose duties aro Of
sedentary character but this s eon,ethinl
different frou, tho ceasaloss tramp around
sawdust ring, hour aftor hour, day after day
night aftor night, until tho body is com
pletoly exhausted. It degradss tho woma1
who attempts 1t aud ruins her hoalth, 10
nature cannut DO abused without oxactint
fearful pennltioa. It affords gang 0
l,eartloss speou1ators opportunities Il
prey upon tho vulgar curiosity Of til
public, md to 1oeco people through th
various devices known to gamblers
Of course tho mania will have 1t
day, bnt tho public ought to make that d.
rs brief as possible by refusing to patroniz
such vulgar and brutal exhibitions.
THE ILLINOIS MILITIA.