Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-08-01
A TRAMPING PROFESSOR.
What Walking Has Done for Health
and Mathematics.

known professors. Mathematics is the
Professors specially in the college currl-
culum, but he is almost as famous In
college and out, as an authority on ath-
letics. In his youth he carried off most
of the prizes in the gymnasium, and now
that he is somewhat along in years he
ranks, perhaps, as the National cham.
pion long.distance walker for pleasure.
81 took up walking five years ago." he
said, in chat about his experiences and
adventures. wishing to keep good
health. l cast about for way to do it,
and struck upon walking; and / have
never enjoyed such health as | have
since engaged in this practice. ] have
given up my Ia ter and Thanksgiving
vacations to it for the past five years
NY first tri? was in the spring of 1881,
and it was my hardest. In company
with companion started from New
York one morning and made my way
I'D the east side of the Hudson as far as
Rhinebeck, where crossed to Rondout
and worked up through Kingston into
the Catskills. Reaching Overlook April
IA. we found the ground covered with
snow to depth of three feet. The road
we travelled had been broken only by
the passage of single team, and conse-
quently walking there was extremely
difficult. My companion suffered much
from sore feet and the cold, while our
constant breaking through the snow
crust made our trip very firing. Still we
plodded on, sometimes finding snow in
the mountains too deep, though, for
progress. In the valleys we bad green
grass, however, and the journey had
plenty of attractions. Then we contin
ned our trip by detour intended to
bring us back to New Haven, passing
through Poughkeepsie and over into
Fairfield County, Conn, to come home
through New Fairfield. Newtown and
the Housatonic region round by Bir-
mingham. We had travelled about 126
miles afoot in six days. and we looked
upon ii as pretty big thing.
"But subsequent trips cast that in the
shade. The rext Thanksgiving made
a trip from Meriden to Middleton, TO
Easthampton, to Stafford Springs, to
Springfield, aud thence home by rail.
Sixty miles were covered. My next
long trip was begun at Easton, Pa, in
company with fellow pedestrian. This
walk took us through remarkable re-
gion, the beautiful country of the Penn
sylvania Dutchman, noted for his good
heart, simple manners. and treacherous
sausages. Queer characters and novel
sights were met in abundance. Kennett
Square, where Payard Taylor lived.
Belair, Nd, Baltimore and Washington
were covered by this journey of two
hundred miles. In the summer of 1882
was in Ireland. and enjoyed good
walking there. The roads were uni-
fornly better for walking than those in
this country, and four miles an hour
would he made on them as easily as
three miles could be made here. That
summer / walked from Stratford-on-
Avon to bennington, and in the lake
region. The next winter / went from
New Haven through Willimantic and
Hampton, distance of ninety miles, in
three days, and extended the trip up to
Keene, N. HI. Severe weather and much
snow was encountered, and good deal
of shivering was TO be endured, but the
general effect was good my appetite was
simply amazing.
LAST year / started out alone and
walked to Norfolk, Conn, by way of
Cheshire and Wiusted, and thence l
went through Sheffield and kbridge
TO Pittsfield, and over the hills to Ches-
ter, a region that reminds me much of
Switzerland. Coming back through
CRANKY, Avon and Southington, fin
ished journey of two hundred and ten
miles in the very best trim for renewing
work in my class rooms. My next trip
covered two hundred and sixty.six miles.
My best record is fily-four miles in one
day."
In his wanderings Professor Richards
has met armies of odd people, and has
enjoyed many amusing experiences, and
frequently his trips have taken him into
absolute danger. He has been refused
admittance to houses fer fear he had
evil motives, has been called hard names
rs well as treated with unwonted kind
ness, and, by dint of extraordinary exer-
tions, once escaped death in long, dark
tunnel, just ahead of an oncoming freight
train. Last year he covered twenty one
hundred miles, and up TO date in the
present year has q record of nineteen
hundred miles.
Prot. Richards recommends walking as
a sure health restorer. Nov ces, though,
he advises to begin gradually. Over
work is worse than no work at all. The
third day out, he says, is apt to be the
hardest and most trying; when a man
survives that and still perseveres, he is
all right, and his future walking will be
pleasure and not labor A pair of
shoes without pegs. seamless wooden
stockings, ana warm Undertaking are
what he calls the essential wearing ap-
parel Of long distance walker. A
pound and half leather knapsack over
the shoulders will carry all else that is
needed. Brief rests every hour or two
when tired are made effective BY living
nat upon ones back aud running is one
OF the best ways to ease tired legs.