The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-07-25
How TO Walk.
HINTS on PEDEsTRIANIsM BY A RETIRED
PROFESSIONAL.

HINTS ON PEDEsTRIANIsM BY RETIRED
PROFESSIONAL.
A man once turning his attention to
walking should first study method of
covering the ground which will appear
graceful, and, at the same time, not too
tiresome. For speed walk erectly, with
the arms bent at right angles and
swinging halfway across the chest; or,
if easier, with a fore-and-aft motion.
They should swing loosely, easily and
naturally The objects of the arm mo-
ton are many, the most important
being that if you did not swing them
you would have the utmost difficulty in
beating twelve minutes for mile, con-
sequently the arms must be kept in
motion. 1t would be difficult matter
to lay down a rule for arm motion.
Each man should endeavor to dis
cover for himself what movement will
cause him the least eXertion and con-
form to the motion of the body and
hips, aid him in making long and
graceful stride and best agree with his
constitution. Care should be taken
that one foot is at all times on the
ground, however quick the recovery
may be; that is to say, when the rear
foot is lifted from the ground that the
The knee should be locked and stiff
from the time of the heel touching
until you have thrown the other leg
forward and taken the stride. In fast
walking man should stride from forty
to fifty inches. In all cases a man to
accomplish fast time should adopt
steady average pace, and in that way
cover the last half of the journey
within few seconds of the time taken
to do the first half. In olden times
men were dispatched on their journey
at the top of their speed, in order to
get their second wind as soon as
possible. The second wind" argu-
ment sounded well enough, but it is
difficult to make that method practical
for several reasons. There is, i'll fact,
no such thing as second wind in any
branch of sports. When one first starts
out he naturally breathes quickly and
hard, feeling distressed until fairly
under way; then the breathing comes
easier and more natural as the pulse
beats quicker and the heart works in
accordance. AS the lungs work with
more freedom and distress disappears,
it is then that the second wind " is
supposed to come. When man starts
off at top speed he gradually slows
down, and never during the race fairly
RECEIVERS himself, while his stride is
short and jerky, giving his gait any
thing but pleasant or free appearance.
! Perseverance is the surest road to sue
cess, and to attain perfection it takes
from four to six years, providing care
is taken in not OVERRIDING it during the
first year or two. In race man
should never give up so long as nature
holds out and he is able to place one
foot before the other. When closely
pressed it is always well to believe
that if one is in distress his opponent
feels equally as bad. Races are fire.
quently lost through faint-heartedness
more than by being beaten on actual
merit. Condition, however, will at all
times tell in ones favor. In order to
become a successful walker alcoholic
stimulant should be taken sparingly or
not at all, and good hours kept, that is
to say, retiring should not be later than
eleven O'Clock at night.-BOSton Herald