New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-12
THE WALKING MATCH.
A sORDID AND VULGAR SCENE.

A SORDID AND NULiAk oCESE
ROW THE WALKERS LOon-A QUEER PICTURE.
The phenomenon of six days walking match is rot
easily explained. As show It has no parallel FOR I'M
relieved stupidity As sport II Is not entitled to BIO
seriously talked about. And yet largo body OF tho
public goes 20 witness IT, detailed and graphic reports or
II are expected Of the newspapers 1t Is usually prohtaDe
as speculation, aud IL affords men who nave Deen COM
pensated In their heels for what they lack In their heads
an opportunity citizens OF renown II not OF
credit The spectacle at the Garden one scarcely need
says ridiculous a tho start and disgusting at the finish
II would scarcely be reasonable to that tho persons
engaged In walking might better DO occupied In
pursuit more useful for they improve In appearance Us
YOU look them and strongest In the leg anu
prettest In the foot There ars various ways however
of employing these for the good OF society," aud
one can with difficulty imagine occupation less bene-
acial to humanity than walking match treadmiii
might he Just the place for champion pedestrian He
could 20 as no pleased there to his counys pernanens
advantage.
IT'S truly strange assortment OF" toughs gamblers
swndlers sports clerks. capitalists dudes" society
men and women Of all grades Of rcspectability that
attend a walking match They afford the student OF
human nature great opportunity for comparison aud
reflection. During the progress OF the matoh the
Garden s never closed and from midnight 70 midnslt
the scene changes and shifts brgntens dus ana grows
noisy or STILL All around the Garden the sawdus track
Is a long promenade to which access is gained over "a
bridge that crosses above tho track. AsOcety some
times adorns the boxes, the peasanter seats arc re-
served for that great body Of York people whom no
body knows who either einenty respectable or
who look so muc1 they as to pass for people OF
virtue and position The fence around the track 10
frnged with ioafers pokpockers gentlemen and great
mass of boys and young who ENJOY certain repu'
tatlon IN 4de ward" An enormous blackboard at the
end Of the Garden the score In miles with sne
aid OF two boys restle. one OF whom appears 10
hang by his ear upon the mouthpiece OF speaking
tube while the other manipulates the figures at his
companions suggestion
The speaking tube to sort Of pen within which
cit score or scorers this pen. within which the
press representatives also accommodated and whcn
opens directly the track the start is made ana the
laps performed by the walkers arc measured on.
Directly the track from are certain cahaso
dias furnished with number Of hands such as mark
the time on the face OF clock These point to letters
and figures and supposed to assist the scorers In
their work The scorer with wit enough to interpret
them has not yet been found. He cannot be- The face
that he know what those das meant would OF itself en-
title him high rank an Interpreter OF herogyphios'
He would abandon the profession OF measuring laps ror
swoenkneed pedestrians aad would make himself
famous digging among the ruins OF ancient ctles anu
solving the buried secrets Of the past
odors Probably no money Is wasted In an attempt to
provide 1t with other heat than that generated nat
urally Eacn visitor is expected to supply his own
warmth for himself Such assistant forces as cigars ana
beer are provided by vendors OF those and other dell
oac,es who salute you with such cries Us these:
"Yere's yer twofers!"
snow, gents, wosll yer have Z"
Horinges! binnanners! appulls! peeeeee-nutsI ony
O. cents or plntl Speak right up, gents. yere var
Then come sounds like these:
"Zwe peer!"
"Huh Zwei"
Elm"
shunK ent vaswink pilwingen twakbunSwuns.
huhi"
And your other ear is assaulted with believing boys
who out at you:
"Yere var now Step right up an gtcher score cahds
Ony @ dune. Jess ten cents. O'ny way ter tell the
walkers now on ee traS. SoreosHDSl!"
From Of the Garden within square formed
by boards stretched across the heads Of barrels with
soda fountain before him and pile OF beer kegs around
him. a brawny bcery fellow with bronze lungs and
tongue like bellclapper shouts forth: Dis way fer
yer gingrale root beer an sassprller"
Fakirs all ptoDs have taken possession OF the
promenade and make everybodys life unhappy with IN
vitations -testoher grip" to trier lungs fer
nickc to knock five pins for the premium reward
cigars The crowd eers and 'ostles and pulls
its arms out OF Joint AMI blows Its breath into tube
until face Is red beet and its booty eyes are
bloOdshot