The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1893-03-09

Procession rs 1t PASSES By.
Professionalism is quite the proper thing
NOWADAYS. Even when the streets are
in filthy condition, the daily constitu-
tional Is quite as necessary to the aver
age man as his daily bath or his evening
of recreation. He takes a stroll ON the
avenue perhaps to Timber up his joints
and meet his friends. Perhaps, if he is
inclined to rotunditN, he does it to re
duce his weight.
OF late Central park has been growing
in popularity among the portly class. If
you will take a trip mp Ia the big reser-
vnir AT almost any time of the day, you
may see any number of people of all
ages, conditions and degrees of prosper
lily ploddiug about the lg-mile track
which surrounds il.
The reservoir is the highest portion of
Manhattan Island The view from all
sides is picturesque. On the south the
city lies stretched out i'll "A magnificent
panorama rs far as the eve can reach. 1t
is spot particularly adopted for the
purpose for which it WAS intended the
pleasure of the people.
some of the pedestrians there are sprint
ers, aud do their work without regard
to dignity. Others shunt around with
all the dignity of a game cock. 1t is not
an uncommon sight to see a woman
weighing from 200 to 800 pounds putting
along like a slow going locomotive with
a heavy train attached, her arms swing
ing at her sides like the driving rods of
AN engine She is out for what there is
in it. She cares nothing for the ques-
tionng looks of the spectators nor for
their unkind remarks. She has just so
many pounds To remove per the doctors
orders. and She is trying to do it.
So regularly do these open air fiends
make their appearance on the track that
the men employed at the gatehouse on
the south side in the capacity of watch
men, gatekeepers and helpers can spot
one half mile away.
There comes Aunty So-and-so." they
comment. What a gait she has got on
this morning, See that sti'del She's
irving to break the record
And there is Pepper So-and-so. He's
making good time too. Wonder if he'll
overtake her before She reaches the turn!
Whew. but he's making the gravel fly!
Five pounds off this morning sure" and
as the reducers of flesh go flying past the
gatehouse the nod familiarly to the men
who happen to be in sight.
Who is this comingp asked reporter
of themen at the gatehouse a few days
ago as he saw a young woman approach
ing.
"Why. we call her Beauty one Of the
men replied. She was u tall young WON
an, fair, and with the form of Juno
She was striding along on the other side
of the lake. As she passed the men she
nodded good morning and strobe away,
her head i'll the air, her shoulders back,
chest thrown forward and with 3-foot
stride She was out for oxygen. Her
checks glowed with the rosy hue of per-
feet health, and her eyes sparkled like
diamonds.
SHE lives on Fifth avenue, contin-
ued one Of the helpers. Every morn
ing at 8 o'clock, if the weather is any
way pleasant, she is here walking for
dear life. But amt she n beautY And
she's not stuck up "A bit. She has a nod
and a smile for all of the boys. just as
you saw her then. I'll wager every dol
lar ! have that there isn't Il man on this
road that can overtake her if she is in
the mood for sprinting. Look at that
stride of hers. She covers three feet
two, I'll bet and taking a tape measure
frow his pocket he measured the marks
of her feet after she had passed.
81 told you So he exclaimed, holding
up the tape so it could be seen. "Three
feet two and one-half," and he grinned
with delight. Yes, I've measured it be-
fore" lac acknowledged, when accused
of it, ou see. take Il great interest
in the sirl, heeausc Two year, ago when
she first began coming here She looked
as if SHE could not live month. She
was H. pale rs ghost. Her chest was
sulken in. and | thought she was going
into consumption. You would never
think it L. SEE her NOW, hnh Winter or
summer she seldom misses u day except
perhaps dulng the extreme heat of the
summer and rainy or Wei weather. Her
fnthcr i commission merchant down
town, and very ofru he accompanies
her in her walk. Every body like, L.
watch her, she i - graceful and strong.
Then came a man al about 30. short
and Very ohe,e lie had a very large
head. short gray whiskcrs and leg, that
We're no larger than baseball bats
Morning, he said. with a nod Of rccu--
milton Fin air-luts Of it. Three
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