Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1893-03-14
ANNAPOLIS MD. TUESDAY EVENING. MARCH Ia 1898
WALKING is FASHION
HOW HEAVY NEW WORKERS TRY TO
REDUCE THEIR WEIGHT.

Nentral GArA faSOrito Elaeo FOR W enlth
and Beauty to Walk as Wen as to Ride.
Good Natured Comments ON the Daily
Procession as IL Passes BY.
Pedestrianism is quite the proper thing
nowadays. Even when the streets are
in a filthy condition, the daily constitr-
tional is quite as necessary to the aver
age man as his daily bath or his evening
of recreation. He takes q stroll on the
avenue perhaps to timber up his joints
and meet his friends. Perhaps, If he is
inclined TO rotundity, he does it TO re-
duce his weight.
OF late Central park has been growing
in popularity among the portly class II
you will take trip mp to the big reser-
voir at almost any time Of the day, you
may see any number Of people Of all
ages. conditions and degrees Of prosper
ity plodding about the 1t-mile track
which surrounds it.
The reservoir is the highest portion Of
Manhattan Island. The view from all
sides is picturesque. On the south the
city lies stretched out in a magnificent
panorama as far as the eye can reach. 1t
is a spot particularly adopted for the
purpose for which 1t was intended-the
pleasure of the people.
Some of the pedestrians there are sprint
ers, and do their work without regard
to dignity. Others shunt around with
all the dignity of game cock. 1t is not
an uncommon sight to see a woman
weighing from 200 to 300 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 1t. She cares nothing for the ques-
tioning 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 fends
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 gait she has got on
this morningl See that stridei She's
trying to break the record"
<1hN thVAV 10 IopPcA OO-huu-oO. I1c
making good time too. Wonder If he'll
overtake her before she reaches the turnf
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 Familiarity to the men
who happen to be in sight.
WHO'S this comingY' asked a reporter
Of the men at the gatehouse few days
ago as he saw young woman approach
ing.
"Why, we call her Beauty" one Of the
men replied. She was tall young wom-
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 strode away,
her head in the air, her shoulders back,
chest thrown forward and with 3-foot
stride. She was out for oxygen. Her
cheeks 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 9 o'clock, il the weather Is any
way pleasant, she is here walking for
dear life. But amt she 'beautT And
she's not stuck up bit. She has nod
and a smile for all of the boys. just as
you saw her then. iii wager every dol
lar have that there isn't man on this
road that can overtake her If she is in
the mood for spriIiting. Look at that
stride of hers. She covers three feet
two, I'll bet" and taking tape measure
frow his pocket he measured the marks
Of her feet after she had passed.
II told you so, he exclaimed, holding
up the tape so il could be seen. Three
feet two and one-half,p and he grinned
with delight. YES, I've measured it be-
FORE" he acknowledged, when accused
of it. You see, take a great interest
in the girl, because two years ago when
she first began coming here she looked
as if she could not live month. She
was as pale as ghost. Her chest was
sunken in, and / thought she was going
into consumption. You would never
think it to see her now, bub. Winter OF
summer she seldom misses day except
perhaps during the extreme heat of the
summer and rainy or wet weather. Her
father is commission merchant down
tOWus euu very OAbCh uC hCEOAh lAiilcb
her in her walks. Everybody likes to
watch her, she'is so graceful and strong"
Then came man Of about 30, short
and very obese. He had very large
head, short gray whiskers and legs that
were no larger than baseball bats.
Morning he said, with nod of recog-
milton. Fine air--lots Of it. Three
pounds off this morning or die. Lots of
people out. Goodby," and as his spindle
shanks, working at the rate of 100 times
a minute. carried him out Of range Of
hearing he was still talking. He was a
Wall street broker He has been trying
to reduce his flesh for year, but he is
as fat now as ever.
But here comes the hummer"
Morning, boys, morning. Can't stop
talk. Ih hurry. Make circuit 20 min
utes or bust BY by" And he was out
of hearing.
He was short man, thin and about IS.
He had q smooth face and was wiry Of
limb.
In few m.uutes a bevy Of pretty girls
seminary girls-came along with thei1
chaperon, young woman who looked az
If she had but just graduated herself
She eyed the men suspiciously as much
as to. say: Don't you dare hirt with
these girls. They are out under my care,
and ! win protect them. New York
World.