The morning call., 1893-07-23
BY HIS WALK.
A Study of Human Loco
motion.

1t is curious aud perhaps not generally
understood fact that there is nothing that
so clearly and Immediately characterizes
an individual as his walk
II you have known a man for years, and
you note even slight change in his habit
ual method of stepping, of carrying his
shoulders, swinging his arms. or even
holding his head, you may be sure some
subtle. perhaps unperceived, change is
taking place in his character. The hands,
head, face, voice. each tell an eloquent tale
of the personality seeking expression
through them. but the organs Of locomn-
tion to the practiced eye speak far more
plainly and unmistakably than do any of
these, for theirs is an unvarnished tale.
The Individual rarely thinks that they
may betray his most intimate nature.
The student OF character knows full we'll
that, despite prOtestations. despite frequent
demonstrations Of honesty and probity of
intention, though education aud policy
may prompt to nprightness and sincerity
In every action, there is some explanation
to be found, deep bidden though it may be
In his innerm0st soul, when man walks
like cat. You have seen women whose
graceful, gliding. sinuous crossing Of a
room reminded you. despite your respect
Tor ihe character you think you know
thoroughly, of a serpent. These subtle in
dcations are not to be lightly dlsre-
garded. They 60 to make up what we
know, or may know, if we use our facul-
ties rightly about the individual.
One can note almost every sort of car
riage among the pedestrians on our streets
except that which is graceful and correct
The American people do not as a rule.
walk well. They are too much In a hurry
too self-conscious. too little self-pOised
and assured in their positions. The women.
moreover, are afraid to step out fully, and
with good reason; they know their swad-
ding clothes will not permit them TO do so.
Somewhere. among some interesting
"reminiscences, that most graceful woman,
julia Marlowe, tells US how. after having
toiled faithfully for years to improve her
figure and secure graceful carriage. she
thought she had probably succeeded. until
one day, happening to catch glimpse over
her shoulder at her own reflection in a
glass, she noted that she could see each
nip move with every step. 1he effect was
dreadful! She at once inaugurated
series of long early walks. arising at day
break every morning for months and walk
ing far out into the country, her hands
upon her hips. steadfastly demanding of
herself that they be mOtiOnless, even when
ber tn CHS swung freely in Il rapid walk.
1t was about SIX months. she tells us. be-
fore she learned to move properly and
felt she could trust herself not to appear
as spectacle when she would walk before
an audience. If every man or woman who
swing their hips when they walk were to
follow Miss Marlowe's example nearly the
entire population of San Francisco would
be seen out in an early promenade almost
every morning.
1t is not merely the hip-swinging walk
we encounter on every side. There is an
almost infinite variety OF ungraceful
tricks that the average pedestrian can and
does affect. And nearly every one Of them
betrays the character of the walker. We
all know the bent head and slipping shOul-
ders of the thoughtful man, tho swagger
OF the bOast!ui one. the c0mplacent prog
ress Of the self-satisfied one. We know
tho people whose stomachs act as mas
tors of ceremonies and always arrive
sufficiently far in advance to introduce
their owners. We know the uncertain
shuttle of the absent-minded or vacillating
man. the shoulder walk" Of the careless
man or woman. the movement seeming to
start from and to include the shoulders.
rather than to begin from and to exclude
the hip.
Then there is the humping h3el. the
aggressive shOulder-and-elbcw an. ramrod
poise OF the head of the confirmed school
marin. 1t would be profitable TO Sonsider,
BY the way, just how far that samAthump-