The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-21
WALKING rs FASHION
HOW HEAVY NEW WORKERS TRY TO
REDUCE THEIR WEIGHT,

Central Park q Favorite Place For wealth
and Beauty to walk as Well ~ TO Ride.
Good Natured Comments ON the Daily
Procession rs 1t Passes by.
Pedestrianism Is quite the proper thing
nowadays. Even when the streets are
In q 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 rotundity, 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 o trip up 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
fly plodding about the 1a-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 q magnificent
panorama as far as the eye can reach. 1t
is a spot particularly adopted for the
purpose for which it was intended-tne
pleasure Of the people.
Some OF the pedestrians there are sprint
ers, and do their work without regard
to dignity. Others stunt around with
all the dignity Of a game cock. Il Is not
an sight to see q womGsi
weighing from 200 to 800 pounds pufing
along Like a slow going locomotive with
. 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-
tioning looks of the spectators mol for
their unkind remarks. She has just so
many pounds to remoye per the doctors
orders, and she lis trying to do 1t.
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 q mile away.
"There ONE Aunty So-and-so," they
comment. What a gait she has got on
this morning! See that stride! She's
trying to break the record"
And there is Pepper So-and-so. He's
making good time too. Wonder il he'll
overtake her before she reaches the turn?
Whew, but he's making the gravel f1yl
Five pounds off this morning sure" and
rs the reducers of flesh go flying past the
gatehouse the nod Familiarity TO the men
who happen to be in sight.
"Who is this comingY' asked q reporter
of the men at the gatehouse o few days
ago as he saw a young woman approach
ing.
why we call her Beauty, one of the
men replied. She was a tall young WON
an, fair, and with the form Of q 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 in the air, her shoulders back,
chest thrown forward and with a 3-fooi
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 Oh Fifth avenue" contin-
ned one of the helpers. Every morn
ing at 0 o'clock, il the weather is any
way pleasant, she is here walking fol
dear life. But amt she a 'beaut? And
she's not stuck up a bit. She has a nod
and a smile for all of the boys. just ii
| you saw her then. I'll wager every dol.
lar / have that there isn't a man on this
road that can overtake her If she ID ii
the mood for sprinting. Look at thai
| stride of hers. She covers three feet
two, I'll bet" and taking a tape measure
how his pocket he measured the marks
of her feet after she had passed.
II told you So" he exclaimed, holding
mp the tape o it could be seen. Three
| feet two and one-half," and he grinned
with delight. Yes, I've measured it be
FORE" he acknowledged, when accused
Of lit. fYcu see, | take a great interest
in the girl, because two years ago wher
she first began coming here she looked
"a If she could not live q month. Sht
was rs pale MS a ghost. Her chest wa
sunken in, and | thought she was going
into consumption. You would nevel
think it to Gee her now, hub. Winter %
summer she seldom misses a day excep'
perhaps during the extreme heat Of TIL
summer and rainy or we weather. He
father IL . commission merchant down
town. and very often he accompanies