The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-08
Our Special Contributors---I8o5.
WALKING AND ITS BENEFITS.
*** By PROF. EUGENE LAMB RICHARDS, :.

forms nad pair OF lasts made as
fiat as possible. They should not
turn up at the toes like the ordinary
lasts for heeled shoes. On these
lasts have my shoes made and lasted
with iron nails, which are withdrawn
after the shoes are done. Shoes are
ordinarily lasted with wooden pegs.
These are left in the shoe, and when
dry will often work up and cause
endless mischief to socks and feet.
Some General Rules.
For walking with pleasure and ad
vantage, should give a few simple
rules. The application of these rules
for himself every man must make
with due allowance for his own pecu-
liarities.
Take plenty of time at meals. Do
not walk right after a meal. Rest
well before the noon and evening
meals. Drink all you desire of good
water during the tramp, but sparing
ly at meals or just before eating.
Good digestion is as important to
good walking as it is necessary for
good work of any kind.
AS to foods, a man has to take on
his tramp what is set before him. 1t
will generally be nourishing enough,
if he will be careful to eat it when
not tired, and to eat it slowly. l have
never yet found any food on my
tramps, however indigestible it would
be to me when at sedentary occupa-
tions, that | could not walk off" be-
fore the next meal, provided / came
to the table rested.
At the close of each day take
sponge or towel bath, or dry rub
down. At least wash your feet, and
change socks and shoes too, if posi-
BILE. A change of all my clothing
next to the skin at the end of each
day is imperative with me.
Benefits of Walking.
The benefits of walking are many.
First and foremost is the benefit to
the health All the conditions of good
health are present on tramp; free
dom from care, gentle exercise, con-
tinuous but not exhaueting, and in
the fresh air. There is no exercise,
except perhaps riding horse back,
which has such beneficial effect on
the digestive organs. 1t has, too,
beneficial effect upon the skin, giving
one all the advantage of a Turkish
bath, with the additional advantage
of breathing good oxygen. The
throwing off the waste material each
day through the bowels, kidneys and
skin, and replacing it by new, rich,
oxygenized blood, is what gives one
at the close of even weeks tramp
such a feeling of elasticity and power.
If man carries packard he loses
half the good of the trip who does
not carry one-the muscular system
of the trunk receives toning up as
well as that of the lower limbs. If
in addition 10 a pack, an umbrella is
carried to serve the double purpose
of staff and shelter, no little exercise
is afforded the arms.
The next benefits to be noticed are
the benefits usually derived from
travel, but without the confusion and
crowds incident to ordinary travel. 1t
is a most independent mode of travel.
No time tables to be consulted. No
porters have to be feed. There is no
trouble about baggage. Like the
elephant, the tramp carries his own
trunk. The change of scene is varied,
and not too rapid, as in the usual
modes of conveyance. The close ac-
quaintance which one makes with the
people is only possible in this or
kindred ways. From my many ex-
periences of this kind ! select one to
illustrate my point. After long walk
in the winter between breakfast and
noon, l approached town in Yer
mont, which was one long street.
was weary enough when struck one
end of that street, for / had already
walked sixteen miles. The hotel was
at the other extremity, nearly mile
away. 1t seemed as if that mile would
never end. Each person whom
questioned about the hotel was appa-
rently more irritable than the previ-
GUS one. Undoubtedly it was my own
fatigue and hunger which made the
replies seem more curt than need be.
Suffice it to say that the last man
questioned answered me as if l was a
troublesome fellow whom he wished
to be rid of "There is the hotel
right across the bridget" And such
hotel when l stood in front of it, In
the days of coaches it might have
been a great affair, but now it rose