Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-08-15

much admired, but one day as this
young woman took long, strong step
up hill there was loud cracking and
the silt split between the upright and
the step. This, the manufacturer
claimed, was bound to happen to any
silt cut all from one piece.
Opinions however, differ on this sub
| ject, and a girl whom the writer met
last Monday on the train, en- route for
the mountains, showed two pairs Of
stills in her baggage belonging to her
self and her brother. They were plain
pine. stained cherry and highly var
nished, except the steps which were
brass covered. They were cut in the
side of the upright and were rein
forced with brass strips that were both
pretty and useful. They were strapped
together for carrying, like very long
golf sticks; and were protected on the
ends with a rubber bagging.
The height Of silt step varies ac-
cording to the person. A very safe
height is as tall as the knees, though
people after they have learned to walk
like a higher step. The higher the step
the faster the power of locomotion.
The writer saw very touching sight
at Normandy-by-the-Sea in June. A
little boy, the son of bank official in
Philadelphia, was spending the sum-
mer there with his parents. But the
little fellow was lame. one foot being
several inches shorter than the other.
One afternoon a race was proposed by
the other boys, but of course the little
lame boy could not participate. "Nev-
err mind" he called out, 81 can run on
stills, just the same, and when you fell
lows learn to walk stills, then I'll race
you" Sure enough, pair Of beauti
fully carved stills had been made to
order for the little lame lad and,
as the fastest. One step was three
inches taller than the other
The length of the uprights vary also,
according to the size of the walker. If
the step is a foot high, it is a. good
thing to allow half that height above
the walkers head The longer the silt
I'D TO that length the easier it is to
walk.
The cost Of this little amusement is
not great A pair of stills, bought |
ready made, do not come to over $3.50, |
unless you get something very nice. II |
you get them up yourself, selecting |
your own piece of wood and carving, or |
mailing on the step yourself, you can |
probably achieve a very acceptable |
pair for 81. There come very hand
some brass ornaments for mailing on.
You can get big fleursde-lys, long an
chors, square nail heads, big, round or
naments and all sorts of pretty things
for decorating the ends and the sides
If the step.
There are also silt clubs. You form
into bands for various pur-
poses. One band pledges itself to
,cour the fields for botanical treasures.
Another explores the native country
or fishing streams, and good hunting.
Another corps calls itself the Errand
less to go to "the store" for everything
rom pickles to thread And then there
S the Butterfly corps that will not do
except look pretty and march
round on dress parade. The fever FOR
General organization has attacked the
tilt walkers. The National Canoe AS
the L. A, W., the Collegiate
'roquet Organization have made them
nvious to have club Of their own,
nd there IS talk of the L. A. S.
league American Stiltsmen.
The speed you can get walking is
reat, and Hop-o'- My-Thumb's giant
ne y find themselves on a Straight road
With nothing ahead. There is one de-
ightful popularity of stills. They do
lot need good road. Any old road
will do, the rougher the better, provid-
d it is not too stony. Experts strap
heir feet on the silt steps, as expert
vheelmen use the toe clips, but this is
cry dangerous for the novice, who re-
les upon her ability to jump off and
ave herself in case she loses her bal
nee.
You have not heard the last Of the
i. A. S., and next season you may see
hem race with the L. A. w.
NORTHROP G. CHASE.