The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05
WOMEN URGED To WALK.
HEALTH AND HAPPINESS TO BE
HAD ny CONG AFOOT

OF organizing walking Cluus. III all tnht mes
been said and written about the feet Of tho wo-
men of the Windy City is true, they have some
thing to go on in case the clubs nro formed.
DIR. Sarah Hackett Stevenson was the original
promoter OF tho idea. According to the Times.
Herald sho 10 very anxious to see II put into
operation. She believes that there Ia no -eNer-
else In the world like walking for making and
keeping people well. She hopes to SEQ n walk
ing club organized and enjoyed by every
woman's club In Chicago before tho winter sea-
son ends. And she also believes that many
other walking clubs will be started among bust.
nose and society women who do not go in rgs
club life. Indeed. she holds that club podos-
trianism would be particularly beneficial 70
these two classes.
Tho business women OF Chicago" she saya,
"get very little time for healthful exercise OF
any kind. and still less for wholesome rccreas
tion. Now. both of these features arc necessary
for perfect health and vitality. as we all know,
and in fact exercise without the recreativo
quality is OF comparatively little benefit to the
man or woman who takes II. II Is with this
knowledge In mind, and 10 meet this need, that
1 have thought of the walking clubs. To take q
long walk is helpful. Of course. to q certain OK
tent, but to walk for tho pleasure or enjoyment
OF 1t Is far better. Walking clubs would supply
the needed elements OF fun and companionship,
and would also enable the women employed all
day to walk together at night. Just as they have
wheeled together during the summer.
"The average working woman OF Chicago 10
too busy to walk to her office in the morning,
too tired to walk TO her home at night. Now.
scientific authorities and statistics declare that
ten miles is the minimum distance which every
man and woman should walk daily In order to
keep well. Tho average Chicago working
woman hardly walks that far In a year. The
idea OF walking for recreation has never entered
her brain, for one thing; she has not time in
which to walk for another.
But give her walking clubs-let her. after
reaching homo in the evening. take u wholesome
dinner. rest for half an hour or so. change her
gown for a garb suitable for walking, II indeed
she is not sensible enough to wear such a dress
at all times, and then start out in company with
five, ten, or twenty other women. all merry in
anticipation OF q delightful hour or two-and
sho will not only sec walking in quite a new
light, but she will also return homo in that con-
dition Of healthful WEAKNESS which induces
perfect sleep, and not her general health alone,
but also her spirits, temper. and capacity for
work will be wonderfully improved next day.
Let her keep up tho practice Of walking, and she
will literally be a new woman before very long,,
"How about society women, doctorf" proved
o question which brought forth another flood Of
eloquence from the clever woman who Is mother
ing the walking club idea. "Do you or do you
not think that they get enough pedestrian exer-
else while shopping. calling, and going their
rounds generally"
Tho average society woman of Chicago 10
not a bit better off in this respect than her busi.
ness sister," DR.. Stevenson declared emphati-
cally, "save that she has. perhaps, greater
opportunities in the way of leisure, or
at least the disposal Of her own time.
Where and how does she walk From her
apartment to tho elevator. from tho door
to the carriage. shoppingi Oh. well. walking.
in the way women indulge in 1t gener-
ally. O dragging gown to hold up and both
hands lnH%sI allo Sn With an bundles and par pnFcs Ms,, i not en-
fHie society ssIsS Women az would {Senent quite Si IS much
stores. and they would have the added edyan.
tage Of being able to walk IN the daytime II they
Sifis Because ! se' ths sPs cannot % R tsfs s tSs t Tine s IN days.
they might benefit indivlduaallys D 81 Walking
classes; 4 only they would dress properly for the
proper dress. She says that a walking dress
should be constructed on the same order as the
e eeed mot be quite Mas1 81 sho sHlt' The thSp Sdaie ees sh saiEs
Pei loose Ss.1 enough Ins 1,, to give the gearer room for
WON ase ePie Sr from her s ehesta boy has ihso siid or ts sss
lips. while man cries from below the diaphragm.
and therefore It, is real physical pain for
said Of the compsrativs BREATHING Of the
sexes, except that here man has tho better
ease and ife;givinR comfort, anG ali because 10
has too much respect for his body to torture it
walking gown should be so constructed about
the armholes and elbows as to allow of swing
of ali, the shoes must DO wide enough and long
enough to make a comfortable tread possible. A
long walk taken In the ordinary shoe worn by the
| average woman would rpSnlt in agony nnra and
simple. She would return home with no end Of
aches &c osis and p eaIS but tnnooNw nowadays aSa i iS easy enough
connection between their outlines and the shape
of the human foot, and II women are to Join
walking clubs they must ADOPT such footwear.
Everybody knows how robust and healthy the
English woman Is as q result Of her daily outing
well take a lesson from her and. properly ar.
rayed. get the benefit OF a daily walk in all sorts
says DR.. Stephenson. and so is snowy weather.
Wet clothes don't hurt a healthy woman unless
gets chilled in consequence, and Wet feet never
hurt while one is exercising
This walking enthusiast does not wish to DO
represented as opposing the rubber trust. but
personally she detests rubber In all forms. and
s"!%TSesry s opp9s stou the he %fiaring w S5 il 6y eI S9msn.
warm shoes, and no mackintoshes or rubbers.".
favor Of her walking clubs is that the exercise
will make the women pretty. She claims that
running is even more potent as a 6eautihcr than
walking; Running is a hobby with the doctor.
She would have women run singly, in couples.
trioS and in clubs, and she firmly believes that
Out, of her walking clubs will grow running
c~lubs-clubs which shall eventually arrange for
weekly runs Of twenty miles or so. with the ele-
ment OF competition to give zest TO the events.
Running" she insists. lis the mo t perfect
and wholesome, as well as cXhilaratinR, exer-
else in the world. Every well man and woman
would be- the better for IA brisk walk or run
daily. and those who are not well now might BIO.
come SO IL they could be induced to ADOPT the
means l have suggested. ] wish / could send
every delicate, ailing, and dyspeptic woman In
Il 70 nnI Tor "A Hln-Hnn n II arnl n AZ h n
not a dull. dispiriting. business-like stroll-every
day, rain or shine"
The walking idea Is being talked UP and
worked up in Chicago. and members OF tho
Woman's Club have declared their intention OF
organizing a walking club at once. Several
other influential club women favor the scheme
and are planning TO bring into existence other
clubs, and the working girls who have been APP
preached regarding the subject are unanimous
in favor of II.
Why cannot New York's club women organ.
lie walking clubs for womeni This city could
offer no p%rettier sight than u party Of Sorusis-