Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-09-29
RETURN OF BISHOP COLEMAN
Back From His Annual Tramp
ipVIrginia and Maryland.
OUTING CONSUMED TWO WEEKS
He Walked Two Hundred and
Thirty-five Miles.


The Right Rev. Leighton Coleman,
Bishop Of the Diocese of Delaware ar
rived home about IL o'clock Monday
night from his annual tramp in West
Virginia and Maryland having made a
record of 2;}5 miles in two weeks As
an evidence that he was not tired out
by his trip, he sat up until 2.30 o'clock
this morning, and after taking about 8
hours sleep was ready for busy day.
He is home in time to ofticiate at the
cornerstone laying of the Delaware In
dustrial School for Girls at Twenty
fifth and Market streets this afternoon.
The bishop began his tramp two
weeks ago Tuesday morning, starting at
Martinsburg, w. Va, and proceeding
thence to Grafton. From the latter
place he retraced his steps by various
routes to Cumberland, Md.
He crossed the Blue Mountains
several times and found it very stiff
climbing by some of the routes. The
roads were fair to villainous. As was
to be expected, the bishop had numer-
Gus interesting experiences. Through
the two weeks of his tramp, his identity
was not known to the people he met.
In his long used SLOUGH hat and long
macintosh, with a stout cane and
heavy walking shoes, in community
where he was unknown, he travelled
without his high Office once being sus-
pected. He was an enigma to many,
however, who could not understand
why man who was able to ride, should
choose to walk. To some he was an
object of sympathy. Others thought
he had something to sell or was pros
pector for real estate.
From his point of view, the people
displayed Indifference and lack of
curiosity, showing that they do not
live outside of themselves. In one
place he found a father and mother
and six grown children who could not
read or write. The children were not
permitted to attend school because of
the cost of clothing. Their visitor
urged the parents to give the children
schooling.
One night, failing to secure lodging
at a house because it was too full to
grant him even sleeping room, the
bishop took refuge in an old barn and
slept on the hay. On another night,
he climbed through schoolhouse win
dow and slept on the floor. As q rule,
however, he was allowed to spend the
night at the farmhouses on his route.
ihc poppio Woio Son5fdliy uUSplbdDly
inclined.
The bishops knowledge of clocks
furnished him opportunity to make a
return for the kindnesses shown him. All
some Of the houses where he stopped,
he repaired the clocks that were not
running, much to the qualification Of
the families. He surprised them doubt.
less by refusing to accept pay for these
services.
At Tunnellsville, W. Va, the bishor
attended massmeeting where a candi.
date for Congress made an address.
He was presented to the candidate and
invited to participate in an entertain
ment but declined. One rainy day he
attended the session of the court al
Grafton and found the procedure
rather simple and lacking somewhat il
the dignity customary to courts in this
section of the country
The bishop made the whole trip O.
235 miles alone. On few occasion.
he invited persons to accompany him
on part OF his journey, but they wer,
not taken with the idea of walking fol
pleasure and declined his invitation
The longest distance he made in an,
one day was 26 miles; on another day
he made 20, and his average was 20.
When he reached Cumberland h
spent several days in the neighbor
hood. Tramping eastward from tina
place he took train on Monday after
noon which landed him in Washington
and thence he came home on Tuesday