Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-08
BISHOP COLEMAN'S TRAMP.
An Interesting Account of His ReceI
Long Journey.

"a lo'hWutti has lhIu dSluH his
clerical garb and put on coarse suit
and left his beautiful home, in Will
mington, for two weeks pedestrian
tip through some of the rough and
mountainous parts of the Eastern
Sta'es. On these trips the Bishop does
not care to be recognized and respected
for his high position in the church,
as that would take away one of the
pleasures of his vacation.
The Bishops costume ~ one in which
few persons would recognize him. aud
which is worn more for comfort, so he
claims, than with a view to conceaiing
his identity. His v tide brimmed, low
crowned, black SLOUGH hat looks ser.
viceable, while his blue flannel shirt
is worn open at the neck and without
a tie; dark, coarse sack suit is worn
under an old rusty black "duster. "
His shoes are heavy and will stand
long tramp. In tia knapsack that is
trapped to his back is a change of
clothing.
He carries stout cane or staff with
crook. This year the shoes and staff
are new, but the rest of his outfit has
was broken and is kept with others OF
For 10 years his trips have been
confined to tho mountains of Virginia
and West Virginia, but this year he
went through Western Maryland and
crossed the Blue Ridge and Allegheny
Mountains.
"When l was a sohoolboy in Phila-
delphia," said the Bishop, in speaking
Of his trips, 'our principal, Prof.
Francis A. Jackson, would take the
boys on tramp into the country and
there teach US more than we could
learn from books. Later, another teacher.
Theodore d. Rand, would take US
botanizing, and the love of tramping
grew in me.
"We formed a club and called our
selves the Delphian Circumferaneous
Association, and had for our athletic
field the old Paramount Basin, around
which we would run and walk. In 1854
we held regular races, at which tie
prizes we're two belts, made for us by
our lady friends. Two years later it
was decided that whoever won the
annual races should be allowed to Keep
the belts, and / was SO fortunate as to
win them both. / have taken good care
Of them and prize them highly. Some
of the boys Of that little club have be-
come famous, but | do not think that
any of them have been more true to
to their early love of pedestrianism
than l have been.''
81 begun my early pedest rian trips
over 40 years ago. At that time was
rector of little church at Bustleton,
near Philadelphia, and became quite
friendly with missionary, Washing
ton b. Erbin. He and | began by
taking trips into the mountains of
Pennsylvania. After few years we
became separated, and thereafter |
always went alone, although rot a year
passed shat some one does not desire
to keep me company.
During my trips | have covered
most of the country in the East. l
have explored many rivers, including
the Connecticut, Delaware, Hudson,
Housatonic, Lehigh, Schuylkill, Sus-
quehanna and Potomac.
"This year / left the house late on
the evening of September goth, and
returned about midnight of October
9th, having been gone 10 days ID of
which were spent in walking, during
which time walked 26l miles. ! did
not walk ON Sundays.
For obvious reasons do not care to
give the names OF the places l visit.
In crossing one of the mountains |
had 10 climb up five miles and down
four; in this nine mile trip l did not
meet person.
Naturally, I meet with amusing
adventures. On this trip / was recog-
nized sey eral times. In one place
young woman ran up to me saying, Il
want to shake hands with you, Bishop.
| read of your "trip, and havirg heard
you preach, L recognized you.' One
friend asked if carried revolver.
II was taken for peddler, shoe
maker, school inspector,a tramp, and
advance man of circus and carpen
ter in search Of work. l was called
Daddy and old Kris. One man said
he guessed was looking for job, and
thought would take amy old thing.
went into several schoolhouses and
spoke to the pupils.
Zone school teacher asked Whats
wanted?' and later explained that she
thought / was the father of some Of
the pupils, and wanted to take my
child home, or something. AS / passed
tavern where some men were sitting
at the doors and windows they called
to me to come in and get drink.
They little thought that they were ad
dressing total sustaining bishop.
Two little boys fell in and kept me
company for awhile, and when we
separated gave them five cents. MY,
but you must be rich man, they said.
81 went to house where 1 was told
the people were in the habit of taking
dodgers. The family were on the porch.
Tun u1t va MN tstrn md lad mi ina
Tor the night?' l asked, removing my
hat. A young woman sitting there
started to question me, thinking that
l did not want to pay for the accom-
modations, and seemed about to re-
fuse.
81 looked toward the barn and re-
marked, Il might spend the night
there. was told that could not
do SO. I happened to mention that !
had money. This surprised The young
BUMP Assuring them that was not,
l was given the desired accommoda-
tions. The young woman that had
misjudged me was so ashamed OF her
self that she left the house, and did
not return while ] was there. At
breakfast the hostess said she had
friend who had indigestion of the
brain.
"Among other ouriosIties saw a
new style of cowgirl one morning and
again in the evening. She was driving
a number of cattle. She wore pink
shirt waist and white duck skirt,
roth fresh and clean, ard she was bare
ionted.
"Tnis trip strengthens my idea that
frost has nothing to do with the rich
colofing and the falling of the leaves.
There has been only one slight frost