The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-23
COUNTRY AND CITY MILES.
Why One Seems 20 the Pedestrian
Much Larger Than the Other.

From the Neu Orleans 7imes-DemocrOt
i have obser vod a curious thing about
distances" said a thoughtful citizen yes
terday. and | have heard many persons
mmon on the same thing, but / have
never seen any satisfactory explanation OF
it. In fact. | suppose nearly every person
who has had an opportunity to contrast
conditions Us they exist In cities with the
more open conditions IN rural sections has
observed the came thing 1t any rate.
most men are inclined 10 regard the city
mile As somewhat shorter than the country
mile. OF course, there are many things
which will suggest themselves in explNna-
ton OF this matter, II We think about IL serl-
ously. and yet they nre not at all satisfactory
when we weigh the probleIn annlytically
Suppose we walk. tine distance. Along
the line Of the city mile We thd many things
along the way. pretty trade, displays IN show
windows, handsome, buildings men md
women busting hither ana thithcr; ana
enough on the city thorourhfsTe, things
which produce a series OF rsychological st-
fects which deaden TO sore extent the idea
of distance, md, consequently, the city mile
Is seemingly shortened on the other hand.
the country mile. 20 the average, person who
beauty in the ruEgedness. OF fence corners
and in the traccments or me hedge. Is
simply n long and barren stretch. but thus
far L am threshing over old straw. This Is
the common view Of the matter. And no doubt
these psychological processes play an IN
portant part in determining the impressions
received with reference 10 distances under
the different conditions assumed
But here Is the particular thing would
like TO call your attention to: The city mile
will be made in much less time Than the coun-
try mile. As a rule "A MAI VIII walk q mile
In the city in two-thiTds the time II will take
him to walk n mile in the country. OTdi-
narily II would seem that the shoe would he
on the other foot. There is SO much TO ar
rest his attention, to stop him and To con-
sumo his time. In the country the way ls
clear and there IL nothing for a man TO do
hut hustle for his destination. or course,
the walking il better IN the city because of
good sidewalks and the hit OF the feet is
not so heavy. But the main reason for the
shorter time required. In my opinion, j. found
in the stimulus which the city pedestrian
receives from the excitement around him.
Everybody is going at q broHkncck. speed.
Everybody Is hustling There is noise and
hustle, and in spite OF the fact that his at
tention IL arrested. and in spite OF being
bumped and iostled about by men and women
going i'm opposite directions. in spite of de-
laws AT crossings caused by passing cars
and vehicles Of every kind. the pedestrian
is worked up TO a quicker movement.
Excitement ~ the thing that dcadens the
Idea of distance and makes II seem so much
shorter in the city than IN the country, and
eycitement r. the thing which causes n man
10 walk a mile In the city ia just two-thirds
of tho time required TO walk the same distance
In the country. and the difference between
n dirt road and a paved street for walking
purposes has but little 10 do with It,"