The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-03-08
COUNTRY AND CITY MILES.


 1 Reasons Why One Seems to the Pedes- l trian Much Larger Than the Other. T have observed a curious thing about distances, said thoughtful citi- zen yesterday, and have heard many persons comment on the same thing, but l have never seen any satisfactory explanation of it. In fact, 1 suppose nearly every person who has had an op- portunity to contrast conditions as they exist in cities with the more open con ditions in rural sections has observed the same thing. At any rate, most men are inclined to regard the city mile as somewhat shorter than the country mile, Of course, there are many things which will suggest themselves in ex- planation of this matter. if we think
 about it seriously, and yet they are not
 at all satisfactory when we weigh the problem analytically.
 Suppose we walk the distance.
 Along the line Of the city mile we find
 many things which will crowd into the
 mind, pictures along the way, pretty
 trade displays in show windows, hand
 some buildings, men and women bust
 ling hither and thither, and thousand and one other things common enough
 on the city thoroughfare, things which produce a series of psychological ef-
 fleets which deaded to some extent the
 idea of. distance, and consequently, the city mile is seemingly shortened. On the other hand, the country mile, to the average person who has no taste for the artistic and can see no beauty in the ruggedness of fence corners and in the
 tracements of the hedges, is simply long and barren stretch. But thus far I am threshng over old straw This is the common view of the matter, and no doubt these psychological processes play an important part in determining the impressions received with reference to distances under the different condi- tions assumed.
 But here is the particular thing I would like to call your attention to: The city mile will be made in much less time than the country mile. As rule man will walk mile in the city in two-thidrs the time it will take him to walk mile in the country, Ordinarily it would seem that the shoe would be on the other foot There is so much to arrest his attention, to stop him and to consume his time In the country the way is clear and there is nothing for a man to do but hustle for his destination Of course. the walking is better in the city because of good sidewalks and the lift of the feet is not so heavy. But the main reason for the shorter time re- quired. in my opinion, is found in the stimulus which the city pedestrian re- ceiVes from the excitement around him. Everybody is going at a breakneclt speed. Everybody is huetllng. There is noise and hustle, and in spite of the fact that his attention is arrested, and in spite of being bumped and jostled about by men and women going in opposite directions, in spite of delays at cross ings by passing cars and vehicles of ev- cry kind, the pedestrian is worked up to a quicker movement.
 Excitement is the thing that dead ems the idea of distance and makes it seem so much shorter in the city than in the country and excitement is the thing which causes a man to walk a mile in the city in just two-thirds of the time required to walk the same distance