Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-12-03
Walking as Real Exercise.

Much interest has been manifested in
the feat OF Edward Payson Weston, who
at 90 years of age has walked from Port
land to Chicago in less than % days
time exclusive Of Sundays, lowering by
more than a day bis time over the same
route made just forty years earlier.
1t is frequently suggested that this
walk of Weston's may lead to revival
of interest in walking such as prevailed
something like thirty years ago. The
interest in walking at that time was IN
the nature of a craze, walking holding
then position somewhat like that
which the great national game holds to-
day-begging the pardon of some mil
lions of fans. Base ball as fine game
and healthful exercise is participated
in by eighteen players, generally hired,
and a variable number of spectators up
to the tens of thousands, all intensely
interested in the sport, but nine-tentbs
of whom never take a ball in their hands,
and most of whom would dodge If they
saw one coming toward them.
So if we should take hold of walking
in the characteristic American way, this
is about what will come Of it: lot OF
men riding by some means OF convey
ance to large building where care
fully prepared track is laid out. per-
haps twenty laps to the mile; number
of trained-perhaps observation-disclosures
letes circling this track in more OF less
exciting contest; a crowd of spectators
damaging their health by the bad air OF
the place and excessive consumption oil
tobacco if nothing worse, and their
morals by betting on the result; and
then everybody crowding street cars and
every other means of transportation IN
the rush to get home.
Let us hope that if pedestrianism is to
have a revival, it will come in saner
fashion. 1t is not necessary, desirable
or possible that We should all be trained
and hardened athletes, fit to follow
Weston for even twenty miles; but walk
ing properly done is a good and heath
full exercise, and one that in moderation
will benefit any one of ordinary vigor.
One of the best ways of taking it is that
which some parties in the cities now
take, walking out few miles into the
country and hitting the trolleys for a
ride back, or riding out and making d
circuit on foot from some point on the
line.
But there are some who can't get
away from the American idea that the
object of this or any other form OF exer-
else is to get into condition to beat some
one else. So all else is lost sight OF,
and they are the slaves OF that which
should serve them. Such, in the slang
of the day, will "last pretty quick, as
far as following up the exercise Is con
cerned.
A paper in one of the smaller Maine
cities noted few days since that clerk
in that city, inspired by Weston, was
walking every day ''for the sake of the
exercise" and where do you suppose be
was doing it? He was working out" on
the half-mile track at the driving park.
Think of that, With all the world be-
fore him, wherein he might roam, be
was plodding round and round half-mile
race track day after day, having his mind
diverted BY the monotony of the process,
and beholding the beautiful scenery OF
rows of stalls and empty refreshmeni
booths.
And yet he might put in the miles
which he travels 'for exercise, golng
about the streets of the city and study
ing his fellow men. Or, the city is not
so large but that few minutes will take
him out into the country, where he may
study the works of God as they are
where man has only partly spoiled them
To be sure, man may be jealous OF his
possessions. The first gate leading of
the road with an inviting piece of wood
land behind it may bear sign with the
expressive words. mo trespaSsing!'
and the next pair of bars" may have
the briefer but no less expressive senti-
ment, keep outr' But even the coun-
try highway is not always bad. and II
does not take long to get out into the
real country, where one may roam
through pastures and woods without
fear of being shot for trespasser, and
get all the good that the air and the sun
shine, the varied way and the shifting
scene, may bring to him.
So, my dear friend, if you want to
walk, walk. But remember that you
are doing it for the good there is in it,
and bear in mind that walking was made
for man, and not man for walking.