The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-26
Fredonia's Weston WobbIers
Take Long Hikes
Leave Town at 5 O'Clock Every
Sunday Morning.
EAT AT FARM HOUSE
Arrangements and Route Of
Walk Are Kept Secret.
Club Organized Year Ago Com
posed of Business Men.

Fredonia, Kan, Aug. 26.-If you
should get into FTedonia at o'clock
Sunday morning you would see lit
tie crowd of twelve men, dressed In
khaki trousers, walking shoes and
straw hats on the steps of the local
Catholic church And at exactly 5
o'clock you would see them march
down one Of the streets of the little
city out on to a country road and
away out of sight
They are not a party of white
hopes but business and professional
men who walk from six to eight miles
every Sunday for the fun of it. The
men are known as the Peripatetic
club.
Nearly a year ago a number of men
were discussing the feats of Edward
Payson Weston, the pedestrian. 1t
was decided that the aged mans
condition despite his age, was the re-
suit Of the walking he did and before
was organized
First Drill Tiresome.
The following Sunday all but one of
the men met on the steps of the
above mentioned church at 3 o'clock.
One of them had chosen route for
walk into the country. The hike
was started and by 8 o'clock the hik-
ers, unaccustomed to the sun and the
exercise, were almost ready to call
the pedestrian stunt a failure. But
the man who had chosen the route
urged them on
AS they neared a farm house he
suggested that they stop and try to
arrange for a breakfast. Other mem
bers of the party agreed and the stop
was made.
Imagine their surprise when they
found the table loaded with a splen-
did country breakfast. such as only
farmers wives can prepare. And
imagine what those tired hungry men
from the city did to that breakfast.
They understood the urging they had
previously been given by the leader
and the plan of hiking almost aban-
doned before. was now declared a sue
cess. After breakfast they walked
back to town.
The next Sunday another man was
chosen leader. He selected the route
club then was regularly organized.
Today the members of the club are
making their fifty-first hike.
Only two men have left the club
since it was organized. But there are
still dozen of the Weston Wobblers,
as they are called by their friends.
No Hike on Christmas.
Only one Sunday has found no
hikes being made. At Christmas time
it was voted not to walk.
In the winter the uniform worn by
the walkers is increased by the add
ing of a coat and the change of the
hat for cap. The walks begin at 5
o'clock and always last until 10.
Som etimes, when the drill is an extra
long one, arrangements are made with
farmer to haul the pedestrians back
to the city.
Awake at 4:3O O'Clock.
The leader awakens the men at 4 80
o'clock and they are nearly always at
the church steps on time. When one
is late a note is left for him, giving
the directions taken by the other and
more punctual members. The mem
bers seldom miss the walk. They have
grown to look forward to the Sunday
morning drills as part of their regu-
lar recreation.
The members of the club estimate
that they have walked 400 miles and
paid out over $3.50 to farmers wives
for breakfasts They have voted to
continue the drills for another year.
The club is composed of three mer-
chants, two newspaper men, three
physicians. one dentist, two attorneys
and one contractor.