The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-28
Indications Point to Revival of Interest
 in Pedestrianisna

A few years ago, when Edward Pay son Weston, the veteran pedestrian, pulled off his celebrated tEanscontiu- ental walking stunt, there were indica- tions of a coming great revival of in- tereStl in that most healthfuI of sports. Those who hoped that as a result of the formation of walking clubs in many cities of the United States and Canada. there would be a return to the widespread enthusiasm of thirty to disappointment. It is X probable that the day when a walking match could arouse two continents to eager and excited interest has passed for ever. The great international walking contests which were staged in L0n- don, New York, Chicago and other cities in the '70c and early '8Bs ara never likely to be repeated There is to be observed, however, a com stantly growing interest in pedestrian ism among amateur athletes, and there is a possibility, still remote, that the professional game will be revived
 It is almost impossible for the rising generation of sporty youths to realize how enthused their fathers and grand fathers were over the walking game No boxing bout or worlds series base ball games ever staged aroused more interest than some of the contests be- tween the walkers.
 It will be >thirty-nine years ~to-uner- row since London witnessed the con clusion of one of the famous interna- tionaI matches. William Howes, one of the greatest pedestrians of the day. was England's choice in the. memo rable contest while Dan OsLeary rep resented Ireland and America. Dan had taken part in a number of walk ing matches on this side of the At lantic, and there was great disappoirt- ment over here when the news came that he had been vanquished by the Britisher in the 3OO-mile contest. O'Leary has been walking for nearly half a century, and, at the age of sev- ding mile after mile to the total of no, 900 miles he has already uego- tiated in walking matches.
 In the '70's Howes, Weston, O'Leary, William Perkins, William Gale, Blow CT Brown, RoweH Corkey, Hart, ATlr- phy, Panchot, Hughes. Fitzgerald, Ha.- gel, Guyon, Crossland, GOodlands Par ry, Banks and Geraghty, among oth- CTS, were names to conjure with, and the greatestIamong them were as ceIe- brated as Jess Willard and Ty Cobb are to-day. The leading profession als of the six-day walking game fairly rolled in money and basked in the limelight of adulation, being hailedeas heroes wherever they went. WaIkieg was as popular in England as in Amer icas and nearly every big event had an international flavor. Many of the records set up in those days have nev- CT been surpassed, and unless profes- sionRl walking comes into vogue again. probably never will be. Many of the old-tinne stars of the game are still above the sod, but O'Leary is about the only one who still follows pedes- trianism as a profession.
 It was the bicycle which killed pe- destrianism. When the safety was invented it not only became a substi- tute for shank's mare for ''getting from where you are to where you ain't," but cycling became the most popular sport of the period, Every body, from the toddIer to grandma, had a passion for going a-wheeI. and legs became useful only for propeIling the pedals. Pedestrfanism as a sport died a sudden death, and only the very poor or extremely conservative went afoot. The Sir John AstIeR bolt and the O'Leary belt. the blue ribbon trophies of pedestrianisTa, were zorgoL- ton, and the walking heroes of the pre- vious decade were lost to sight in the dust raised by the cycItst. As long as humans have legs. however, there fs always the hope that pedestr3anfsIn will again come to the fore. to the great benefit of the race,
 USE LYFORD RROaEEERa RETyR