Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-27
"OnCe Let the Life Get You
and You Will Never Wish
to Leave It," She Tells the
Reporter

The stars on the prairie at evening
time: the beauty of the Yosemite val
ley al dawn: the song of the open road
these are some of the things that keep
one ever rowing, says Anna Celtwanger
Van Enden, VINO has walked across the
continenU since last July
Mrs. Van Enden has been very much
in the public eve lately, particularly
since her former companion is under
arrest in Atlanta by government agents,
and her husband, A. T. Van Enden,
Holiander. Is teing brought here from
Chattanooga at the request of Uncle
Sam.
Walter Wanderwell Pieczynsk. ;he
German who Is detained by government
authorities here. first induced her 10
take to the oren road in July last, when
she was in Salt Lake City.
This woman, who says she has aver
aged twenty- five miles a day. week aft
er week. with tinrty-pound pack on
har back. is a native of Germany, hard
~ more than a girl i'm stature, but with
all the sturdy physical characteristics
Of the Teulon.
"Why do | like walking" she SAID.
WIN, couldn't exactly tell you one
just starts and then one never forsakes
it One. ie; the life get you and you
vii. never wish TO leave it,"
ITO get up e2rly in the morning ana
build "A fire and cook breakfast. then
strike the tent ahd pack up, my husband
singing sixty pounds of baggage on his
shoulder and myself thirty, may sound
hard. but It isn't. once you get going
and night comes quickly.
MEET FRIENDLY PEOPLE.
"One meets PEOPLE on the road and
forms friendships quickly. Somehow,
when PEOPLE are walking this way.
spirit o. Companionship prompts people
To give you life Autoists stop and
ask us if We wish a lift to the next
Gown. We accept and sell our postcard
photographs therc. Sometimes in he
towns. if the weather is bad. we stop a
hotels Rut many times we camp out
doors under the stars
"Of course" she laughed. you don't
get cordial receptions some time. We
have had dogs turned out to run us
away many times. Texas like better
than any other state We have been
through for the people there are diff
fereni. They never fail to help yOI.
Farmers stop their wagons and we climb
UP and ride 10 where they must turn
out Of The main road. big automobile
Will loom up out Of the dust and some
one Will ask if we wish a lift. People
a. ranch houses invite you in TO eat
a meal With them.
Then the outdoor life gives one such
splendid spirits and your heart sings
all day. Yet ! have been sick since
leavin.. Salt Lake In Vicksburg, Miss,
! underwen: an operation for appen-
dicitis. I did not walk the country
roads soI five weeks after that The
roads in Alabama and Georgia are ter
ribIe' one cannot walk them after
rains have made them knee deep in mud.
rid frat J,
these two states"
CAME FROM GERMANY.
MIS- Van Enden came to America
from Wurtemburg. Germany, three
years ago. just before the European out-
break. She went to Salt Lake city,
where she has an aunt, and went tC
work. Then. last July Wanderwell
big blond German with a chest like Her
cules, came through salt Lake city and
fillGd her heart with stories Of the open
road. He was a hiker. he said, and wish
ell a companion. The aunt said that she
could not go unless she married him,
so tn" two ran way together. When
they reached California they met Van
EudCn. a Hollander. who was walking
$4,000 miles on a wager. The girl mar
lied Van Enden and they left Wander
wei
Since then. they have walked across
the continent and several times have
passed through towns only a few weeks
behind Wanderwell "In Galveston"
Mrs. Van Enden said. we met Germans
there who say they do not like Wander
well. He tells so many different stories
Of who he Is. A German soldier, or a
German sailor lodging intermeut here.
"Wanderwell shows the police books
here with clippings of his wanderings.
I don't know where he got them, per
hars he has copied from my husband.
| don't know if he Is a spy. He takes