New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-14

collection Of letters. He has stack of news
paper clippings that would compare favorably
with that of any theatrical, screen or pugilis-
tic celebrity. Among other priced possessions
area WORKOUT pair of walking boots that he
once used in England, pair of shoes that he
used in his 1910 jaunt across the continent
and his two heavy gold watches, both gifts
of admirers. One of them was presented to
him by number of prominent Englishmen
at London in July, 1879.
The aged pedestrians typewriter rests on
a table in corner e his living room Be-
hind the typewriter are piled number Of
typewriter pages-part of unfinished au-
photography He has been writing the story
of his life for the last fifteen years and some
day is going to finish it. When he gets
through with that last walk he's planning.
gets his book completed and becomes tho
owner of another automobile he'll be satisfied
with life, he says. He has had several auto.
mobiles and is thinking of buying another in
year or two. Maybe with car farming
wouldn't be so bad.
While his friends think he will live to be
100, Mr.. Weston says he'll be satisfied if he
can reach his ninetieth birthday.
Ninety will be old enough for me- rs
said. I'm way I've always had that as a
sort of goal, and feel that if can reach the
mark of fourscore and ten I ought to be
willing to give up Ny walking keeps me fit.
and | believe it will do the same for anybody
else. | find now that while my step is shorter
I'm not even stiff after walking twelve hours
in a day. OF course, I'm old man-prettv
darned old when you come to think of it, but
/ have never realized that | getting on
toward the century mark AS far as walking
is concerned I'd advise it for anybody and
everybody, and if l had chance TO live nv
life over I'd again become pedestrian. 1t
was great fun, and I'm glad | stuck to my
trade and didn't ever go in for vaudeville
There was a time when the vaudeville agents
used to keep after me. If they wanted me
now guess I'd have to be the hero Of some
rural act or give a lecture on the care of
chickens and hogs"
During the entire walking career Of Edward
Payson Weston he never walked on Sunday.
He was born at Providence, the son of mer-
chant, and as child was rather puny He
first showed ability as walker in 1853, when
he held the job Of office boy at The New York
Herald You perhaps have heard how he won
the esteem of James Gordon Benz EFT Mrs
Bennett was about to start for Europe when
she discovered at the last minute that i'm
portant package bad been left behind Young
Weston, the Office boy, volunteered to go to
Bloomingdale for it. He covered the twelve
miles in quick time and placed the package
in the hands Of Mrs. Bennett Mr. Bennett
was highly pleased and boosted his salary to
S. week.
Mr. Weston served number of years as
newspaper reporter and found that his legs
enabled him to score numerous scoops" over
his rivals. After serving in the Civil War he
out in 1867 as professional pedestrian
then making walk from Portland to Chicago
In June, 1879, he brought back to America
from England the then acknowledged emblem
of championship in long distance pedestrian
sm--the Ashley Belt. He won the belt b.
covering a distance of $50 miles in Ia hours
and "a minutes, defeating two Englishmaa
and one other competitor.
From November, 1883, until March, 1884
under the auspices Of the Church of England
Temperance Society, Mr. Weston walked a
distance of fifty miles per day for 100 DAYS
without walking Sundays. In 1886 in
contest with Daniel OLeary in the United
States, he covered distance of $500 miles
in period Of nine weeks, leading O'Leary By
200 miles.
The walk from New York to Minneapolis
in 1913 in his seventy fifth year is regarded
by his friends his greatest feat, and Mr.
Weston himself thinks it was pretty good.
But the finest achievement of his life, h says.
is yet to come. That will be his final 800
mile jaunt.