Evening star., 1921-04-10

vHEN the WanderluSterS walk
M this afternoon they will pass
" " over the same trail they
followed Sunday, April 1S,
1914. This trail leads through the upper
part of Rock Creek Park. along the
foaming stretches of Rock creek and the
borders of other streams. through
shadowy woods. across meadows and
over highland fields where few walkers
60. This is the seventh anniversary
hike of the Wanderlusters. and John
BOYLE, who led the first walk, will be
the guide.
Perhaps you do not know much about
these people who call themselves W an
derlusters The story is a quaint and
uncommon one. IT is full of that ele-
ment called human interest ana IL
touches at many points thousands OF
persons in the District of Columbia
In reading the published notices OF the
walks, or in seeing the Wanderlusters
pass, there are some thoughts concern
ing these people and their pleasant
useful work. which may not nave come
to you. Underlying the Wanderluster
work is the earnest and pralSeWortnS
purpose to give entertainment, heaitn-
some exercise and diversional education
to men. women and children This pur-
pose is being carried out and the work
has been continued seven years, IN
spring fall, summer and winter. No
day has been too hot or cold, toe snowy
or too rainy for the leaders and their
companions to hit the trail. There is
no record of leader having failed to
show up for a scheduled walk, though
it will probably occur TO you that IN
seven years there must have been some
inclement Sundays and holidays. There
is no record Of any leader having ne
elected one person in the crowds foi-
lowing him, and for whose safety and
comfort he is accountable in the unwrit-
ten law of the Wanderlusters. The
movement has been copied in other
cities and in this city ii has set a-going
q number of clubs and walking groups
+ + **
0NE aim of the Wanderluster move
~ ment is to impress on persons
who can be impressed. that there is
pleasure in walking. But there are
other aims. Those who walk receive
instruction in local history. topogra-
ply, wild flowers, trees, weeds.
thing that grows. or. rather. every
thing that grows, or rather, every
thing that is vegetal. The walkers
learn something, and some of them a
good deal, about geology. They learn
something of the names, form and
substance of stone, rocks and soils.
They are expected to learn something
about insects, frogs, snakes and other
matters related to natural history.
Birds that we come upon are pointed
out and named to those who want to
know. The institution, or organiza-
tion, believes il is doing useful work.
The name Wanderlusters does not de-
scribe the aim and character of this
body or this enterprise. The name
was adopted because these people felt
that they must ilavt some sort of
name and nothing better was sug-
gested. Several scientific and high
sounding names were suggested. but
they were passed up as not being
in harmony with the intent of the
thing. The Wanderlusters is not al
organization, in that it is not organ
lied. 1t has no officers. no dues, no
constitution, no bylaws, no printed
rules, no headquarters. and none Of
the other accouterments. accessories
and impedimentS of an organization
Yet 1t is a going concern and works
smoothly and. happily. 1t is not a
club in the club sense. for such ad-
vantages as it has to offer are freely
offered to anybody. Though these
people have no written rules or laws.
they have nnwritten and unspoken
rules as binding as the laws of the
Medes and Persians are said to have
been.
Th1/movement which brought about
th.fe public walks was begun in the
Spring of 1914, and had it's inception
fn an informal association Of good
fellows calling themselves, somewhat t
5estingly. The Alpine Club" The