The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-08-19

Gays mayor OF view roTR
today there are no less than 5000
hiking clubs in Greater New York,
with total membership of more than
a quarter Of million men and wom-
en-, who are keeping themselves in the
pink Of condition and experiencing the
real Joy Of living by getting regularly
out into the open country with no 9th.
er means Of locomotlon than their God
given legs.
The city Of New York has taken off,
cial notice of the movement. On three
occasions recently Mayor Hylan has
congratulated the boys and girls of the
public schools upon their enthusiasm
In taking up the new sport of hiking.
In his dedication of the great new pub
lie playground in the Bronx the other
day Mayor Hylan extolled the athletic
tendencies Of the boys and girls and
impressed upon them that there was
no better or more profitable way In
which they could pass their vacations
and utilize their holidays than by the
excursions into field and forest Of their
walking clubs. He gave the same
message to the Amateur Athletic Un-
ion of Brooklyn few days later, and
when club Of East Side boys and girls
visited him at city hall preparatory to
a hike to the tomb of Roosevelt at
Oyster Bay he assured them that the
best walkers among them would make
the best citizens.
Walk and Be Well
No less enthusiastic a champion Of
the walking game is DR.. Royal s.
Copeland. city health commissioner
'"The benefit to health and the safe
guard to morals to be found in long
walks" said DR.. Copeland in an in.
terview. "are too apparent to speak
Of them. If one takes long walks alone
1t Is well, for he walks the road Of
health, but If he takes long walks In
company it Is better for he adds the
tonic of companionship to his exercise
Walking is the one form of exercise in
which there is the minimum risk OF
overriding it. In short. I consider
walking the most beneficial of all exer-
cises and it is never out of season"
"Never in my lifetime" said Ed,
ward r. Wilbur, manager of a nation,
ally known sporting goods store, "have
known such demand as now for ont.
door garments and shoes and stock.
ings and appliances for the tourists
luncheon box. The rapid spread and
tremendous popularity of the walking.
club idea has no parallel in our ex-
perience
"The hiker can make his requisite
Just what he feels like spending. Real.
ly, there are only two or three articles
indispensable to hiking-thick walking
shoes that allow lots of room, thick
wooen socks and clothing that will
give freedom of limb. He should have
O canvas or leather musette bag, suSh
as the soldiers used in France.
The Cow In the Knapsack
"To get the real benefit and Joy out
Of hiking luncheon should be carried
and prepared and eaten In the open.
Bread and cheese, few slices Of
bacon, some coffee, can of condensed
milk, and a cake of chocolate fur
nish high-powered fuel for the hiker
and are readily and happily assimi-
lated even by those who In their pre-
hiking days were afflicted with d.
gestive apparatus so feeble as to balk
at crackers and milk. Fortunately for
the hiker, he can replenish his simple
larder at any crossroads store and
provide himself with the most nutri-
tious and appetizing food in a form
that can be conveniently carried.
"No single development in the prob
fem of food transportation for the
hunter, fisherman, hiker and all lovers
Of the out-of-doors can compare with
the gift bestowed by the man who
first found the way to make con
densed milk, thereby putting dairy
In every mans knapsack. Before long
there will be national association OF
hikers, and Gail Borden will be It's pa
tron saint. Such an association could d,
much to encourage the spread of tbs
most beneficial and universal of all
outdoor pastimes, map out interesting
routes, secure the establishment OF
shelters, rest-statlons and camp sites
II suitable locations. and insure the
ights Of pedestrians on country
aads "