The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-10-04
H|KER C|RCL|NG
UNITED STATES IS
ON HIS WAY HERE
Leonard Day Must Depend on
Generosity of People
CAN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING
Only Certain Kinds of Assist
ancc May Be Accepted, in
Every Instance Voluntary

Leonard Day. the man who Is walk
ing around the border of the United
States, is expected to arrive in Ben.
nington some time today from Brat
tIeboro where he arrived last Monday
afternoon from Keene. N. H.. He re-
ma ned in Brattleboro Tuesday night
and should make the AZ miles over
Hogback and Woodford mountains
before tonight.
Day is accompanied by faithful
Airdale named Kenwyn Radio which
has been his constant companion
since leaving New Brunswick, NJ j.,
several weeks ago. His only weapon
of defense Is trusty cub which he
affectionately calls Old Bill anC'
VIII ch on several occasions stood him
in good stead while crossing sec.
tlons OF the southwest.
Day left San Francisco Nov. 20 OF
last year on this 10,5S5-mile hike to
prove that something could be done
which had been explained to him
was impossible. Day Is an author.
fiction writer. In the fall of 1921
he submitted story to his publish
ers, entitled The Unsolicited Gener-
osity of the American People. In this
story the writer told Of the possibili.
ties of making such journey As he
is now engaged uDon. The publish.
ers rejected the story. saying that II
was utterly impossible for a man to
start out without penny and make
hike around the borders OF tIe
country, relying entirely on the gen
erosity Of the people whom he might
meet in the various sections of the
country. To prove his contention Day
set out from San Francisco without q
coat or hat and without cent, with
nothing but his pack on his back. II
looks as though this hiker was we'll on
the way toward achieving his goal. Al
ready he has trayersed over half OF
the necessary mileage and 1t has al
been accomplished without the expen
diture Of penny.
The conditions under which Day Is
performing this feat are unique. Ac
cording to the terms made with his
publishers, he must not accept any
money nor must he ask for clothes
or even for food. Everyth ng that he
receives must be given him solely out
of generosity. II he needs shirt
and he has worn out several on his
long itinerary--he must not ment OF
the fact that he needs one. somebody
whom he meets must nStice that he
needs a garment and must present
him with one. II his shoes are wear
Ing out and his toes are pokina
through he cannot. according to ths
conditions. give the slightest him
that he needs new footgear; but 4
someone observes the condition Of hi.
fleet and presents him with n new
pair of shoes. Dav Is at liberty to ac
cept them. Thus far this famed hik
er has covered half OF the country
western boundary. the whole OF t.
southern and eastern borders. and h
Is now we'll on his way along thu
northern area and up TO now the con
ditions of the journey have been me
by him in every particular. Day Il
permitted to ask for a drink OF water
and match IL he desires TO have |
smoke after the completion OF day.
journey. He is not permitted I,
: smoke cigars. but he can smoke ciga
rettes and his pipe il he chooses. HI
Is permitted further to allow someon
to carry his pack, provided someon
offers to do 1t.
Day carries with him an interest
Ing lite book in which are notation
made by many people whom he ha
met on his route these notation
proving that he has visited the val
ious towns as claimed. Every articl
of clothing or food that is given hir
has to be noted in book and signe
by the donor. in order that proof wi
later be at hand to show that ever,
+ thing was received unsolicited.
another book he carries clipping
a from various papers In the town an
: cities where he has stopped; thes
n papers being sent voluntarily to
$ future point, where Day later secure
l. them. In this way he has furtht
n proof of his travels and the generor
o spirit accorded him.
g Day speaks well Of the generosil
II he has found among the New En-
II land peop'e. 81 found the South r,
l. her skeptical." he said. "and four
1t better treatment the moment reac
n ed New York Since leaving Was
II ington, ID. c.. have missed only nil
e meals, and since leaving San Antoni
10 Texas, have sleDt in the open on
a three times. With these exception
of | have everywhere been offered
W bed in which to sleep and have be,
At invited to breakfast, dinner al
IS supper"
e, When asked what was the wor
ct stretch of territory through which
W has thus far passed, Dsv. said: 9TH
s. was in the Yuma desert In Arizor
lg ! had to make 20 miles over the h
b. and desolate sands to the first wat
e. well, The next dav did II miles
OF the next water we'll. and the d
We following | did the same distance
81 another well; and then 1t was
miles to Yuma You know, when y
reach one Of these wells at night {