Sick Man Tramps Home To Die

1916

Recovers Good Health and Is Now Hiking Back.

MIDLAND, Texas — Alonzo Meredith, who hails from Savannah, Ga., passed thru Midland en route to California, pulling a small two wheeled cart containing his bedding and cooking utensils and tells the following story:

"Doctors in Frisco told me to go home last April; that I would be dead of the T. B. (tuberculosis) in another sixty days. I had spent all my money and to go home was out of the question. However, I was obsessed of the idea to try and walk the distance. I started and before I had made the first hundred miles I began to gather strength. I had money to eat on, but slept out nights. After making the distance to Indio, California, I was able to work. I gained strength and continued my journey. I walked to New Orleans and was examined there in the charity hospital for 'bugs' and was pronounced cured. I am now on my way back and upon reaching there will double back again, as I want to make sure of the cure."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Sept. 16, 1916, p. 11.

Ends Long Hike

1919

Man Walks From Chicago to Lynn, Mass., in 22 Days.

BOSTON, Massachusetts — Michael Doyle, the champion pedestrian of Lynn and one of the best known walkers in New England, has completed his walk from Chicago to Lynn, covering the distance in twenty-two days and eighteen hours. His friends declare that he made the distance in a few hours less than the record made several years ago by Weston.

When Doyle arrived in Lynn no one was about to greet him. His friends had expected him to reach the city later and had waited up to give him a reception. When he arrived he visited a barber shop and then repaired to his home for rest. He completed the last leg of his long hike from North Brookfield, Mass., to Lynn, a distance of sixty-seven miles, between noon and morning.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 10.

Both Have Equal Rights

1901

It is the duty of a pedestrian to keep upon the sidewalk save when it is necessary to cross the roadway, and then to cross at an opportune moment and with reasonable expedition. It is nevertheless, equally the duty of those in charge of vehicles, however propelled, to restrain them within reasonable speed, to keep them under constant control and steerage way and to exercise all possible diligence in avoiding collisions. They are as much bound to look out for pedestrians at the crosswalks as pedestrians are to look out for them. They are as much bound to slacken their speed to avoid collision as the pedestrian is to quicken his. It is in fact far easier for the men on the vehicles to keep their eyes on the pedestrians and avoid running them down than it is for the pedestrians to keep theirs on the multitude of vehicles which may be converging upon them from different directions. Simply ringing the gong is not enough. "Caveat pedes" is not the only rule of the road. — New York Tribune.

Fiendish Mexicans Slug American Boy

1919

BANDIT ASSAULTS HIM WITH CLUB AFTER ROBBERY.

Victim Tells of His Escape After Three Days of Torture in a Lonely Shack.

DENVER, Colo. — After three days of terror in the custody of two Mexican bandits, who on the third day slugged and robbed him and left him for dead, Granville Coster, 18-year-old Denver boy who disappeared recently from Allison, N. M., has turned up alive at the office of the Allison Coal Company, by which he was employed as a truck driver, according to word received by his mother, Mrs. William Coster, of this city.

Five hundred and twenty dollars, which he was taking to Gallup for deposit in the Gallup State Bank, was taken from him by the bandits. According to his story, he reached Gallup and was driving his delivery truck into the suburbs when two Mexicans sprang from the side of the road into the truck, jerked the curtains down, drew their guns and ordered him to drive according to their direction. He was compelled to drive across the Arizona border, fifteen miles away.

"Just over the line we came to a farm house," said Coster. "The Mexicans told me if I made a sound they would kill me. We got out of the truck, and they made me walk the whole distance to Winslow, more than 100 miles. We arrived there the morning of the third day.

"They took me into an old shack on the outskirts of the town. They had already taken the money from me. One of them grabbed a club from the floor and struck me over the head with it. That's all I know."

The boy did not regain consciousness until evening. He staggered into Winslow, where he fortunately found friends, who supplied him with enough money to return to Allison. The bandits took everything from him except a bunch of keys, he said.

Coster has been employed driving a delivery truck from Allison to Gallup three times a week. The day before he was kidnaped he carried $5,000 to the Gallup bank.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 7.

Walking Sticks

1916

Walking sticks have been used by men from Bible times down to the present age. These have come in all varieties from the plain staff to the gold and silver mounted ones according to the fancies and customs of the age.

When, in 1700, footmen attending gentlemen were forbidden to carry swords, these dangerous weapons were usually replaced by a staff with a large silver handle. This was called a Porter's Staff. Some thirty years later gentlemen began to discard their swords and to carry large oak sticks with thick knobs, whereon were carved ugly faces. Before long a competition arose between long and short walking sticks. A writer of that time describes the long ones as "leaping poles," while others preferred a yard of varnished cane. This latter is still in vogue, ornamented to suit the taste of the wearer.

Taft Baffles the Secret Service Men

1910

President Taft has thrown a bombshell into the ranks of that portion of the secret service which is assigned to the duty of protecting the chief executive of the nation from assassination. It is a soft job for the secret service men and often leads to something better, several of those who formerly guarded presidents now holding government positions that pay well and make the holder a man of some consequence in his home territory.

It is feared among Chief Wilkie's men that some of them will have to be looking for other jobs if the president continues to go out for long walks through the busiest streets of Washington unprotected. The president has "had the laugh" on several of the sleuths recently when, without making any announcement of his intentions, he left the White House and started out for a walk. Generally he has been accompanied by some cabinet official, but none of Wilkie's men was along.

On his last walk the president was accompanied by his brother, Charles P. Taft, the millionaire Cincinnatian. They walked up to the capitol and strolled through its wide halls.

So far as runs the memory of Alonzo Stewart, deputy sergeant at arms of the senate, and that is a full generation, it was the first time that a president has visited the capitol on the Sabbath day.

On another occasion the president walked through Pennsylvania avenue, Washington's most prominent business street. He was wearing a sack coat and a gray sweater.

"That looks like President Taft," remarked one man as President Taft passed the five-cent theaters on the avenue. Brig. Gen. Clarence Edwards, who was with the president, giggled and the president smiled. Mr. Taft did not look much like himself in his sack coat with sweater underneath.

The walk began when the president and the general eluded the secret service men at the White House. They walked briskly down to the Potomac flats, along the Southern railroad right of way and back through South Washington, around the capitol building and library. The return trip was down Pennsylvania avenue at dusk.

A president who walks the streets of Washington is too much for Washington. Mr. Taft's predecessors rode in carriages or took their "constitutionals" across country.

Bowlegged Fellows Are Not Likely to Face Poverty

1919

Bad Luck for Turn-In Toes

There is an old saying that a bandy legged boy will never lack warm stockings, meaning that he will never be in want of money, so that folk whose friends are apt to be rude about their manner of walking may find consolation therein, says a writer in London Answers.

On the other hand, persons who walk in a fashion which quickly wears down their heels are likely one day to be in need of cash, while knock-kneed folk, though they have the ability to get wealth, have not the power to attract love — so it is said.

A long stride and a swinging walk are good — they imply that there may be ups and downs, but good fortune will never get far away, and will come out on top eventually.

Bad luck follows in the train of those who habitually turn in their toes, however, and an ancient adage has it that the man who always walks on the tips of his toes is likely to end his days in prison.

So watch your step!

U.S. Army Blankets Adorn French Girls

1920

Have Been Made Into Cloaks Since Doughboys Had Them

PARIS, France, Feb. 26. — How the humble Army blanket, protection of the grumbling doughboy, has increased in value from 12 francs to 200 francs, and come to be apparel of French beauty along the boulevards, has been brought to light in Paris.

At a sale of Army stocks, a French grocer bought 2,000 American Army blankets for 12 francs each. He sold them for 11 and 20 francs each to a clothing manufacturer.

The clothing manufacturer made them up into women's cloaks and sold them at 70 francs each to a department store, which retailed them at 180 and 200 francs each.

Voila, la vie chere!


Woman, 102, Walks Miles to Hospital

NEW YORK, N.Y., Feb. 26. — Despite her 102 years Mrs. Fannie Cohen traveled alone and unassisted from her home to Bellevue Hospital, where she sought admission. She is suffering from ailments due to old age. Her home is several miles from the hospital.


Wants Husband Declared Dead

PORT HURON, Michigan, Feb. 26. — Mrs. Alice Reo has brought suit in Circuit Court to have her husband, Capt. Joseph Reo, declared legally dead. Captain Reo was in command of the Government survey boat Surveyor, and last was heard from May 25, 1910, when he left the boat at Cleveland. Mrs. Reo wants to acquire property held by herself and her husband.


Baby Adds Fifth Generation

Kansas Child's Great-great-grandmother Is Still Living

HARTFORD, Kansas, Feb. 26. — A son was born a few days ago to Mr. and Mrs. James Hartenblower of Eureka, Kan. This baby has two grandfathers, one grandmother, two great-grandfathers, two great-grandmothers and one great-great-grandmother.

The great-great-grandmother is Mrs. Mary Ann Rhoads, of Topeka.

An Actress Tells About Health and Good Looks

1900

Something Useful May Be Learned From Her Experience

One of the most admired of American actresses, both for her grace and comeliness, has been divulging some of the secrets by which she has preserved her beauty.

"Vigilance," she says, "is the first requisite. I am ever on the alert and when I discover traces of fatigue or any other beauty-destroying symptoms in my face or figure I set about remedying it at once. I don't attempt to be anything but a professional woman during the theatrical season. I don't receive and I don't go to other people's houses, I simply haven't time, and I don't make it.

"My mode of life is very simple. I sleep nine or ten hours as a rule — never less than eight. I eat regularly and heartily, and avoid everything that would be apt to give me indigestion. Indigestion is a powerful foe to beauty, a greater foe than age, as great even as worry. I walk every day, rain or shine, and I wear a corded corset waist and stout flat-heeled boots. I try not to worry, no matter what happens, and I never tire myself unnecessarily.

"My method is so very simple few women would care to try it. It has no balms or diets, and I don't even go in for fancy baths. A warm bath at night and a cold bath in the morning are good enough for me. On Sundays I don't have to go to the theater, but I don't devote it to lolling or receiving visitors. I have my usual amount of exercise and then devote most of the day to manicure and hairdresser. When one's hair is five feet long and very thick it is not an easy task to have it shampooed.

"How do I keep the same weight all the time? Why, by vigilance and determination. If I gain a pound I immediately stop drinking water at meals and give up sugar for a while. If the bones in my neck begin to show I eat bananas and cream and put an extra spoonful of oil in my salad. It's so simple, but, of course, it precludes much pleasure."

A Remarkable Pilgrim — 103, Walks Long Way, Fails

1900

Aged Woman Determined to See Paris Exposition

An almost incredible story comes from France of the resolution and energy of an old Alsatian woman who was determined to see the exposition. She was found, exhausted by hunger and fatigue, on a road in the department of the Marne.

When her strength had been restored somewhat by medical treatment and food she told the following story: She was born in Alsace on January 2, 1797, and is therefore 103 years old. Seized with a burning desire to see the exposition, she had left Alsace two weeks before, intending to walk all the way to Paris, for she had a horror of railroads, and, besides was poor.

She had accomplished more than half the journey and had walked more than 150 miles. On her shoulders she carried her luggage, two bundles weighing fifty-nine livres (pounds). Her money, which she carried in a handkerchief, was a trifling burden, as it consisted of one 2-franc piece. In this financial condition it is needless to add that the courageous old woman had resolved at the outset not to enter an inn or restaurant during her journey. She subsisted entirely on bread and cheese, slept in barns when she could or in default of shelter passed the night under the trees by the wayside.

As soon as she had recovered her senses — for she was unconscious when found — she wished to resume her journey, and it was difficult to make her understand that Paris was yet a long way off. At last she understood and seemed resigned to her failure.


Origin of the Chinese Queue

The custom of Chinamen wearing pigtails is not ancient, considering the period that China has existed as a nation. It dates from 1627, when the Manchus, who then commenced the contest of the Celestial Empire, enforced this fashion of doing the hair as a sign of degradation. The average queue is three feet long, and, reasoning that the adult Chinamen number 200,000,000, we get a united pigtail measuring 113,636 miles long, sufficient to go four and a half times round the earth! — Golden Penny.

Boy Carries Dog 20 Miles

1910

Washington Lad in Long Tramp Would Not Abandon His Pet Pup — Paws Were Sore

Tacoma, Washington. — Without railroad fare from North Yakima and forced to walk the entire distance of nearly 200 miles because of a desire to seek employment upon some lumber schooner plying out of Tacoma, Walter Anderson, aged nineteen, carried his bull terrier dog the last twenty miles of his journey after the animal had worn its feet until they were bleeding on the rough, graveled roadbed of the Northern Pacific.

Anderson appeared at the police station the other morning and asked to be directed to some shipping company. He was carrying the dog and had torn up his handkerchief to bandage its bleeding paws. Anderson said he had been eight days on the road sleeping out of doors. He had a little money, but was saving it to buy food. His first step on entering Tacoma was to buy meat for the dog at a butcher shop.

"You see, the little fellow isn't used to the road and it was rather tough on him, so I carried him," said Anderson. "You know he is only a dog and doesn't understand why we should be on this long hike, but he stuck to me nobly."

Man Walks Around the World Twice with a 30-pound Book on His Back

1920

"America is the best country in the world," declares Joseph F. Mikulec.

Joseph ought to know. He's walked entirely around the land portions of the globe twice, visiting twenty-six countries. Since 1901 he has been tramping the world and doesn't expect to call his journey ended until December 31, 1921.

Clad in blue overalls, a several-day growth of pale whiskers curling like a mantle over his weather-beaten features, Joseph visited the Blade office a few days ago when he went through Chicago. On his back he carried his most previous treasure — a thirty-pound book in which are the signatures of President Wilson, Mr. Roosevelt, the king of England, the former czar of Russia and notables from many other lands.

"I left Croatia, the country in which I was born, in 1901," says Mikulec, "and I've been walking ever since. When I first reached America I was so delighted with the country that I became a citizen. It's the best in the world. When I end my travels next year I expect to write a book about it."

Asked what his most remarkable adventure was, Mikulec told of an experience in New Zealand.

"To-Mika, an old Maori chief, asked me to marry one of his daughters. I was the first white man that he had seen and he offered 3,000 cows if I would wed the girl. But not wishing to take up life in the jungles as a savage, I refused."

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Feb. 28, 1920, p. 1.

The Legend of the Felt Hat

1874

There is a legend among the hatters that felt was invented by no less a personage than St. Clement, the patron saint of their trade. Wishing to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre, and at the same time to do penance for sundry unexpiated peccadilloes, the pious monk started on his journey afoot. As to whether he was afflicted with corns or kindred miseries, the ancient chronicle from which this information is derived is silent; but, at all events, a few days' successive tramping soon began to blister his feet. In order to obtain relief, it occurred to him to line his shoes with the fur of a rabbit. This he did, and, on arriving at his destination, was surprised to find that the warmth and moisture of his feet had worked the soft hair into a cloth-like mass. The idea thus suggested he elaborated in the solitude of his cell, and, finally, there being no patent laws in existence in those days, he gratuitously presented to his fellow- mortals the result of his genius in the shape of a felt hat.


The English Language

In the English Bible and in the works of authors living in the times of King James the word "his" is employed in the sense in which we now use "its." Years ago Richard C. Trench asserted that, in the "authorized version of the Bible 'its' does not once occur." This statement is sustained by Webster and Worcester, but it has recently been discovered that Leviticus, twenty-fifth chapter and fifth verse, reads, "that which groweth of its own accord." This verse reads as above in the modern editions of the Bible, but the change may be one of those corrections that have gradually slipped into the text. An examination of the early editions only can settle the question.


A gentleman, while walking in his garden, caught his gardener asleep under a tree. He scolded him soundly for his laziness, and ended by telling him such a sluggard was not worthy to enjoy the light of the sun. "It was for that reason exactly," said the gardener, "that I crept into the shade."

Honeymoon Couple Walking Around the United States

Pennsylvania, 1915

HIKING HONEYMOON

Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Shaw to Keep at Three Years

Mr. and Mrs. Edward L. Shaw have arrived in Gettysburg. The couple began a unique honeymoon trip on December 1, starting at Glen Falls, N. Y. They state that on a wager of $10,000 they are to travel on foot to the capitols of all the states forming the border of the United States within three years. Their plan of procedure is to walk six days in a week, and rest on Sundays. As an incidental source of revenue, they sell picture post cards.

Up to the present time they have met with no mishaps, and have enjoyed good health. Their route has taken them through Albany, Binghamton, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Harrisburg, York and many smaller cities and towns.

—Adams County News, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1915, page 5.


Deductive Reasoning

"Mamma, what's a bookworm?" asked small Eloise. "A person who loves to collect and study books, dear," was the reply. A few days later a woman called whose fingers were decorated with innumerable rings. "Oh, mamma," exclaimed Eloise, "look at Mrs. Smith's rings. She must be a ringworm!"


Mushroom Farm

A mushroom farm in California consists of 600 square feet, the beds being in tiers in a basement. Although mushroom growing in the United States has assumed considerable proportions, the imports continue to be large.


Significant Madagascar Dance

In Madagascar when the men are absent at war the women dance for the greater part of the day, believing that this will inspire their husbands with courage, and doubtless many a man hard pressed on the field of battle does feel a peculiar access of determination to vanquish the enemy when he thinks of his wife dancing tirelessly all day that he may win.

Walking 1100 Miles on Hike, No Money or Baggage

1910

WALKING 1100 MILES ON HIKE

Pedestrian Traveling from Atlanta to New York in Two Months. Reaches Gettysburg. Held up on Mountain by Moonshiner.

B. F. Pearce, Atlanta, Georgia, a pedestrian who is walking from Atlanta to New York City, over the route taken by the Atlanta to New York good roads automobile run of the early part of this month, arrived in Gettysburg Friday evening, coming here from Waynesboro. He left Gettysburg Monday morning.

Mr. Pearce left Atlanta on his 1100 mile walk to New York, May 18, and has been walking steadily ever since, making 25 to 40 miles per day. He is due to arrive in New York City, July 18. He is now four days ahead of his schedule.

Because of the very hot weather, he does some of his walking at night. He left Harrisonburg, Tuesday evening, and walked all night and all of Wednesday, arriving in Hagerstown about six o'clock Wednesday evening.

He gets from the postmaster the postmark of each town in which he stops, this being one of the requirements of the wager.

He was compelled to leave without money or baggage and is not permitted to ask any one for aid. So far he has had no trouble.

He doesn't have a penny and hasn't had one since he started from Atlanta but that has not caused him any deprivation. Some one always takes care of him when he tells his story.

"He always has two and often three meals a day. On the road here one man noticed that the soles of his shoes were becoming thin. He had a shoemaker repair them.

When he reached the Natural Bridge in Virginia he was asked whether he wouldn't like to go under it and view it from that position. He pointed to the sign, "$1 admission," and said:

"That sign and I don't agree."

"That makes no difference; I'll let you in free," said the caretaker.

Once when crossing the Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia he was held up at a lonely spot in the road by a man he supposes was a "moonshiner." He had a big double barreled shot gun thrown over his shoulder and he stopped Pearce's progress until be had answered all the mountaineer's questions in a satisfactory manner.

Pearce takes some pride in the fact that he is still ahead of three of the autos that started on the recent Atlanta to New York run. One is in Staunton, with its engine torn apart, one is in a farm yard farther south and another in a garage.

Pearce is a married man, with two children. He has lived in Atlanta for ten years. He is a Yankee, however, and was born in Connecticut. He has not seen his relatives there for ten years and may make a visit to them when he reaches New York.

He does not travel on Sunday.

—Adams County News, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1910, page 2.

Railroad Man Has Walked 151,850 Miles

1920

Trackman Figures Distance He Covered in 32 Years

DENHOLM, Pa., March 25. -- On completing his thirty-second year as a trackwalker for the Pennsylvania Railroad, Benjamin F. Burns, 65 years old, figured just how many miles he had walked in that time in making his rounds.

In the thirty-two years of service he lost but six days. His rounds each night total ten miles. Walking to and from work adds another three miles to the total.

His figures show that he has walked a total of 151,850 miles, or more than six time around the world.


Mule Lodge Is No More

GREENUP, Ky., March 25. -- Mule lodge, organized two years ago for the purpose of driving mule thieves from this country, has disbanded, the object for which the band was organized having been achieved. It was shown that thieves now have turned their attention to automobiles.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 1.

72-Year-Old Man Finishes Stroll of 15,000 Miles

Chicago, April 2. - W. S. Chapman, 72 years old, is here today, having late yesterday completed a 15,000 mile walk. Chapman started from Baltimore, Md., March 9, 1916, on his long hike to win a wager of $3,500 put up by a club in New York. From the time he left Baltimore until he reached Chicago, the end of his journey, Chapman says he has not ridden in a vehicle of any sort. He walked west over Lincoln highway to San Diego, Cal., making the return journey by way of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and to Miami, Fla. From there he followed the Dixie highway to Chicago.

--The Ada Weekly News, Ada, Oklahoma, April 4, 1918, page 10.