THE LATEST CRAZE.

Kumara Times, Issue 814, 10 May 1879, Page 4

THE LATEST CRAZE.

■ To undergo the prolonged torture of a "pedestriau feat" is now one of the most direct roads, to fame, and an English woman—Mrs Anderson—has covered herself with glory in America by walking 2700 quarter-miles in as many quarterhours. She began her task in the Mozart Beer Garden, Brooklyn, New York, on the 16th December, and concluded it on January 13th. She walked on a track made of such length that seven times round made exactly a quarter of a mile ; on the last day of the performance the wear and tear of the terrible walk was," it is stated, "easily perceived at times in the pallor of her face, her weary steps, and the glaasy appearance of her eyes, ft is not surprising that she felt somewhat fatigued, for. "'at one time she appeared' dressed as the Goddess of Liberty, with a large silk American flag folded around her person; in her right hand, sbe carried a small English, flag, and in the left the Stars and Stripes." The flag enveloping her body proved such an impediment to her prpgreas, and was so uncomfortable that she was compelled to stop '6n the track and have it rearranged; ■ The crush of spectators was so great as to be dangerous, 2000 persons being jammed in a hall built to accommodate only 500. This rendered the atmosphere stiflingj and several women present fainted'. . Nevertheless, in spite of these unfavorable circumstances, Mrs Anderson gallantly paced On, amid deafening applause j and on being summoned for the 2700th quarter—the last—she ('bounded from her room, and fairly flew around the track with a square heel-and-toe raoveraept.: Two men ran ahead of her to keep a pathway open through the crowd, and two followed her to see that the open line Was not ! closed. ' The roaring voices in the hall drowned the discordant blowing of the brass band, and when the last quarter-mile was finished, and the time announced as 2 min. 37| sec, the fastest made during her walk, the uproar was "simply terrific." Mrs Anderson then mounted the stage, and made a short speech. "While men," she said, " were the best for seeking danger at the cannon's mouth, she believed woman had the most endurance." She concluded by giving "a little advice to women about walking."