Oa Walking.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2551, 10 March 1877, Page 3

Oa Walking.

The .following is ■an extract from an excellent article on " Walking," contributed to the Australasian :—

Nature gives nought gratuitously; her boons are for the patient. She must be loyally and conscientiously worshipped. Pqlmanonsinepulvere. WilHhe young enthusiast accept a few practical hints from an old pedestrian ? As the soldier cleans his: arms, so do you look "to your feet with sedulous perseverance. Mistrust the whole tribe of "chiropodists,"&c.; thoy will simply relieve your pocket, and end by leaving you everything to do for yourself After a resolute scrub with the coldest water, the hardest brush, and commonest soap, inspect and soignez, with nippers and friction, every part of the foot. Never use a raisor, or too sharp a knife. The nippers are bloodless removers of all callosities, _ and a plaster of soap and arnica can remove the deepest-seated corns in a month. Let this discipline take place every morning pro more. There is always some- ■ thing to be timely removed,- some lurking inconvenience to be extirpated. Corns that seem to defy arnica can be subdued by acetic acid mixed with castor oil, dropped in with a camels-hair brush. This exacts some delicacy of touch not possessed by. every one, and wise is the son of patience who trusts to the slow certainty of arnica. Bunion is incurable, but its onward course can be arrested. It is caused by the faX lacious cheapness of ready-made boots combined with the silly vanity that copies the Chinese. When a boot (ready-made) is drawn on a foot differently formed from its model, or last, the great toe is forced backwards instead of pointing due at. right angles with the body, of which the entire weight presses on the member, warped unnaturally by the senseless and merciless leather. The joint, thus forced out of place, is no longer moistened by the synovia, which continues to be secreted, and which is more than wasted on the blood it deteriorates. Frequent bathing, linen rags soaked in alum and water, and arnica plasters during the day, form all the consolations of the philosopher. For your excursions, be j measured by. a first-class boltier. See that he conscientiously goes over both bunion and corn, allowing you. three quarters of an inch beyond your "length. A tight sock, and a shoe (or boot) roomy, but not too roomy ; be the sole not too thick, and" be the leather somewhat porous. On starting, the prudent will saunter during the first half mile. Graofully increasing, he will never forget that Nature hates to act per saltum, and will not be forced. Husband your powers the first three days, and let not self-mettle betray you. Best before every meal. • ' This last word suggests to me;a very : dull and unwelcome branch of my sermon —the strict discipline and unbroken regularity of refreshment. How often have I "started with a young friend on a pedestrian excursion^ but, alas!. before.the second mile been vexed by the eternal, " Let's have a drink." I remained firm, but the; walkir&a destroyed, and we had to return home in a vile cab ! At length I gav.e the attempt .up with sorrow. . . Young Melbourne can walk, but must drink ;■,and old Nature.isinexorable—she "says you cannot enjoy bsth. A good breakfast as; early;, as convenient and consisting of whatever you have found by experience to suit you (excluding beer or spirits),'must last you, bent on a Spartan endurance, till dinner-time. You.may have a lemon in your pocket, but no drink. Endure thirst; you will be amply repaid before bed-time. ;

;. -_„ . " Oberon answered with a smile; ' ' ..*, Content thee, Edwin, for awhile, :\ "-• • -The'vantage" is thine o\yn.'" If you insist on a whiff of the pipe, ; be sure, you neither drink nor spit. • : After the, 15th mile look out for dinner, and begin by taking a long rest. ..Eepose at least half an,hour while your eggs and bacon, or cow-heel, &c, are being prepared, and. slowly inhale the grateful odours of freshly made tea. Enjoy your meal, drinking slowly and in reason, never mixing, Resume ■= your journey, and if at night you are so fortunate as to find good quarters, take your meal, and ■ inmoderationyouxglass, with the soothing fragrance of your long delayed meerschaum. Let-the morning find you one wfco-^ :> : / ■■ ■■■-:■■-::- ---"Without riot, in the balmy feast Of life the wants of Nature has supplied; Who rises cool, serene, andfull of soul."

But to close, dear friends. What, if that mercy should be slighted ? What if there should be such abundant mercy and it should be rejected ? What if we do despite to the mercy of God, and to the blood of His dear Son? Those who are unwilling to be forgiven doubly deserve to be left to their own deserts. The lamp holds out to burn, and while it burns you may have mercy. It will soon burn out, remember! The longest life is short, and after that there will be no further mercy, no terms of grace. The mercy-seat will be gone, and. the judgment throne will fill its place. Oh, if God only gave us five minutes to find mercy in, surely, if we were not fools, we should avail ourselves of it; but while He has lingered with some of you for fifty years, and still..lingers, do not provoke Him; but to-day, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts but turn untoHjm., ;