April 3rd, 1860 began the the first trip of the Pony Express from Missouri to California. The horses and their riders had 308 runs, and traveled over 61,600 miles to deliver the mail.
I have the book “The Pony Express” by Samuel Hopkins Adams, 1950. Landmark Books published great books about “the American story.” This is another of the Boomer-Kids books at their school library, back in the day. This one tells how three men Russell, Majors, and Waddle planned the runs with new horses every 12 to 15 miles, and new riders about every 85 miles. Men like “Buffalo Bill” Cody and “Wild Bill” Hickock were several of the riders. Eventually, the Telegraph was invented, and set up, and the Pony Express shut down shortly after. There are great adventures in this book, unfortunately it was never a financially sound project.
For a slower pace, I have several books on walking. Just in time for National Walking Day on April 3rd , set up by the American Heart Association to help us have healthier habits. My first book is “Pilgrim-Walks in Rome” by P.J. Chandlery, published 1908. This is a book on the Holy sites in Rome, and how to enjoy then in walking tours. In a sense, it is also a tour book. Many sites that I saw last year when I visited Rome, were the same as when written about 115 years earlier. I read this before I did my trip.
The second book is “Turn Right at the Fountain” by George W. Oakes, in 1965. It has walking tours of 20 cities in Europe. I gleaned information on Rome and Barcelona before I made my trip. This book also still had good information, even though things like security is much more enforced now than when this book was written.
Perhaps one likes walking but wants to pick up the pace a little. I have a book on that.
This is “Race Walking-A primer of the Sport” by Hugh W. Innes, published in 1910 . With a history, diagrams, and photos, one can work to be a professional speed walker. Or could train to be in the Olympics. It is still a sport today. There are some interesting advertisements in the book, like Brand’s Savoury Meat Lozenges, and Brand’s Beef Tea Tabules. There was also Shearn’s Frunut (blend of fruits and nuts) and their Stamanut Biscuits. And Caribee (Queen of West India Liqueurs.) Made from an “old West Indian Recipe.” They all were made to help athletes.
Thanks for reading…and perhaps walking, too (I am still scared to ride horses). I will leave with a quote from Hippocrates:
“If you are in a bad mood, go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood, go for another walk.”
Librarytomes 