Pedestrianism

254- ON THE PHYSICAL Accordingly, that hardy race of men whose occupation leads them to ply the oar on our rivers, and along the sea coast, are the strong­ est and most robust of our species. Pedestrianism also depends on practice; for the citizen, whose excursions are limited to six or seven miles on a holiday, would be as much fatigued by a walk of double that distance, as a person in the country who is accustomed totravel, would be,by the accom­ plishment of a journey of fifty or sixty miles. Such is the nature of our physical and intel­ lectual faculties, that they can be improved only by calling them into action, or what is the same thing, they can only be invigorated by the resistance they offer to the pressure of difficulties, and acquire power, therefore, in proportion to the obstacleswhich they have to overcome. The strength and activity ofmen who are inured to the exercise of walking, are truly astonishing. They will travel farther for a week or a month than a horse, and, if habitu­ ated to hunting, they will outrun him, and v. con-