38 THE EXHILARATIONS OF THE ROAD. 



the English walk. To an American it seems a kind 

 of infatuation. When Dickens was in this country 

 I imagine the aspirants to the honor of a walk with 

 him were not numerous. In a pedestrian tour of 

 England by an American, I read that " after break- 

 fast with the Independent minister, he walked with 

 us for six miles out of town upon our road. Three 

 little boys and girls, the youngest six years old, also 

 accompanied us. They were romping and rambling 

 about all the while, and their morning walk must 

 have been as much as fifteen miles ; but they thought 

 nothing of it, and when we parted were apparently 

 as fresh as when they started, and very loath to 

 return." 



I fear, also, the American is becoming disqualified 

 for the manly art of walking, by a falling off in the 

 size of his foot. He cherishes and cultivates this part 

 of his anatomy, and apparently thinks his taste and 

 good breeding are to be inferred from its diminutive 

 size. A small, trim foot, well booted or gaitered, is 

 the national vanity. How we stare at the big feet 

 of foreigners, and wonder what may be the price of 

 leather in those countries, and where all the aristo- 

 cratic blood is, that these plebeian extremities so pre- 

 dominate. If we were admitted to the confidences of 

 the shoemaker to Her Majesty or to His Royal High- 

 ness, no doubt we would modify our views upon this 

 latter point, for a truly large and royal nature is never 

 stunted in the extremities ; a little foot never ye^ 

 supported a great character. 



