Show We tho thise man who started on the of i er an oh his journey of lof 1226 miles mile to chic chicago Ch cago 1 ag on foot for writes the thel follo following aing letter giving his hia reasons for undertaking therace the jace an in the winter of 1 became somewhat involved in debt by to I 1 aber parties eventually I 1 loat allihar allI had and some thousands of dollars which kind kindi friends had loaned me when I 1 informed them of my situation bation and that I 1 was wai totally unable to male make them any payment for an indefinite anite time instead of upbraiding me for th h e bloss elosa money though the they y were not inot in circumstances to afi such a loss they kindly told mo me to give mya my self no uneasiness on their account coir months I 1 toiled to try and gain eveh a small amount to pay on account bute butic buld barely gain a living for my aily family I 1 am naturally ambitious and happening to meet mr goodwin at a time lime when I 1 was low spirited he asked mo me if I 1 could walk yet subsequently the wager wasi was made 1 I nee need d only say that should I 1 win I 1 receive an amount sufficient to pay my indebted indebtedness nesa aldfo and to reinstate myself in business some people condemn me for this undertaking and look upon it the same as they would a prize fight they think that because my maker has perhaps endowed me with greater walking ng abilities than most of my fellow men and because r walk for a wager no matter to what laudable purpose my winnings may be applied if I 1 am successful cess ful that 1 must be classed with prize fighters now this is a slander on an honest man that is willing to do anything under the sun that will legitimately enable him to liquidate his debts 1 I never witnessed a prize fight in my life as it is a spec species i es of brutality that has ever excited my utter abhorrence I 1 am not a sporting man in any sense but a plain business man and I 1 fail to see wherein I 1 am doing wrong if base ball or boat racing is is a crime then I 1 am wron wrong 0 otherwise I 1 am right 0 6 1 I 1 am daily ask asked edias as to my chances for winning this race I 1 cm cin only answer that after I 1 arrive at haimford Hait ford connecticut I 1 can tell better be assured that I 1 shall do my best to win and I 1 may say without egotism that ere many weeks I 1 will convince the good people of my native city and state that I 1 shall reflect no disgrace on my birthplace birth place T r leave portland maine at 12 it tuesday october I 1 shall be in in i providence during the saturday and sunday previous at the residence of my iny sister in south providence where I 1 shall be happy to meet my and ol 01 old schoolmates who may be pleased to call in co conclusion u elusion I 1 would add that though I 1 lay no pretensions to piety common sense teaches me there is a god in everything and that understanding my motives for this race and the just principle which actuated the motive he will guide me to my journeys ney I 1 a end |