nearest to the mark for durability, lightness, general service, and economy. A small ferule, tightly fitted on, saves the wear and tear. A stick should not be too tall.* We advise the selection of a good light cane in preference to a heavy walking-stick. A cane of a large calibre (one of the Malaccas is the best, though expensive) will give you all the support you can want towards the end of the day, not always unwelcome, whilst from its lightness, through the whole day, it will do all but carry itself-a companion never leaning too heavy on your arm. The last make of umbrellas appears very inviting to use, as they are very little heavier than a stick, the ribs being made of fine-drawn hollowed steel. Of the comfort of an umbrella in a soaking wet, we need not speak, nor of its comparative inutility in a high wind, except you mean to try the "aerial principle" of flight. Every one has a predilection for or against a thing in matters of taste and comfort: some never go without one, some never use one by any chance. We can only bow our head and say, "de gustibus non disputandum est." However, there is one point touching the steel ribs to umbrellas, viz. that they are more likely to attract lightning than whalebone, especially if any part of the steel has lost its varnish, or has got rubbed bright, as at the points. The ferule, if of iron or brass, is dangerous, as it wears bright at the point by use. A poor woman lately was killed by lightning, a few miles from our residence, supposed to have been attracted by an iron feruled umbrella. We prefer a ferule made of horn; it enjoys this great additional advantage, it will not slip when used upon a polished surface, as ice or dense stone, especially if wet. * We are indebted to a friend of the quill for these useful sug. gestions on the practice of the stick. We can hardly leave off without equipping our knight-errant with a pair of gloves, though he does not require the " spur; "and of gloves there is one kind far before all others for walking, and for weather, fair or wet, hot or cold: it is the "Woodstock," or doe-skin-a glove that will wash and wear better than any (absorbing perspiration), and keep the hands from suffering by the weather-changes. Belts are used by some. Persons are better without, unless corpulent. However, one made of stout milled flannel may be good and serviceable on many accounts; several of the police force, we are told, wear such, fastened by three straps and buckles, only not brought so much in the centre as to the side of the body. This little suggestion is not to be despised, the hollow of either flank will do; cases may obviously present themselves where a preference is dictated by nature or accidental occurrences. Highly important changes in our styles of dress demand our notice; common sense, medical remonstrances, and experience have modified red-tapeism whether in the Queen's Services or our own. The freedom in the dress of "The Volunteers" contrasts most favourably with the starch and pipeclay of the past. As to the gaiter and knickerbocker fashion, all we wish to add is our own decided preference for soft non-enamelled leather, as being cooler and more porous. H 55. AVING all other matters arranged, before the toggery is all donned, the knapsack fairly strapped on, mind to have selected, we should say, some suitable companion of congenial feelings and cheerful humour: for much of the pleasure of a tour depends on this having of company, even if only a dog to whistle to. "The influences of agreeable conversation, in alleviating the toilsomeness of travel, have been pleasantly depicted by Shakespeare: 'These high, wild hills, and rough, uneven ways, Richard II., Act ii., sc. 3. Indeed, every one knows that the Irish bull, that a journey of ten miles is reduced to five a-piece when undertaken with a companion, is founded in truth and It may be that the cultivation of the mind, and the improvement of the taste, might have enabled nature. the traveller to have found, at least in part, that companionship he desired in the birds, beasts, plants, trees, brooks, hills, and stones, he encountered in his excursion; but still the force of the observation remains the same, that the most pleasing and unwearying efforts demand an impulsion from the mind as well as from the mere bodily powers." * An additional reason for seeking cheerful companions is, that the mind is unbent from intense thought or anxious care by the presence of others and their extemporaneous converse, when, if left alone to yourself, it might prove next to impracticable to unshackle the trammelled habits of intense application; and unless such be accomplished, the chief end of the excursion is missed the mind must be at ease to allow the body to reap the benefit of its exertions. Davis observes most justly, in his interesting Manual, p. 355:-" As we have seen that, for an agreeable and beneficial exercise, there must be an harmonious action in a large number of the parts and organs of the body, so there should be a like harmony of excitation to call this action forth. The will, the great stimulant of muscular contraction, must direct its efforts with singleness of purpose to the acting limbs." 56. The right allotting of the amount of exercise each day is, for the commencement of a tour, and to the inexperienced, of the greatest consequence; and we must proceed to show why it is so, in order that this condition, absolutely essential to the pleasure and benefit of the pedestrian excursion, may be cautiously secured. People may be accustomed to walk about all day in town, and yet find a day's walk in the country *Davis' Manual, p. 354. E very different; and, from their not rightly estimating this experience, may be very apt to overdo themselves at starting, and so get fatigued, owing to new and exhilarating demands upon their animal frame and spirits: therefore it would be well to limit their first and even second day's work to something under what they might possibly accomplish at a great stretch; for, if the first day become a toil instead of a pleasure, the spirits begin to flag, and a listlessness as to the objects undertaken steals over the mind, owing to fatigue. Few minds can then, under the pressure and lassitude caused by the first day's forced march, muster up courage sufficient to throw themselves out of bed early, to begin with spirit and alacrity the second day. Davis remarks (p. 323) that "all exercises should be accurately apportioned to the age, strength, and previous habits of the individual. Where this rule is neglected, exercise becomes an evil, and that of serious magnitude." And further on, alluding to undue exertion of any powers, whereby their growth and development suffers in the young, he says-" A state of weariness comes on, that sleep refuses to alleviate. Such a call is made upon the digestive organs and the nervous system for velocity of action, that these parts are first to fail; and fever, accompanied with serious digestive disorder, ensues. * * Under an extraordinary stimulus, the task may possibly be performed; but the consequences are disagreeable and prejudicial. Excessive fatigue takes the place of that moderate tiredness which conduces to sleep, and the balmy soother of wearied nature refuses to do her office; a painful restlessness, attended with fever, and, in extreme cases with delirium, distresses the frame; and when at length slumbers steal over the troubled system, they are not followed with any com |