CHAPTER V. THE START-FIRST DAY'S DOINGS AND UNDOINGS. 55. Having all matters arranged, the toggery all donned, the knapsack fairly strapped on, we should say, select in the next place 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 Shakspeare: "These high, wild hills, and rough, uneven ways, Draw out our miles, and make them wearisome; 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 nature. It may be that the cultivation of the mind, and the improvement of the taste, might have enabled 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 *Davis' Manual, p. 354. 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 allotting of the amount of exercise each day is, for the commencement of such a tour, and to the unaccustomed, of the greatest consequence; and we must proceed to shew 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 very different; and, from their not rightly estimating this experience, may be very apt to overdo themselves at starting, and so get fatigued with the 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 G * 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-" 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 commensurate degree of refreshment." Dr. Combe relates a very striking instance of the folly of over-exertion of this kind. Exercise pushed, then, to the point of inducing fatigue, so as to render the muscles sore and trembling from over-strained efforts, remaining stiff and sore after a night's disturbed repose, is not the way to derive either benefit or pleasure from a country tour. On an average, we should say, that, for those who can accomplish by effort some 20 miles for a day's walk, a dozen or 15 is the outside they should lay out for the first day's exercise; then, by getting a refreshing night's rest, they will have the power and disposition to walk 20 miles on the next day, and perhaps 25 on the third, and increase a little each day as |