“It planned the establishment of affiliated clubs in other cities, and ultimately an organization which would in some respects resemble the Wandervogel, the great national pedestrian body of Germany. At the present time it has a prosperous branch at Cleveland with a membership in excess of five hundred.
“In the meantime, before a consummation of their more ambitious plans can be hoped for, much less realized, it were well if a federation of all the walking clubs in New York was perfected, with a common headquarters, where maps and data of much value might be made available to all hikers, and where frequent gatherings might be held for the interchange of ideas and experiences. And to the attainment of this object the Walkers’ Association may well address itself.”
Wanderlust
“Wanderlust” is the appellative under which Saturday afternoon walks in the vicinity of Philadelphia are organized. They have been conducted for now ten years. Schedules of walks are published quarterly in advance, and the leaflets bear this advertisement:
“These walks are arranged for the general public. There are no fees, dues nor other requirements. Everyone is welcome, on one walk or all. All that is necessary is to be at the starting place at the time appointed. The only cost is that of carfare. The walks are all about five miles, and often include some points of interest, although no special effort is made by the leaders toward that aim. No fast walking is done, as new people come each week, and might not be able to keep up. The whole aim of the walks is to get people out into the open, to learn how even a simple exercise like walking can mean strength and health for those who seek it, and pleasure for all.… Copies [of this announcement] will be mailed only to those who send a stamped, addressed envelope to any active member of the Committee, or to the Secretary.”
The secretary (address 351 East Chelton Avenue, Germantown, Pa.) writes (June 13, 1919):
“The Wanderlust goes on about the same as it has done since 1910, though our numbers have been much smaller during and since the war. So many of our followers were engaged in war work, or working overtime, that we noticed their absence very much. For many years our average was about fifty, but for the past two years it has been around thirty.
“We have two classes of walkers, the regulars, many of whom have been along from the start, and the irregulars, who come from one to a dozen times, and seem to drop away for no reason we can learn. Many people come once and never again, probably disappointed to find the walkers a happy lot, who apparently need little to satisfy them. That conclusion we arrived at after hearing their remarks on many occasions. But the critics were not ‘hikers’ and did not have the spirit.
“About the permanence of such an undertaking, I can only say that I feel sure we have lasted so long because we avoided any form or attempt at organization, and kept it a free-for-all-come-once-or-always outing party.
“We profited by the mistakes of some other cities, where they organized, with the usual factional rivalry, and breaking-up of the club, and in another case, the growth of an exclusive club, shutting out many who could not afford to continue. So we have fought all attempts (on the part of a few) to organize in any way. Of course that means that someone must head the committee and volunteer to be the secretary or chairman. Being an assistant to the Director of Physical Education, I was asked to take charge of the Wanderlust about eight years ago and am still a willing secretary, and believe that by keeping the hike under the Department we are keeping it from breaking up or changing into a less desirable form. Our aim is to give an opportunity to grown people to get some of the physical training and efficiency that the school children get in our schools, and at the same time to encourage outdoor ‘play’ for young and old.