Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/501

492 and no description of the Portland event. There is, instead, a citing of an Athenian general Philipoemen-"who concluded that to become an athlete cost more than it came to-and that there was a more legitimate and profitable mode of expending vital force."

In the Oregonian of four days later this same event is handled semi-editorially under the heading Offence Against Decency.

"The circumstances attending the attempted pedestrian feat mentioned in our two last issues (the Oregonian says) have given rise to many and indignant comments from the citizens of this place. While religious persons were attending their devotions in a neighboring church, the compound din arising from tenor and bass drums, fifes and other head-stunning and ear-splitting instruments invaded the place of worship—rendering futile all attempts to perform the ceremonies of the day and the occasion. But it was not alone the noise and confusion that deserves condemnation—the unfortunate pedestrian having lost the use of his faculties was still urged on by his friends to the completion of the allotted time. The sufferings of the unfortunate man were terrible. His pulse rapidly fell to a point that rendered a fatal termination of the affair probable. Yet still he was urged forward by those who should have been the first to stop it. To add to the outrage upon morality and decency, a number of shameless women were present-giving the whole affair the appearance of a re-enactment of the Babylonish orgies of Venus, without their attractions. This affair took place on Sunday, in a towin famed for the number of its churches and the general good conduct of its inhabitants. It is to the credit of our worthy mayor that when he became aware that gross cruelty was being inflicted on a human being, and conduct calculated to corrupt the minds of the young was going on, he at once repaired to the same and endeavored to put a stop to its further progress. Finding that there was a disposition to resist, he left the house. . . . Marshal Lappaeus succeeded in getting possession of Brady's person and at once carried him off to the Washington Bath House, where everything was done for his restoration that humanity could suggest. The poor fellow was suffering terribly from over-exertion.—We understand that he is an excellent man in his private relations. If he is, let us hope that he will never lend himself to another such scene or his uncommonly fine physical powers in attempting a feat that brings neither credit or [sic] profit. His walk of 77 hours ought to be a lesson for the future."

After all this solemn sermonizing in tragic tones, the reader has a sense of anti-climax when it is followed, right below, with this