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ted Captain Barclay wagered that he could walk 1000 miles in one thousand consecutive hours； and gained his bet with some hours to spare。 In 1834 Ernest Mensen astonished all Europe by his pedestrian exploits。 He was a Norwegian sailor； who wagered that he could walk from Paris to Moscow in fifteen days。 On June 25； 1834； at ten o'clock A。M。； he entered the Kremlin； after having traversed 2500 kilometers （1550 miles） in fourteen days and eighteen hours。 His performances all over Europe were so marvelous as to be almost incredible。 In 1836； in the service of the East India Company； he was dispatched from Calcutta to Constantinople； across Central Asia。 He traversed the distance in fifty…nine days； accomplishing 9000 kilometers （5580 miles） in one…third less time than the most rapid caravan。 He died while attempting to discover the source of the Nile； having reached the village of Syang。
A most marvelous feat of endurance is recorded in England in the first part of this century。 It is said that on a wager Sir Andrew Leith Hay and Lord Kennedy walked two days and a night under pouring rain； over the Grampian range of mountains； wading all one day in a bog。 The distance traversed was from a village called Banchory on the river Dee to Inverness。 This feat was accomplished without any previous preparation； both men starting shortly after the time of the wager。
Riders。The feats of endurance accomplished by the couriers who ride great distances with many changes of horses are noteworthy。 According to a contemporary medical journal there is； in the Friend of India； an account of the Thibetan couriers who ride for three weeks with intervals of only half an hour to eat and change horses。 It is the duty of the officials at the Dak bungalows to see that the courier makes no delay； and even if dying he is tied to his horse and sent to the next station。 The celebrated English huntsman； 〃Squire〃 Osbaldistone； on a wager rode 200 miles in seven hours ten minutes and four seconds。 He used 28 horses； and as one hour twenty…two minutes and fifty…six seconds were allowed for stoppages； the whole time； changes and all； occupied in accomplishing this wonderful feat was eight hours and forty…two minutes。 The race was ridden at the Newmarket Houghton Meeting over a four…mile course。 It is said that a Captain Horne of the Madras Horse Artillery rode 200 miles on Arab horses in less than ten hours along the road between Madras and Bangalore。 When we consider the slower speed of the Arab horses and the roads and climate of India； this performance equals the 200 miles in the shorter time about an English race track and on thoroughbreds。 It is said that this wonderful horseman lost his life in riding a horse named 〃Jumping Jenny〃 100 miles a day for eight days。 The heat was excessive； and although the horse was none the worse for the performance； the Captain died from the exposure he encountered。 There is a record of a Mr。 Bacon of the Bombay Civil Service； who rode one camel from Bombay to Allygur （perhaps 800 miles） in eight days。
As regards the physiology of the runners and walkers； it is quite interesting to follow the effects of training on the respiration； whereby in a measure is explained the ability of these persons to maintain their respiratory function； although excessively exercising。 A curious discussion； persisted in since antiquity； is as to the supposed influence of the spleen on the ability of couriers。 For ages runners have believed that the spleen was a hindrance to their vocation； and that its reduction was followed by greater agility on the course。 With some； this opinion is perpetuated to the present day。 In France there is a proverb； 〃Courir comme un derate。〃 To reduce the size of the spleen； the Greek athletes used certain beverages； the composition of which was not generally known； the Romans had a similar belief and habit Pliny speaks of a plant called equisetum； a decoction of which taken for three days after a fast of twenty…four hours would effect absorption of the spleen。 The modern pharmacopeia does not possess any substance having a similar virtue； although quinin has been noticed to diminish the size of the spleen when engorged in malarial fevers。 Strictly speaking； however； the facts are not analogous。 Hippocrates advises a moxa of mushrooms applied over the spleen for melting or dissolving it。 Godefroy Moebius is said to have seen in the village of Halberstadt a courier whose spleen had been cauterized after incision； and about the same epoch （seventeenth century） some men pretended to be able to successfully extirpate the spleen for those who desired to be couriers。 This operation we know to be one of the most delicate in modern surgery； and as we are progressing with our physiologic knowledge of the spleen we see nothing to justify the old theory in regard to its relations to agility and coursing。
Swimming。The instances of endurance that we see in the aquatic sports are equally as remarkable as those that we find among the runners and walkers。 In the ancient days the Greeks； living on their various islands and being in a mild climate； were celebrated for their prowess as swimmers。 Socrates relates the feats of swimming among the inhabitants of Delos。 The journeys of Leander across the Hellespont are well celebrated in verse and prose； but this feat has been easily accomplished many times since； and is hardly to be classed as extraordinary。 Herodotus says that the Macedonians were skilful swimmers； and all the savage tribes about the borders of waterways are found possessed of remarkable dexterity and endurance in swimming。
In 1875 the celebrated Captain Webb swam from Dover to Calais。 On landing he felt extremely cold； but his body was as warm as when he started。 He was exhausted and very sleepy； falling in deep slumber on his way to the hotel。 On getting into bed his temperature was 98 degrees F。 and his pulse normal。 In five hours he was feverish； his temperature rising to 101 degrees F。 During the passage he was blinded from the salt water in his eyes and the spray beating against his face。 He strongly denied the newspaper reports that he was delirious； and after a good rest was apparently none the worse for the task。 In 1876 he again traversed this passage with the happiest issue。 In 1883 he was engaged by speculators to swim the rapids at Niagara； and in attempting this was overcome by the powerful currents； and his body was not recovered for some days after。 The passage from Dover to Calais has been duplicated。
In 1877 Cavill； another Englishman； swam from Cape Griz…Nez to South Forland in less than thirteen hours。 In 1880 Webb swam and floated at Scarborough for seventy…four consecutive hoursof course； having no current to contend with and no point to reach。 This was merely a feat of staying in the water。 In London in 1881； Beckwith； swimming ten hours a day over a 32…lap course for six days； traversed 94 miles。 Since the time of Captain Webb； who was the pioneer of modern long…distance swimming； many men have attempted and some have duplicated his feats； but these foolhardy performances have in late years been diminishing； and many of the older feats are forbidden by law。
Jumpers and acrobatic tu