The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-10-02
PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

nhvs;cal selfeducation He is but about 26 years
old. five feet seven inches in height, and weighs
l48 pounds He car lift 100 pounds, and is
now the best example of physical education In the
United States. He was IL years OF age before he
began his experiments, and was then but five feet
high, and weighed only 100 pounds; his health
was not good, for he already suffered from the
dyspeptical troubles of American youth. So great
have been his improvements, that he now declares
it to be his opinion that no one 'having an atom
of strength and lfe," need despair of the benefits
of right system of training. He instances Mr.
Warrens testimony respecting a veteran Invalid,
who began gymnastics in bis 18th year, with very
salutary effects; and, of course, old Cornaro, fa-
NOUS in Addison's Spectator,) is not forgotten,
who, though no gymnast, began in his fUrtleth
wear to restore broken constitution, and lived
life of health and enviable cheerfulness till his
hundredth year. But what has been the efaca-
cious theory of the atrong Yankee? He has CIV
en- it in the Massachusetts, Teacher, but unfortu-
nately in article of too great length to be read
much We give the most essential particulars,
presenting them, however, with our own numera-
ton:
l. He has breathed an abundance of fresh air,
almost constantly practicing, we suppose, imitation
of the lungs
2 He has drank no ardent spirits and used no
tobacco The English " training for the ring" it
is well known, prohibits the use of these articles
8. He has taken, nearly every day, about half
hours gymnastic exercise in the open air, and he
is an example of the surprising moderation with
which he has accomplished surprising results.
4. He has eaten heartily of such food, animal
and vegetable, as agreed with his stomach, scout
ing the maxim that "you should leave the table
hungry" He began not to recover from his Gys-
pepsia till he escaped this nonsense.
D. He has taken at least ten hours rest daily,
OH sic IN hav as
much of it to sleep as nature would allow
8. He has worn every article of his dress as
the freest action of his muscles and limbs would
demand.
T. He has used the bath once a week in winter,
and twice week in summer. He denounces the
daily of cold baths.
He has pursued this course for nine years, and
it has, during this long period, afforded him some
important observations, if not discoveries Here
are few of them:
l. That it is as easy to increase the strength of
the human body as it is that of magnetic.
2. That whatever increased his strength in
creased his general health. He enjoys now the
maximum of the latter as he probably does of the
former; for his force is now equal to that of two
ordinary men.
3. That by developing his body tremendously,
he could prevent the possibility of hernia or any
similar injury that mig ht otherwise result from an
4 That lifting is the safest and surest method
of producing harmonious" development, as also
the most strengthening Of all exercises fact not
generally supposed
D. That the performance of twenty different
gymnastc feats once is better than the perform
ance one feat twenty times
g. That he gained more by forty minutes exer-
else once in two days, than by twenty minutes
once day.
= T,ro,ty or 6Hoa, ,,;nutos, ,,,,n,nos,;os s,,F
feed for each day
s. That as strength increases, more intense but
less prOtracteG exercises should be the rule.
3. That increase of muscular power is attended
with proportionate increase of the strength of
digestive organs
10. That great physical strength may be ac-
qured independently of any hereditary tendency
to it, and indeed, in spite of any hereditary weak
ness of constitution.
IL. That increased strength cannot long con-
tinue on purely vegetable diet.
IL. That increasing the strength makes excre-
ton take place less by the skin, and more by the
lungs and other emunctories
l3. That long before he could raise 100 lbs.
with the hands, or shoulder barrel of -four, he
had put to fight the whole brood of ailments
sick headaches, nervousness, indigestion, &c. which
are the familiar companions Of American health,
or rather ill-heath.
very judcious rules, deduced from his experience,
for all aspirants to good health and mani yigor
He advises that
l. You should select for your sleeping room an
apartment on the sunny side," and let the sun
play into it at least six hours per day. if the clouds
will allow him to show his face.
,. Keep it ventilated all the time aud especially
keep the windows partially open at night, but
avoid draughts.
3. Practice general ablution once week in |
cold weather, twice week in warm. Too much |
bathing, he asserts, defeats every intention for
which water is externally applied.
4. Take no less than eight hours rest per day. |
5. Use no food which has been prepared in a
copper, brass, or be-metal utensil Use no water
that has come in contact with lead.
q. Use such food your appetite prefers, in
spite of Liebig or any other authority.
Z. Practice lifting the best of gymnastics;
but begin cautiously and be careful of too much
fatigue. Dumb bells he considers next desirable
to lifting
s. Never exceed half an hour in any gymnastc
exercise.
9. Never rise early unless you retire early Be :
sure to get sleep enough.
10. Gradually wear less and less clothing about
the neck, till you can keep il entirely exposed
without taking cold
Such Is an outline of DIR. Winship's system. II
singularly sensible; it is almost universally prac-
tlcable, except, perhaps, the prescription about
sleep. Could it be generally adopted in the Uni
ted States, we doubt not that in one generation
1T would reduce the medical faculty fifty per cent,
and the rates of life insurance CORRESPONDENCE,