New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-23
Or. w.ndsl,lp on Physical culsure.

ttFrom the n. Y. Spirit Of the Times
We have the pleasure of placing before our read
ers an article on physical culture from the pen of
DR.. Windship, who has been properly denominated
the modern Samson. Any one can write about the
laws of health, but no one can speak with the
authority of DR.. Windship, for he gives rs in his
person the practical evidence of beneficial results
from following out his own theories or, more
properly speaking what he says is the result of his
careful experience while training his system up to
its present magnificent state of health. The Doc
tor after stating that the essential fact in ednca
ton is strict care of the body, Joined with judi
cious mental training, goes on to say:
culture would seem to encourage the belief that a
revival of some Of those great convictions in re-
gard to education, which prevailed in ancient /
education is leading forth Of the faculties Of the
mind through the healthy development of those Of I
the body. In physical culture would comprehend |
culture of the body in its most extended sense n
head and limbs. and of whatever of us is mate
rial it is the application of means for physical
improvement, the avoidance Of habits that infalH-
bly, involve physical degeneracy; the development |
into soundness, of weakness into strength. of awk
wardness into grace, of disproporton into cores
pondence in short, the elaboration and finishing
Of the ediiice in which mind resides-that temple
of clay-that house we live in.
Improvements Of ones physical state can never
be entered upon too early and so long as there is
an atom of life and strength never too late. Let
no one despair of success in the attempt, DR., |
Warren, in his little work on health tells us of
member of the legal profession who prartised
gymnastics for the first time and with the happiest
results, when nearly seventy years old. Cornaro,
the Italian whose treatise health and long life
has given him worldwi reputation, began at
forty to repair the ravages which many years Of
dissipation had made upon constitution naturally
infrm; and in spite Of the predictions of all his
physicians and friends, he succeeded not only IN
restoring the health he had lost, but in gaining
health he had never before experienced. He was
eighty when he published his treatise lived to see
it through four editions, and died TRANQUILITY in his
! bed after he had completed his one hundredth
year. w
In this connection it is worth while to observe
how much may be accomplished BY simply correct
| ing single bad habit. The legal gentleman to-
| whom DR.. Warren alludes was much benefited by
| gymnastics On the other hand, Cornaro, as he
himself states, found panacea for all his ills In
careful avoidance q ntemh , u eang ana
path we pursue, IL by it we can reach the desired
goal, tuto, cito, ct jucunde. Sometimes 1t may be
inconvenient to take the best path let u.s. then do
many that to practice heroic degree Of self
denial and to rise from the table hungry was the
way to secure health. For many years tried to do
this, but succeeded very imperfectly. at length
resolved to attempt the next best thing, and am
not sure that it was not the best thing of ALL 1t
was merely this-to put no extra restraint upon my
appetite, to practice no very rigorous sefdenial,
but to eat and drink about as much as desired,
and then by my subsequent self-managemeRt to
take care that should make myself need every
particle had swallowed.
Soon after I began to carry out this principle, I
experienced cessation of Indigestion, and the
many ills to which it gives rise. Having found,
too that this principle worked well in the long RIM,
still retain it as one of the cardinal rules in my
method of training. t0
And what is my method? you will perhaps en-
quire 1t is the doing the right thing in the right
way at the right time. 1t is the obtaining suffi-
cheney without going to excess. 1t is the using my
own discretion about everything without bndly
following another's precept or anothers example,
or even teng himself down to rules Of his own de-
vsing. 1t is the carrying out of what may seem
J best under the circumstances.
But though it may be difficult for me to describe
briefly and clearly what my method is, that is
no argument against its efficacy. What other
. method would have insured for me an aPpreci
able gain in strength day by day, month BY month
) and year by year, with an almost entire exemp
ton, meanwhile, from any but the most trivial dis
! orderss Let the following facts speak for them
$ selves: ts,
! seriously undertook to improve my physical con
: dition. | was then but five feet in hight and 8
e hundred pounds in weight. / was rather strong
for my size, but not strong for my years, and my
health was not vigorous. l am now twentV-sll
years of age, five feet seven inches in hight ans
one hundred and forty-eight pounds in weight
My strength is more than twice that of an ordnar
WI What has produced this astonishing change L
{ my physical condition during the last nine years
y I will attempt to sum up a few Of the proxmat
u causes that may have led to this result:
y LIST. i have breathed an abundance of pure, fires
air almost constantly.
=, I'd. have exposed myself sufficiently to th
sun. t5zza VS. zis5,
pz Sd. have eaten an abundance Of wholeson
food. Ia
4th. / have drank less than quart of spirituol
liquors, and less than gallon of fermented.
9TH. / have used less than an ounce of tobacco
n 9th. have taken, nearly every day about
is half-hour's gymnastic exercise in the open air.
7th have Gonformed to the customs of societ
n only SO far as they were not at variance wit
lie health.
'te only Of time, but also of health, have stunned
les as especially dangerous in all matters pertaining
lte physical Well-being. -.
itll. have poisoned myself as little as possibl
es by food contaminated with lead, copper, brass
bell-metal. 5.zz5 sl
~ 10th / have developed my body tremendously
18th. Ihave allowed myself at least ten hou
: rest in almost every twenty-four. fz=# 4.
18TH have paid due regard to bathing wit
y out, however, rendering myself amphibious,
r z. carrying good thing to excess.
IS 18th. have been particular that every porte
to of my dress should be as loose and easy as t
ces freest action of my muscles and limbs would I
tel | mand. ~ laiizs5i
la During these nine years, while endeavoring
IL promote my physical welfare, have made the
is. lowing discoveries
&, LIST. That whatever increased my strength
as proved my health.
it'll I'd. That one means Of improving my health v
vo- to increase my strength.
Sd. That the stronger became the healthier
became.
}. 9TH. That it was as easy for me to increase
strength of my body as it was that of a magnet.
I'd 5th. That by developing my body harmonious
AT could preclude the possibility Of hernia OF y
other serious injury that otherwise mgnt asi
Jus from an extremely violent action OF my muscles
sus, 9Th That lifting, if properly practlsed, was
1 %s surest and quickest method Of producing harn
nious development while ! was aTd a,so se
ord, t..-a4 baai.ItnI
a. w Ih That It was better while exercising to Pc
S form twenty different feats once taah one lie
roH- xs..,,t,, fi,,es
eads an That ii was impossible for me to take,
fifteen or twenty minutes, all the gymnastic exc
nises that should need in twenty.four hours.
e 9th That Icould gain faster in strength by fos
,. minutes gymnastic exercise, once in two da,
RoH than by twenty minutes of the same daily.
~ 10th. That Is my strength increased, my ex.
else shonld he more intense but legs protraeted