Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-24
Physfcal Fducation-The Strong Man, and
hsw he Decame strsns

Physical Fducatien-The Strong Man, and
how he Decame strsng.
lFrom the New York World
The public have been not little interested
for few years, in occasional accounts of DR.
Winship, the q strong Yankees" experiments
In physical self-education. He is but about
Is years old, 5 feet inches in hight, and
weighs l4S pounds: He can lift eleven hun
dred pounds, and is now the best example of
physical education in the United States. He
wss seventeen years Of age before he began his
experiments, and was then but FIVE feet hiyh.
and weighed only 100 pounds his health was
not gootS for be already suffered from the
usual 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 life," need
despsir Of the benefits Of . right system of
training. He instances DIR. Warren's testi-
mony respecting veteran invalid, who began
gymnastics In his SEVENTEEN year, with very
salutary effects; and, of course, old Cornare
(fsmous in Addison's Spectator) is not forgot
ten, who, though no gymnast, began in his
fortieth year to restore q broken constitution,
and lived q life of health and of enviable cheer
fulness till his hundredth year.
But what has been the eficacious theory of
the strong Yankee? He has given it in the
Massachusetts Teacher, but unfortunately in
an article Of too great length to be read much
We propose to take unusual liberties with this
Communication, in order to condense into
more readable shape his interesting details.
They are the best prescriptions We have ever
met for physical self-recuperstion; in sois day,
when 7" muscular" merit has become q matter
of special ambition, and physical training a
subject Of even moral preachments, it may no.
be Improbable to present to the public an ex-
ample which, from both its moderate good
sense and its extraordinary results may be
pronounced q model one.
How, then, has the Yankee doctor surpassed
all the pugilistic training Of the age? Weenu-
merate, at much length, the principles of his
system. We give the most essential particu-
lars, presenting them, however, with eur own
L. He has breathed an abundance of fresh
air "almost constantly" practising, We sup
pose, imitation Of the lungs.
2. He has drunk no ardent spirits, and used
no tobacco. The English "training'' for the
ring: 1t is well known, prohibits these arti-
cles.
8. He has taken, nearly every day, about a
haLfhour's gymRasttc ererctse in the open
air, and in his is an example of the surprising
moderation with which he has accomplished
surprising results.
A. He has eaten heartily of such food. ami.
nal and vegetable, as agreed with his stomach
scouting the maxim that "you should leave
the table hungry" He began not to recover
from his dyspepsia till he escaped this nom
sense.
5. He has taken at least ten hours rest daily
including sleep, and appears to have devoted
as much to sleep as nature would allow
o. He has worn every article Of his dress as
loose and as easy as the freest action of his
muscles and limbs would demand.
z. He has used the bath once a week in win.
ter and twice week in summer He de-
nounces the daily use of cold baths.
He has pursued this course for nine years
and 1t has during this long period afforded
him some important observations, if not dis
coveries. Here are few Of them:
/. 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 harmoniously
he could preclude the possibility of hernia or
other similar injury, that otherwise might re-
sultfrOm an extremely violent exercise Of the
muscles.
L. That lifting is the safest and surest
method Of producing harmonious develop
ment, as also the most strengthening of all ex--
ercisss-a fact not generally supposed.
5.zsThat the performance of twenty different
gymnastic feats once, is better than the per-
formsnce Of one twenty times
6. That he gained more by forty minutes
exercise once in two days, than by twenty
T. Twenty or fifteen minutes gymnastics
suficed for each day
S That as strength increases, more intense
but less -pFotracted exercise should be the rule
g. That increase of muscular power is attep-
ded with proper tionate increase of digestive
power.
TO- That great physical strength may be ac-
quired independently of hereditary tendency
TO 1t; and, indeed, in spite Of hereditary weak
ness Of constitution.
Ill. That increased strength cannot long con-
tinue on purely vegetable diet
IL. That increasing the strength makes ex-
erection take place less by the skin, and more
by the lungs and other emuDctories
IL. That long before he could raise eleven
hundred pounds with the hands, or shoulder
barrel Of flour, he had put to flight the whole
brood of ailments-sick headaches, nervous.
ness, indigestion, ETC., which are the familiar
companions Of American health, or rather i'll
health.
The Ssmpsonion doctor proceeds to give
some very judicious rules, deduced from his
experience, for all aspirants to good health
and manly vigor. He advises that:
L. You should select for your sleeping room
an apartment on the 'tsunny side, and let the
sun play into it at least six hours a day, if the
clouds will allow him to show his face
2. Keep il ventilated all the time and es-
pecially keep the windows partially open at
night. but avoid drafts.
g. Practice generally ablution once week in
cold weather. twice week in warm Too much
palntnS, no asserts, "ueleats every Intention
for which water is externally applied"
4. Take not less than eight hours rest per
day.
5. Use no food which has been prepared In
copper, brass, or bell metal utensiI Use no
water that has come in contact with lead
8. Use such food as your appetite prefers, in
spite Of Leibig or any other authority.
I, Practice lifting as the best Of gymnastics;
but begin cautiously, and be careful of too
much fatigue. Dumb bells he considers next
desirable TO lifting.
8. Never exceed half an hour in any gym
nastic exercise.
Q. 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 it entirely
exposed without taking cold.
Such is anoutline Of DR.. Winship's system
II is singularly sensible; il is almost univer-
sally practicable, except, perhaps, the pre-.
scription about sleep. Could IL be generally
adopted in the United States, We doubt not
thai in one generation. il would reduce the