Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-06-23

was nearly seventeen years of age before
seriously undertook to improve my physical
condition. was then but five feet in hight and
a hundred pounds in weight. l was rather
strong for my years, and my health was not
vigorous. | am twenty-six years of age, five
feet seven inches in height and one hundred
and forty-eight pounds in weight. My strength
is more than twice that Of an ordinary man,
and my health is as excellent as my strength.
What has produced this astonishing change
in my physical condition during the last nine
years? will attempt to sum up few Of the
proximate causes that may have led to their re-
suit.
lst. have breathed an abundance Of pure
fresh air almost constantly.
I'd. have exposed myself sufficiently to the
sun.
Sd. 1 have eaten an abundance of wholesome
food.
4th. have drank less than quart of spirit
GUS liquors, and less than gallon of fermen-
5th. have used less than an ounce Of to-
bacco.
9th. have taken, nearly every day, about
hoif-hours Byuinasto cxcrcise in the open air.
7th. l have conformed to the customs of So
ciety only so far as they were not at variance
with health.
Sth. Regarding procrastination as the thief
not only of time but also of health, l have
Stunned it as especially dangerous in all mat
ters pertaining 20 physical welbeing.
9th. / have poisoned myself as little as pos
sible by food contaminated with lead copper,
brass, or bell-metal.
10th. have developed my body harmonious
ly.
llth. have allowed myself at least ten hours
rest in almost every twenty-four.
18th. | have paid due regard to bathing,
withnut howpvpr rnn1prinU r,yeplf annnhihiotie
or carrying good thing to excess.
18th. have been particular that every por-
ton of my dress should be as loose and easy as
the freest action of my muscles and limbs would
demand.
During the nine years, while endeavoring to
promote my physical welfare, l have made the
following discoveries:
LIST. That whatever increased my strength
improves my health.
I'd. That one means of improving my health
was to increase my strength.
Sd. That the stronger | became, the health
ier, became.
4th. That it was as easy for me to increase
the strength Of my body as it was that of
magnet.
5th. That, by developing my body harmoni-
ously, could preclude the possibility of hernia,
or any other serious injury, that otherwise might
arise from an extremely violent action of my
muscles.
9th. That lifting, if properly practised, was
the surest and quickest method of producing
harmonious development; while it was also the
/ most strengthening of all exercises, and con-
sequently the most heathful.
7th. That it was better, while exercising, to
perform twenty different feats once, than one
feat twenty times.
Sth. That it was possible for me to take, in
fifteen or twenty minutes, all the gymnastic ex-
ercises that should need in twenty four hours.
9th. That could gain faster in strength by
forty minutes gymnastic exercises once in two
days, than by twenty minutes of the same daily.
should be mSs ERHh EsHs BFsefsss Bas sss ss
| ted.
1lth. That increase of the muscular power
was attended with increase Of the digestive.
18th. That one means of increasing the di-
gestive power, was to increase the muscular.
18th. That many articles of food had former
| ly proved injurious to me, not because they
were really unwholesome but because / was
unable to digest them.
l4th. That person may become possessed
of great physical strength, without having in
herited it.
10th. That by increasing the strength, a pre-
disposition to certain diseases may be removed,
and diseases already present removed or miti-
gated.
10th. The increase of strength cannot long
continue on a diet exclusively vegetable :
18th. That increasing the strength made ex-
cretion take place less from the skin, but more
from the lungs, and the other remunetories.
18th. That what benefits part of the body,
benefits, more or less the whole.
10Th. That long before succeeded in lifting
100 lbs. with the hands, or in shouldering
barrel of -four from the floor, l had ceased to
be troubled with sick headaches nervousness,
| opd nd