The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-24
MIR. pRYANT,s DAILY LIFE.
A Letter from the Poet.
NEW York, March 80, 1871.

AVE" \ OAShy 1ANA WI 4NfAs
To Joseph q. Richards, ESQ.
DEAR SR: promised sometime since
10 give you some account Of my habits Of
life, so fur, OF least, as regards diet, exer-
else, and occupation. ! am not sure that
1t will be Of any use TO you, although the
system which have for many years oh.
served, seems 10 answer my purpose very
well. l have reached pretty advanced
period Of life, without the usual intirmi.
ties of old age, and with my strength, aC-
tivity, and bodily faculties generally in
good preservation. How far this may be
the effect OF my way OF life, adopted long
ago, and steadily adhered to, is perhaps
uncertain.
II rise early-at this time Of year,
about ST; in Summer, half On hour, or
even an hour, earlier. Immediately, with
very little incunlbrance Of clothing, be.
gin series Of exercises, Tor the most part
designed TO expand the chest and at the
same time call into action all the muscles
and artiCulationS OF the body. These are
performed with dumb.bells-the very
lightest-coYered with flannel, with u
pole, o horizontal bar, and light chair
swung around my head. After q full
hour, and sometimes more, passed in this
manner, battle from head to foot When
at my place in the country, ! sometimes
shorten my exercises in the chamber, and,
going out, occupy myself for half an
hour or more in some work which re.
quires brisk exercise. After my bath, il
breakfast be not ready, | sit down to my
studies until am called.
"hTy breakfast is simple one-hominy
and milk, or, in place OF hominy, brown
bread, or oat meal, or wheaton grits, and,
in the season, baked sweet apples. Buck.
wheat cakes do not decline, nor any
other article Of vegetable food, but animal
food never take at breakfast. Tea and
coffee I never touch at any time. Some.
times l take up cup OF chocolate, which
has no narcotic effect, and agrees with me
very well. At breakfast l often cat fruit,
eitler in its natural state or freshly
stewed.
"Arter breakfast occupy myself with
my studies for a while, and then, when in
town, / walk down to the Office of the
EYnin0 Post, nearly three miles distant,
and after about three hours, return, al.
ways walking whatever be the weather or
the state Of the streets. In the country l
am engaged in my literary tasks, till
feeling OF WEAKNESS drives Inc out in the
open air, and go upon my farm or into
the garden and prune the trees, or perform
some other work about them which they
need and then go buck TO my books. lido
not often drive out, preferring TO walk.
"In the country l dine early, and 1t is
only at that meal that take either meat
or fish, and OF these but q moderate
quantity, making my dinner mostly of
vegetables. At tho meal which is called
tea, ! take only little bread and butter,
with fruit, ii il be on the table. In town,
where ! dine later, make but two meals
q day Fruit makes considerable part
Of my diet, and eatit OF almost any hour
Of the day without inconvenience, Ny
drink Is water, yet ! sometimes, though |
rarely, take glass Of wine. I am q nat
ural temperance man, finding myself
rather confused than exhilaratel by wine.
Inevcr NEEDLE with tobacco, except TO
quarrel with It's use.
THAT may rise carly, /, Of course, 60
TO bed early; In town, as carly as 10; In |
tho country, somewhat earlier. For
many years | have avoided In the even.
ing every kind Of literary occupation
which taaks the faculties, such as com.
position, even 10 the writing Of letters, for
the reason that II eXcitcs tho nervous sys.
TEN, and prevents sound sleep
MY brother told me, not long since,
that lie had seen in Chicago newspaper,
and several other Western journals, u |
paragraph In which 1t was said that am
in the habit Of taking Qulnlne as a slimu-
liant; that l have depended upon the OK.
element It produces in writing my verses,
and that, in consequence OF using 1t In |
that way, had become as deaf as q post.
AS to my deafness, you know that TO be
false, and the rest OF the story Is equally |
so. Iabominate all drugs and narcotics,
and have always carefully avoided every.
thing which spurs nature to exertions
which 1t would not otherwise make.
Even with my food do not take the
usual condiments, such as pepper, and the
like. l am, Sir, truly yours,
"W. c. BRYANNT."