The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-12-21
Constitutional vigor.

The successful men of this generation
are, as a rule, big-boned, broad-chested,
and tough. With the exception of pro-
fessional oarsmen and boxers, leading
physician OF this city remarks he never
sees SO fine g collection Of manly figures
as when he looks over an assembly Of
eminent men. Take, for example, Henry
Ward Beecher, Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Horace Greeley, Alexander T. Stewart,
William Cullen Bryant, and a score more
whom we could mention; they are all
men Of Astounding physical vitality. The
most eminent women of the age are as
able in body as they are in mind. Fannie
Fern, VINO has deligted the public these
many years, walks her ten miles every
day, and enjoys it. Anna Dickinson looks
as though a big washing would only
tickle her muscles Grace Greenwood is
q noble, forceful woman, not afraid of the
most mettlesome horse that ever strained
a snaffle- bit Susan Anthony can out
work almost any man that is willing to
contest for the palm in endurance. Mary
Clemmer Ames is magnificent pattern
of Junonian womanhood. None of these
characters acquired Ell; her their physical
or mental-vigor by tight-lacing, pinching
their feet, eating chalk and slate pencils,
mincing over late suppers, lowering
around hot cast-iron stove, dawdling
over novels and coral patterns. They do
not heat their brains by wrapping their
back hair around five pounds of iute. By
no means. They understand the laws of
health and obey them.
1t is a happy thing for us American
women that our modes are to come. not
from France, but Germany. Large waists
are fashionable; high and narl ow-heeled
shoes are not in vogue. The exercise of
reason is permitted in affairs Of dress. and
no doubt the average health of our wo-
men will therefore strike a higher figure
than it has for q generation, since now it
is the fashion to be healthy. We are
aware that this announcement will thrill
young ladies like an electric shock. Lam
guild eyes will brighten and fragile figures
grow erect with the question, chow can
| plant roses on my cheek, add vigor to
my step, elasticity to my movements, and
pump red blood into my veins ?''
The answer to this question is not DIFF
ficult Due attention to five particulars
will enable any one who IS not diseased
to lay up flnd of health. These partic-
ulars are sleep, clothing, exercise, food,
mental activity.
Sleep should be from eight to nine
hours, in well-ventilated room. on a
clean, comfortable bed, and should begin
not later than 9 o'clock at night. The
closing meal OF the day should be digesti-
BILE and not very hearty, and the mental
exercise previous to sleep should not be
exhausting. Clothing should be ample
and suited to the weather. William
Prescott, the historian, added so many
ounces of wooden to his clothing for every
degree that the mercury in the thermome-
ter fell. He was so nice about it that he
had every garment weighed, and could
tell at any time just how many pounds of
clothing he had on. Physicians wear
heavier flannel and more of it than any
other class in the community.
Food should be nutritious, digestible,
and abundant. Large workers, either
with muscles or brains, are large feeders.
If man works with his body he must eat
food that supplies waste of tissue. The
brain worker must eat such as repairs the
nervous wastes.
Exercise is no less important than the
other particulars. Of all mode of exer-
else walking is most commended by mas
tiers of physical training. 1t is better than
rowing or fistcuffs Young men no not
need their arms and shoulders braided
over with muscles as tough as whip-cord !;
this will not give them endurance. He
WILDE the victor in the contest who can
walk 1S or 20 miles any day with but
slight fatigue. Hardihood settles many