The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-05-04
HOW TO LIVE LONG AND WELL.
A Letter from MIR. Brynnt-He Describes
his Mode of Life.
Ir,o,,, fbs IyeroI5 of JyooIt
NEW YORK, March 80, IS

NEW York, March 80, 1871.
TO Joseph H. Richards, ESq.-Dear Sir
promised some time since to give you
some account of my habits of life, so far
at least as regards diet, exercise, and oc-
cupation. 1 am not sure that it will be
of any use to you, although the system
which I have for many years observed
seems to answer my purpose very well
have reached a pretty advanced period
of life, without the usual infirmities of
old age, and with my strength, activity,
and bodily faculties generally in pretty
good preservation. How far this may
be the effect of my way of life, adopted
long ago, and steadily adhered to, is per-
haps uncertain.
l rise early; at this time of the year
about $50; in summer, half an hour,
or even an hour earlier. Immediately
with very little incumbrance of cloth
ing, begin series of exercises, for 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. covered with
flannel; with pole, a horizontal bar
and light chair swung around my
head. After full hour, and sometimes
more passed in this manner, 1 bathe
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 requires brisk ex-
ercise. After my bath, if breakfast be
not ready, sit down to my studies un-
til am called.
My breakfast is simple one-hominy
and milk, or in place of hominy, brown
bread, or oatmeal, 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. Sometimes take cup of choco-
late, which has no narcotic effect, and
agrees with me very we'll. At breakfast
l often take fruit, either in its natural
state or freshly stewed.
After breakfast l occupy myself for
while with my studies, and then, when
in town, walk down to the office of the
Fleming 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
am engaged in my literary tasks till a
full feeling of WEAKNESS drives me out
into the open air, and l 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 back to
my books. l do not often drive out,
prefering to walk.
In tho nountru I dina aar1x, o,,J 90
only at that meal that take either meat
or fish, and of these but a moderate
quantity, making my dinner mostly of
vegetables. At the meal which is called
tea, take only a little bread and but
ter, with fruit if it be on the table. In
town, where dine later, / make but
two meals day. Fruit makes a con-
siderable part of my diet, and 1 eat it
at almost any hour of the day without
inconvenience. My drink is water, yet
sometimes, though rarely, take glass
of wine. am natural temperance man,
finding myself rather confused than ex-
hilarated by wine. 1 never meddle with
tobacco, except to quarrel with its use.
That may rise early, /, of course, go
to bed early; in town as early as ten
in the country, somewhat earlier. For
many years have avoided in the even
ing every kind of literary occupation
which tasks the faculties, such as COM
position, even to the writing of letters,
for the reason that it excites the nerv-
Gus system and prevents sound sleep.
My brother told me not long since
that he had seen in Chicago newspa-
per, and in several other Western Jour
mails, a paragraph in which it was said
that l am in the habit of taking quinine
as stimulant; that I have depended
upon the excitement it produces in
writing my verses; and that in conse-
quence of using it in that way, had be-
come as deaf as post. AS to my deaf
ness, you know that to be false, and the
rest of the story is equally so. abomi-
nate all drugs and narcotics, and have
always carefully avoided everything
which spurs nature to the exertions
which it would not otherwise make
Even with my food do not take the
usual condiments, such as pepper and
the like. 1 am, truly yours,