New-York tribune., 1871-04-22
MIR. BRYANTS DAILY LIFE.
A LETTER FROM THE POET.
NEW-YORK March 30. ID

NEw-YORE, March 90, 1871.
To JOSEPH II. RICHARDS, esq.
DEAR SIR: promised some time since TO give
you some Of my habits OF fe 80 far nj as as
regards diet, exercise, and occupation. am not sure
that IL will be OF any use to you although the system
which have for many years observed seems 10 answer
my purpose very well. / have reached pretty ad
vanced period of lfe without the usual infirmtes OF
old age and with my strength activity and bodily fac
ultes 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 perhaps uncertain.
az rise early-at this time Of year, about %; In sum
mer half an hour hour, earlier Immedatey'
with very little incumbrance OF clothing begin series
Of exercises for the most part designed to expand the
chest and at the time call into action al INC
muscles and articulatons Of the body These are per
formed with dumb-bels-the very lghtest-covered win
flannel with pole, horizontal bar, and light chalr
swung around my head. After full hour, ana some
times more passed in this manner bathe from head 70
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 "orR
which requires brisk exercise After my bath, II break
fast be not ready, sit down to my studies until am
called 's,g ~.
"My breakfast is simple one-homny and MILK or
in place OF homny brown bread, meal or wheaton
erits and in the season, baked sweet apples. BUCK
wheat cakes do not Decline nor any other article OF
veoetabe food but animal food never take at break
fast Tea and coffee never touch at any time. some
times take up cup chocolate, which has no narcotic
effect and agrees with very well. At breakfast
often eat fruit either In its natural state or freshly
stewed.
"After breakfast occupy myself with my studies or
a while and then, when In town. walk down 10 lhe
Office Of The Erenng Post, nearly three miles Distant
and after about three hours, return. always walking
Whoteyer he the weather the state or the sreets III
the country an engaged In my literary TASKS @ va
feeling OF wearness drives me out In the open ar anu
20 upon my farm or into the garden ana pIuIe ,e
Or perform other work about them when they heea
and then go back TO my books do not often drive out
preferrng 10 walk, ..,..o,
an the country dine early, and It is only at that meal
rate quantity making my dinner mostly OF YegetaDIes:
AT the meal which called tea. take only hte bread
and butter with fruit it De on on tme ea ..oie dav Frut
makes considerable part or my Diet ana eat IL at AZ a,
most any hour Of the day without Inconvenience. MY
drink is water yet sometimes, though raaT! 'aSins dt
myself rather confused than exhiarated Dy VINE
meddle with tobacco, except to quarrel WIN is
"That may rise early l. OF course, to bed early
n town. as early 10; In the country somewhat earlier
For many years 1 have avoided III the evening every
kind of literary occupation which tasks tne Iaculte-
such as composition to the writing or letters for
the that it excites the nervous SYSTEM ana pre-
vents sound sleep. =, -
I'm Chicago newspaper and several other western Jour
nas paragraph IN which IL was said tnat an III the
habit OF taking Quinne a stimuant that nave de-
pended upon the excitement produces IN Wrllng my
verses that In consequence OF using II III that way
had become deaf post. As to my deafness you
know that to he false and the rest OF the story is equally
So abomnate all drugs and narcotics. and have always
carefully avoided everything which spurs nature TO eNer-
tions which it would not otherwise make. Even win
pepper "'' Nv G. BRYANT"