The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-04-20

GfttleS.
The Washington correspondent OF
the Herald of Health writes as follows
in the April number of that lively
magazine:
THE PRESIDENT.
Every body knows that he Is smo-
ker, and tremendous one, too. He
told me that while he was in the field
he smoked literally all the time, but
that in civil life, confined to the house
as he is many hours in the day, he
has been obliged to tducc the num-
Der of cigars he allows himself. Is
pecially in walking does he smoke.
He takes his solitary walks regularly
every day, and graduates the length
of the walk to the length of the cigar.
When John Quincy Adams was Sec
rotary of State and President, he set
an example of care for health, with
reference to bathing. Every morning
early, during the summer months, he
took his plunge into the Potomac. In
that form of hydrophatic zeal, the
present occupant of the White House
certainly does not initiate Mr.. Adams.
The Executive Mansion enables him
to take his additions in more private
and more agreeable manner than by q
swim in the great river.
But President Grant has another
habit which is very wholesome, both
for body and mind-he believes in the
sanitary value of an occasional jour
ney, a trip to the seaside, run across
the continent. And he is right. No
matter if partisan newspapers do rid
icule him for it, it is the proper thing
for him to do. 1t saves him from the
illusions which q constant stay in
Washington are sure to breed. Above
all, it gives to mind and body the re-
Taxation which both need from the
torturing strain of executive duties.
1t is hard to find fault, even in the
mildest fashion, with man like
MIR. COLLAR.
His sudden and alarming illness last
year led to a pretty wide discussion Of
his health habits. Some very ridieu-
lous and false things were published
on the subject.
Mr.. Colfax has always been very
healthy man. He believes i'll health.
He is jolly and an eloquent advocate
OF the sanitary value of constant
cheerfulness, of resistance to bother
and worry, of the avoidance of per-
sonal quarrels, of moderation in am
bition, of living at peace With God
and man. Moreover, he takes all the
exercise he can get in walking about
Washington he is very temperate in
eating and all his life he has alb
stained from Intoxicating drinks.
At great dinner party here a few
years ago, where were illustrious
American and foreign statesmen, he
declined to take vine. A noted Sen
ator, himself little heated, exclaimed
across the table half jestingly, "Col-
fax dares not drink "You are right
said Mr.. Colfax seriously, l dare not
drink" That simple answer, given
with gentle and earnest solemnity,
was itself an impressive temperance
lecture.
CHARLES SUMNER
is prodigy of physical endurance. 1
have it from his own lips that many
years, indeed for nearly hic whole
life, he has worked fourteen hours
day. He has never been y smoker.
He lives generously" and in very
temperate fashion, is n wine drinker.
In his younger days he was famous
pedestrian, striking off for his dozen
miles without the least difficulty. He
has given all that up. He literally
takes no exercise. Living so heartily,
working SO laboriously, shut up to his
pen and his books for so many hours,
it is astonishing that he keeps so well.
But he is man who will go suddenly
when he does go.
SENATOR SEIZURE
is another interesting figure in the
Senate. What are his health habits
A glance shows you a noble physical
endowment. He has muscular, ac-
tive, vital frame; all his movements
are quick and vigorous; and, with
proper care, he ought to have length
of days and great honor. AS to drink
ing and smoking, he is thorough
German-if we may still say that Ger
many has any monopoly of those gra-
ces. I mean, especially; that he has
a Germans faith in beer, and a Ger
mans ability to fash intellectual light
from the midst of dense clouds of to-
bacco smoke. His greatest peril lies
in excess of work. Such n brain as his
cannot lie idle; nay, it is a despotic
member, dominating the whole man,
and trampling on the gospel of rest
and sleep. Senator Schurz works very
late at night-even till one and two
o'clock. For exercise he has a fine
plan. He has taken q house about
two miles from the capital, and reso-
lutely walks the whole distance, both
going and coming.
Mr.. BOUTWELL,
is man of medium size, Of wiry
frame, self-possessed, and temperate
in all things. He takes good care of
himself, especially depending on bill
lizards for exercise. For that oame no