Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-07-24


If the prize fighters set the world q bad ex-
ample in the way OF brutal and i'm moral prac-
tice, they furnish a striking illustration OF the
sanitary effects of systematic physical training
by which many persons might profit. Generally
men Of no education and OF low instincts, they
yet seem to thoroughly understand the course
of training necessary to get them in proper
condition, and TO have an intuitivs knowledge
Of hygiene. Collyer, the pugilist, who is now
in training for battle with Edwards, and who
possesses more than the average intelligence OF
men of his class, recently gave a reporter an
interesting account Of the daily exercises he
takes to get himself into good physical condi
ton. In regard to his diet Collyer said that
the old notion that pugilists must eat raw meat
has been exploded, and that to be bene-
fetal al food must be properly cooked.
he rises every morning about halfpast three
O'Clock and takes q light shower bath of strong
brine, and is then rubbed dry with Turkish
towels, finishing up with good rubbing with a
horse brush, until his skin glows like q cherry.
He then dOns his fsnnels, and after drinking a
glass of sherry with an egg in it he starts out on
a ramble of four FIVE miles over the hills, re-
turning about seven O'Clock. He then eats his
breakfast, which usually consists of q mutton
chop, a couple OF soft boiled eggs, bread day
old, cup OF tea, no sugar or salt; in fact, he
uses 10 seasoning in any of his food. After
breakfast he takes q light pair OF dumb bells and
saunters out for his regular constitutional or
daily walk, which usually consists of about fif-
teen miles. He comes In on a dead run on the
last few miles, and sweat runs from every pore.
He then enters q closed room and is Invested of
every portion of his wardrobe, and his trainers
rub him "a dry as q bone with Turkish
towels. When dry q couple Of bucketfuls of
brine are dashed over him to close his pores
and tone his skin and he IL then again dried. As
soon ss be puts on dry clothes he takes little
exercise with the dumb bells to bring out gen.
tie glow, after which he stretches; on a ham
mock swung under the trees and reads the pa
pers until dinner l. announced. His d nuer is of
roast beef, little fish once in a wilhelm fact,
whatever his appetite Graves that reason tells
him IL nOtinjurious to the system.
Soon after dinner he goes to the gymnasium,
where he practices with the dumb bells spars
with his trainer, and swings Indian clubs until
four O'Clock, when he takes a two-hours' tramp
over the hills. After supper he takes more
gymnastic exercise, after which he battles his
feet in brine, and retires promptly at nine. On
being asked if he thought a severe course of
training cid not iDjure a persons stamina,
Collyer replied:-"I don't think it does; in
fact, i think that il business man would put
himself through a moderate course Of training
every summer it would add ten years to his life
and immeasursbly to his comfort. The trouble
with pugilists and other sportsmen Is that while
they are training they of necessity deprive
themselves or every indulgence until they get
their systems thoroughly purified, and then
when the event for which they have prepared
is over they think, Nov I'm a free man, AMI
III Go as please and they rush into drinking
and debaucheTy, and the resctiOn is too much
for their constitution, and the inevitable result
is loss OF stamina L think that man who
trains and then allows himself to drift back to
his natural course Of life by degrees, is never
injured, and always bettered, by the process"