Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1879-11-08
DEVELOPING THE MUSCLES.
Habits of Noted Athletes and PueiIist


method of developing ones muscles for
athletic games, the New York Suaa re-
plies as follows:
This is difficult question to answer.
Athletic games cover a large field. To
excel in some requires great strength in
the arms; others call on the legs for en-
durance, while all demand corporeal
vigor and activity, a sound, brave heart,
and strong lungs, with free action of the
breathing powers. A clear intellect and
quick wit are also necessary adjuncts for
successful career in the athletic world.
The art of training consists in purifying
the body and strengthening its powers:
This was known to the Greeks and
Romans. Rules of regimen and exer-
else were always prescribed by them to
candidates for gymnastic celebrity.
The manner of training adopted by the
ancients bore slight resemblance to
ours, and some of their customs have
passed down to us through English pc
deStrians and boxers.
Perhaps one of the most effectual
methods of training was that adopted
by Capt. Barclay, so years ago. He
was an English gentleman of education,
with strong love for outdoor sports.
Some of his athletic feats (mostly pc
destrian) have never been excelled to
this day. His usual rate of travelling on
foot was six miles an hour. 1t was a
favorite amusement with the Captain to
walk from 20 to 80 miles before break
fast. His style of walking was to bend
forward the body and throw its weight
on the knees. His step was short and
raised only a few inches from the ground.
He always walked in thick-soled shoes
and lambs'-wool stockings. In 1876,
when 10 years of age, he won 100
guineas by walking, fair heel and toe,
six miles within an hour. At the age of
20, while training for an extraordinary
feat, he walked ITO miles in 10 hours, in
the open air through the rain and mud,
wearing his overcoat. In one of the
from Charing Cross to Newmarket, Ga
miles, in 10 hours. In May, 1907, he
walked IS miles in IA hours, over the
hilly roads of Aberdeenshire. In the
fall of 1908 he walked 1000 miles in
1000 honrs, in the rain a great part of
the time, on Newmarket Heath. Sur
geon Sandivor said that he could have
continued two weeks longer.
Capt. Barclay regularly exercised in
walking, rowing, bowling, cricket or
rackets, moderately at first, and grad
ually increasing as he proceeded in
training. When the object in view was
the accomplishment of a great pedes-
trian match his regular exercise was
about "a miles a day. He rose at 5 a.
m, ran half mile at the top of his
speed up hill, and then walked six miles
at moderate pace, before taking his
breakfast of lean beefsteak or mutton
chops, underdone, with stale bread and
a little pure old beer. After breakfast,
another walk of six miles at moderate
pace. At II he undressed and went to
bed for half an hour. On getting up he
walked four miles and returned by 4 to
dinner, which consisted of the same fare
as his breakfast. Shortly after dinner
he resumed his exercise by running half
a mile at top speed; then walking six
miles at moderate pace. After a rest
he retired at 8, and the next morning
proceeded in the same manner, keeping
it up for three or four weeks. Then the
pedestrian ran four miles in flannel to
produce profuse perspiration. On re-
turning he drank one pint of hot liquor
composed of one ounce of cara
way seed, one-half ounce of
iquorice, and one-half an ounce of
rock candy, mixed with quart of cider
boiled down to a pint. He was then
put to bed in his flannels, covered with
half dozen blankets, and left to per-
spire for half an hour. Then he was
rubbed perfectly dry, wrapped in an
overcoat, and sent out for a gentle two
mile walk before breakfast, which, on
such occasions, consisted of roast fowl.
This was confined once a week for three
weeks, the last sweat being taken few
days before the performance. Veal,
lamb, vegetables, and fish were exclud-
ed from his diet. Also eggs, except the
yelk, taken raw in the morning. Ardent
spirits and milk were prohibited, and
water was never given alone. Very
little drinking was indulged in.
Training for pugilism was nearly the
same as for pedestrianism. Its beneficial
effects were demonstrated on Crib, the
champion of England, preparatory to
his battle with Molineaux, 1911. The
champion had grown corpulent, full of
humors, and respired with difficulty. A
long walk distressed him. Byfollowing
this training process eleven weeks, and
shooting in the highlands week or so
before the fight, he reduced his weight
from 16 stone to Is, 5 pounds, his skin
became clear as satin, and he reached
the pitch of condition, vanquishing his
antagonist after hard battle.
The late Hon. John Morrissey's treat
ment for getting himself in prime con-
dition was by beginning with black
draught, and taking eight hours regular
Il glass of cider with raw egg in it. He
would walk a mile before partaking of
his breakfast, which consisted simply of
lean beefsteak, stale bread, and a little
water. For dinner, lean roast beef, with
stale bread. A broiled mutton chop
took the place of the steak occasionally.
He used no stimulants, and eschewed
smoking and chewing. The only veg
etable he ate was raw onion occasion
ally, and baked potatoes in the morning
after sponge bath.
Any intelligent gymnast will inform
our correspondent how best to develop
the powers of his body in conformity
with his build and constitution. There
is danger in training too fine, however.
Many men have died suddenly while in
the pride of their strength. Chas. A.
Bennett, the star boxer, runner, and
strong man of California, died young
man last year He lifted with his hands
alone 967 pounds of pig iron, and had a
record of turning 205 back somersaults
from the floor inside of SO minutes.
Mensen Ernest, a Norwegian runner,
who was employed in Europe as bear
er of war dispatches, is said to have run
from Paris to Moscow, LOO miles, in
l3 days, and to have performed other
marvellous feats. He was found dead,
leaning against a palm tree, while on a
long journey.
LITTLE Billy has been taken to see
his old uncle, who is so deaf that he