The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-11-20
DEVELOPING THE MUSCLES.
Habits of Noted Athletes and Pugilist

method of developing ones muscles for
athletic games, the New York San re-
plies as follows:
This is a difficult question to answer.
Athletic games cover 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, sound, brave heart,
and strong lungs, with free action of the
breathing powers. A clear intellect and
quick wit are also necessary adjuncts for
a 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 a 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
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 1896,
when Is 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 10 miles in 19 hours, in
the open air through the rain and mud,
wearing his OYercOat. In one of the
hottest days of July, 1903, he walked
from Charing Cross to Newmarket, Ga
miles, in 10 hours. In May, 1907, he
walked 7S miles in IA hours, over the
hilIy roads of Aberdeenshire. In the
fall of 1903 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
]
| the accomplishment of a great pedes-
! trian match his regular exercise was
| about "a miles day. He rose at a.
m, ran half mile at the top of his
/ speed up hill, and then walked six miles
/ at a 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 a moderate
pace At u 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 halt
p mile at top speed; then walking six
miles at a moderate pace. After 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-haf ounce OF
coriander seed, one ounce root
liquorlce, and one-half an ounce OF
rock candy, mixed with a quart of cider
boiled down to a pint. He was then
put to bed in his fiannels, 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 a roast fowl.
This was confined once a week for three
weeks, the last sweat being taken a few
days before the performance. Veal,
lamb, vegetables, and fish were exclud-
l. u
yelk, taken raw in the morning. Ardent
spirits and milk were prohibited, and
water was never given alone. Very
little drinking was INDUCED in.
Training for pugilism was nearly the
same as for pedestrianism. Its beneficial
effects were demonstrated on Crib, the
champion of England, preparatory tC
his battle with Molineaux, 1911. The
champion had grown cOrpulent, full Of
humors, and respired with difficulty. A
long walk distressed him. ByfOllowins
this training process eleven weeks, anC
shooting in the highlands a week or 81
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 hi!
antagonist after hard battle.
The late Hon. John Morrissey's treat
ment for getting himself in prime con
dition was by beginning with blacl
draught, and taking eight hours regular
sleep at night. In the morning he dranl
a glass of cider with raw egg in it. HI
would walk a mile before partaking o
, his breakfast, which consisted simply o
: lean beefsteak, stale bread, and a littl
; water. For dinner, lean roast beef, witt
: stale bread. A broiled mutton chol
! took the place of the steak occasionally
He used no stimulants, and eschewet
smoking and chewing. The only veg
I etable he ate was raw onion occasion
ally, and baked potatoes in the morning
after a sponge bath.
Q Any intelligent gymnast will inform
2 our correspondent how best to develO
4 the powers of his body in cOnfOrmit
: with his build and constitution. Their
is danger in training too fine, however
Many men have died suddenly while i
the pride of their strength. Chas. A
e Bennett, the star boxer, runner, an
! strong man of California, died youn
: man last year He lifted with his hand
S alone 967 pounds of pig iron, and had
5, record of turning 205 back sOmersauli
u from the floor inside Of So minutes
Il Mensen Ernest, a Norwegian runner
e who was employed in Europe as beal
: ct OI war ulS pdtCiieSs - ostll " nave u
: from Paris to Moscow, LOO miles,
y Is days, and TO have performed otht
II marvellous feats. He was found deaC
n leaning against palm tree, while on
Il long journey.
Il THERE has been decided evident
lately of the use of tobacco among Il
!, boys in one of the principal schools
piffgfie1d Mass and an inveSfiora
shows that 35 boys, out of 90 in Il
anhool hoA..-oor, tho oocoa nE IL ard 1