The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-05-01
MAKING OF THE PERFECT MAN.
TcONTlNuEn FROM FIRST PAGE.1


also furnished with what is termed his con-
ditioa. This is technical term to repre-
sent feature of the Sargent system which
is very interesting. 1t has has been already
shown that measurements are taken OF botn
the size and the poloer of the muscles. IL
has been noticed that when in the case OF
healthy persons the measurements OF lhe
size of the various muscles are auueu
the sum expressed in centlmeters Is eX,
pressed by numerals very nearly Identical
with the numerals which express tne sum OF
the measurements of the poloef OF the mus
cles expressed in Kilograms The difference
between the two, i. e., between the size OF
the muscles and their power, between the
potential strength and the actual strength, is
termed the condition. Ii the strength is not
equal to the development the condition is
called minus; if the strength is greater than
the development, 1t is termed plus. The
best condition is slightly plus. Too much
plus shows that the strength is more than
the muscles can really afford, and that the
man is working ION nerve" as the expression
is too much minus shows that the muscles
are not healthy and are not furnishing the
power that they should.
So the student labors not only to straighten
his line on the chart, but also TO give himself
the slightly plus condition which is the
healthy condition. Prof. Whittier gives an
example Illustrative of the effects OF train
ing on the condition One student when
first measured had total strength OF 1909
Kilograms, anu LOldt VI aopo
eentimeters, giving a minus condition OF
1916. After five and half months OF train
ing his total strength had come up to 1857
Kilograms; and his development to 1868
centimeters, giving healthy plus condition
of "a.
1t is the work of the instructor to give to
each student the instructions necessary to
suit his particular case. These instructions
pertain not only to general exercise, but to
diet, sleep, air, bathing and clothing. Inc
npfr iS olc a nhUciainn
scribes for each individual case with the
care that would be used by the doctor whose
work is to make people well instead Of to
keep them well.
OF course a system is measured by its
results. That the results are good in both
Colby and Bowdoin there can be no doubt.
This is the testimony of both Instructors
Adams and Whittier. At Colby exercise in
accordance with the instructors directions
is compulsory in the winter term and part OF
tie spring term in Bowdoin in the fall and
wi lter terms. Instructor Whittier says that
every man in the Bowd0in Frenchman class
of over forty has shown improvement under
the instruction. One man has brought the
gilth of his chest up three inches; increased
the
CAPACITY OF HIS LUNGS
fifteen cubic inches and the strength of his
lungs from 1.3 to 10 Kilograms.
Professor Sargent who devised the sys-
tenn of charting each student, has standing
offer of $500 to the American student who
brings himself up to the normal straight line
which on the chart represents the typical
man; and prize of $500 to the student who
approaches the straight line so that all his
measurements shall be within five degrees of
it on the chart. Bowdoin has the man who
so far stands ahead in the contest for the
$500. Mr.. H. c. Jackson, of the Junior
Glass, of Wscassett, is only few points out
side OF the five degrees, and is as may be
imagined, fine specimen physically Of the
college boy.
Bowdoin also has the man who has made
the greatest leg lift ever made in college.
His record is $50 Kilograms or 1873 pounds.
The measurements made at Colby and
Bowdoin show this interesting fact: The
students are above the average of the college
boys of the country in the girth of their
chests and waists. This is very likely be-
cause the greater part of them are farmers
sons, and used to hard work and plenty of
| fresh air.
Although Bowdoin and Colby are the only
colleges ia Maine using the Sargent system
| of physical culture, the system is also used
largely in the Portland Turnyerein. which is
ably and carefully conducted by Professor
DOldt