Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-23
Strength not Health.


VIEWS OF TRAINER on THE EVILS OF EXCESSIVE
EXERCISE
The popular examiner OF the physical condition
OF applicants for positions upon the police force
and f1re departments Mr.. A. ii. Brown who has
been engaged by the New York police department
To introduce the Boston system into New York.
gave Herald reporter some valuable hints
on the preservation Of health and the danger OF
over eXertiOn In taking a course Of gymnastics,
that are novel and timely. Mr.. Brown is the
medical director or the Young Mems Christian
Union OF Boston, and Is considered Al authority
on matters relating TO physical culture. Mr.. Brown
has made deep study OF the development OF the
human physique, and has had before him more
men Ior examination than perhaps any other eX-
pert In his line. He has a compete record OF all
the men that he has examined, and these records
furnish valuable data Tor The demonstration OF his
theory.
There is a very general mistake made by men
who think that they need exercise, and that Is the
oyer-deveIopment OF the muscles. That Is lust
what you do not want 10 achiese. The developed
muscle Is not so good as the normal muscle. Let
the muscles remain soft. Exercise not to abnor-
maly increase the muscle, but merely TO keep I'D
the health. When you nave succeeded Through
training and handling weights in making the mus
cles hard, corded, and klOLted you have Injured
yourseli. You have. in a measure, destroyed
the elasticity or the muscles. WHAT a man
requires is a symmetrical development, and that
may be secured, not through gymnaStic ex-
ercses, but through diet, gentle exercises and de-
Velop!ny the chest. The athlete Is not symmet-
rically developed man: he Is an example OF abnOr-
nal development. Look at the statue OF Apo 10
e.
stinened, muscle-bound limbs? No; you see a
model oil human symmetry, with muscles only dis
cern0le through their rounded contour. You do
not STE great cords in the legs or the should
erS- The figure mas not The athletes stOop. II
you observe an athlete you will perceive that the
layers OF muscles upon the shoulders cause stoop
That Is quite recognizable. Abnormal uey elopmeuJ
shrinhs the muscles. disJortlng the outlines, aud
the apparent Increase In size Is often produced
through the Absorption OF tile adipOoe covering.
IL AN more and more convinced every year OF
my lie that al a man needs in the way or exer-
else TO keep him in hraltn Is the use or calisthen-
les, two-pOund dunn bells and good, still walk.
Never exercise within an hour before or alter
meals, and not sooner than three hours after
heavy dinner. Exercise outside IL possible, After
exercise take a cold shower II the system will
stand IL, otherwise a tep.d sponge bath. In gen.
eraI tine system is benefited alter a cold shower,
II a reaction sets In wiIhin fiye ten minutes
after drying with course towel il, however,
the shower Is painful, and is followed by chilli
injurious TO you. One should on no account exer-
else IN his street garments The reasons are obvi-
GUS Let your muscles alone, and don't worry.
You won't be able 10 carry barrel or Hour turn
a '1p-nap,' but you Will be all the better for the
Inability, Tor you VIII probably be alive years after
the other fellow has gone 10 his reward. Men are
ike candles. You can't burn them at both ends
and expect 10 preserve them as long as with ra-
tiohal handling No one would accuse the lion,
tiger or Others OF the feline triOe with poor muscu-
lar development, and yet these beasts exercise no
more than the pursuit OF food necesstates. Nature
gives the longest life 10 the sedcntary animal.
The man who vegetables, only doing a moderate
amount OF exercise, preserving Calm and even
Temperament, enjoys the longest span.
"Sometmes, wnen i look at the splendidly de-
yeloped muscles OF an all-round athlete, can't
help plying hln for know that his race is apt to
be a short one. lie has overdone IL and nature
always resentS crowding. To return 10 the can
didateS Tor police AMI lire force; have most ire
quently 10 reject men whose method OF lie has
put an undue strain upon some parts OF the body.
III Is not the most promising looking candidate
that gets the highest rating. / examine for SYM
metry. man Is the greatest work OF God when
he Is symmetrical, not when he is merely muscu-
| lar. a man VINO possesses good form may cul-
tivate symmetry with the simple apparatus that
have Indicated, when he would disastrously Iall
II placed In possession or complete gymnasium,
| II he abused The US OF The annlianceSn