The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-04-01
BLAINE ~ \ GYMNASIUM.
The Daily Exercise at the Secretary Of
state.


A coupe drawn by couple of ha'
horses drove up 10 The Vernon ROg
building. on Pennsylvania avenue, at
o'clock one afternoon last week. and
well built man with gray hair and hear'
and n marble pallor of face opened The
door and alightcd The individual wa
none other than the Secretary at State
tie entered the building. and tOuchin-
an electric bell assembled % the thir.
floor in am elevator On This
floor gymnasium, of which Mr.
Blaine is an attendant. Is situated
and he had come 20 take his CUSTOMARY
afternoons exercise A small man
with a decidedly TeutOnic cast of fea
lures and a Fatherland accent, opened
the door and admitted him. Ina "a small
dIe-sing-r constructed OF curtains
Mr.. Blaine removed Il part of his super.
huous clothing lie hung his silk hat
and oyercoat on hat rack. and also
took of his coat and vest lie was then
ready for exercise
The room In which he found himself
on emerging from the curtains is wei
lighted and ventilated, and presents a
very good view of the avenue looking
from Tenth street 10 the Treasury De
partment The manner In which the
ON is furnished reminds one of gym
nasium i'm medical students private
apartments The floor is carpeted I'm the
centre, and the room contains two tables
covered with books tablets, pencils. ETC.,
and several upholstered chairs From
overhead a trapese and r0pe-adier de-.
pend, and about the chamber axe chest
eXpanders, pulley-Weights. Indian clubs.
dumb bells, and the other accOUtrements
OF regular gysanasium.
Mr.. Blaine's exercise usually lasts for
an hour. During the preceding week the
demands of Oilice-seekers, however, were
so great that he had TO shorten the time
10 half an hour and one OF two days he
did not come al ALL 10 is his intention,
however, 10 spend an hour there every
day Immediately after the State depart
meut closes lie takes the same course
a. the other patrons OF the place, and the
professor In charge puts him through
the different exercises. lie first told him
Saturday afternoon 20 stand with head
erect and feet together The prOfes.
sOr then rubbed his hands over
Mr. Blaine's stomach, kneading the
muscles and nerves of that
portion Of the body thoroughly, so as 10
increase the circulation OF the blood
Walking dozen steps Mr. Blaine AS
sumed a semi-recumbent position ON
seiiee. With "a firm grasp OF Mr. Blaines
right leg the Professor worked il slowly
In a circle for few minutes, and also to-
wards the Secretary OF states body
This gives an exercise something like
only IL brings more muscles
into activity The motion was repeated
with the left leg. Then both legs and
both arms we're also kneaded
After this Mr. Blaine was asked 10
asiride kind of stationary hobby horse
and put bis feet in the two leather
straps. His body, entirely passive. was
then worked around in a circle, first one
way and then another. 10 exercise the
muscles Of the waist. \ few feet dis
-ant Is an upright post with little strips
Of wool crossing il 40 right angles.
Irasping one Of these and reclining his
body forward atan angle OF about forty
i've degrees the Secretary OF State al
owed himself TO be beaten all over the
back This strengthened his nervous
system and promoted his digestion
One of the most peculiar machines ia
he room is that known as the vibrator
This was USED in giving Mr.. Blaine his
asst exercise of the day The instrument
consists of a leather belt operated by
mechanical apparatus put in motion BY d
rank. The belt is first put around the
high. The friction produced creates a
sensation something like that from an
electric shock After the thigh, the
orelegs are put through similar opera
ion then thu sides of the chest, then
he back, the latter operation reminding
me OF the currylng Of horse, the belt
passing up and down the back When
'lr Blaine concluded this course he felt
lis blood leaping through his veins with
greatly increased activity. lie then put
N his coat and vest and taking his over
Oat and beaver from the rack. again de-
cended the elevator feeling so much i'm
'royed that he joked with the elevator
10y Washington Post