Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-15
melt the fat through the pores. Beyond
this there were all sorts Of

melt the fat through the pores. Beyond
this there were all sorts OF
USELESS EXERCISE.
Dumbbells and Indian clubs, lifting
heavy weights and shaking unwieldy bars,
were a small part of the training which a
man in training had to undergo. Dieting
was another feature. The candidate was
not allowed to smoke or drink, and was
restricted to bill of fare from which sugar,
fats, starch, many meats, all pastry, confec-
tions and sweetmeats were vigorously ex-
cluded The result of this treatment was dis
astrous in any number of cases. Itweakened
theman al his strongest points and threw need
less strains upon other parts of his body
There is no doubt that the famous sculler
Brown came to an untimely end from the
unnecessary strain upon his heart produced
BY this method of training. 1t had one
humorous phase, however, in producing
boils all over the body of the rover and es-
pecially where he came in contact with the
seat On one occasion three of the famous
Columbia College crew of1S75 were troubled
in this way and for two weeks were unable
to sit down, and in fact to hardly move.
The same trouble occurred to great crews of
Harvard and Yale in this country, and to
Oxford and Cambridge in England. This
style, l am glad TO say, is now out of vogue
not only in aquatics but in every form of
athletic exercise. People know more about
the laws of health and strength and apply
their knowledge in very sensible and sat-
isfactory manner.
The present stvle of training is simplici ty
itself. Its first principle is the avoidance
of any shock to the body. The smoker is
not compelled to give up tobacco, and so
suffer indescribable nervous pain, but
merely to moderate and limit his use OF the
weed. The drinker is treated similarly and
is allowed his bottle of Bass, his claret or
Rhein wine with his meals. The regular
course of nature is followed as far as poSsi-
bic. The athlete must 90 10 bed and get up
early. He must take long walks and runs,
eat we'll and eat everything he desires that
is not intrinsically unwholesome. He must
bathe so as to keep the skin clean and allow
the pores and glands to do their best work.
In his exercise he must pay particular at
tention to the organs upon which his sue
cess depends. These are not so much the
great muscles as is commonly believed, but
the lungs and heart. When these are in
bad form the oarsman, minute after he has
started, is in distress The lungs are NOV
ing faster and the heart is
ovERPowERED WITH BLOOD.
The result is that the brain becomes sur
charged and the man sees indistinctly, the
breathing becomes hot, fast irregular and
then painful and, finally, the muscles re-
fuse to do their proper work. To put these
organs into proper shape all that is neces-
sary is to use those forms of exercise which
call them most into use. Running, playing
football, jumping the skipping rope, row.
ing, swimming, sparring, fencing and the
like are invaluable in this. respect. As to
weight there is no need for heroic
measures. The Schweninger system of
drinking as little as possible and the Bant-
ing of conining ones self to diet of lean
meat and acid or sub-acid vegetables, exer-
else, warm bathing and regular hours are
the chief means upon which the modern
trainer relies. But above all he endeavors
to avoid weakening the system by too much
or too intense training. 1t is far better for
a man to be too "beefy" than to be over
trained. l may, say in this connection that
there is curious fact which has long been
known to all oarsmen but is almost un-
known to the general public. This is that
when mans waist ho1lows in, his staving
powers are nearly always poor, but when
mis- waist curves out ne is all right. ANY
training which changes fellows condition
from the latter to the former is therefore
very Objectionable.
This is the reason why oarsmen are so
much healthier than they used to be. They
are also better appreciated in every respect.
On the stage George Hosmer has been a
drawing star for two seasons now, and prom
ises to remain SO as long as he stays upon
4hA -I- Al
earn large money in coaching college crews
and ambitious managers. Then here and
there in summer resorts BY lake, river or
arm OF the sea, are energetic hotel keepers
who employ professional oarsmen to give re-
gattas and exhibition rowing, or to take
care of the boats and guests of the hotel
This latter practice is far more common in
the West than in the East. The salaries
paid in all cases are very handsome. and
the sculler is put on par with the musi-
clans, actors and other entertainers who
every summer visit our watering places.
CHARMING ACCOMPLISHMENT.
There is no reason why he should not be.
Rowing is charming accomplishment on
the one hand and a necessity on the other.
Every child should be taught how to handle
the oars and manage boat There is no
knowing when that knowledge will be of the
greatest value. Besides this, it is of the
highest benefit to the health. Judge Joseph
+. Barnard, of the New York Supreme
Court, has been upon that bench for more
than 20 years, and has probably lost less
time during that period from sickness than
any other Justice in the State The secret
of his health lies in the fact that for at least
80 years he has used "single" every dav
when he has had the opportunity. His
boat, as he makes it spin on the Hudson,
near his home at Poughkeepsie, is probably
the most familiar object upon those waters.
Americans do not appreciate the high per-
fection to which Craftsmanship has been
brought in this country. No other nation
can show such roll as Hanlan, O'Connor,
Lee, Ross, Courtney, Gaudaur, Hamm,
Pllkington, Hosmer and Plaisted. They
have gone to every land to meet rivals, and
have conquered so times where they have
lost once. On the other hand, how MANY
foreign oarsmen have ever come to the
United States? Just as we have excelled
in almost every other field to which we
have given our attention so we have IN
aquatics. Our yachts are the swiftest and
the safest, and our oarsmen the finest and
the best. JOHN TFEMFR