The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-13


Very few athletes engage in the exercise Of
running simply for recreation. They gener-
ally have an object in view, such as getting
into condition for certain event. If how
ever, n man leading a sedenJary life is trOu-
bled with headaches or dyspepsia, the sXer-
else he would be advised to indulge in would
be light all round gymnastic work or for the
summer months rowing. The reason these
exercises far excel others for such purpose
is that they can be taken in very mild form,
and at the same time call into play many
muscles.
A man, whether young or old, can get in
boat and pull over few miles breathing at the
same time plenty of fresh air, and on return
ing feel that complete change in his physi-
cal tone has taken place. lie may be fatigUed,
but still no one set of muscles will have been
worked sufficiently hard to cause down
right ache. The mere exercise of pulling an
car slowly will very seldom stiffen a man,
Racing, of course, is different and tough
two or three mile pull will cause a commo-
ton among the muscles used and the heart
and lungs which win not be soon forgotten
by one who is unaccustOmed to such things
Although my forte is all round athletics l
have done considerable boat pulling, and can
say that to squirt with an oar is exercise
as vigorous as ever attempted.
One will often hear the question, "Whers
did Hanlan get his power from, and how is it
that O'Connor is but medium sized man. and
Henry Searle who was the worlds champion
at the time of his death, was no biggerT
These three oarsEnen were and are looked
upon as the best the world ever produced.
Hanlan used to row at 155 pounds. OCon-
nors weight in condition is between 15S and
16O pounds, and Henry Searle, when he beat
OConnor last fall in England and won the
proud title Of champion of the world,
weighed about 1872 pounds. There are other
good oarsmen who are many pounds heavier
aud three or four inches taller than these
three men; they have a longer reach and
sweep, but for the past dozen years no big
man has reached the top.
When [ first met Hanan we engaged in
conversation concerning what was necessary
to keep in good condition at our respective
specialties, and what he told me struck me so
forcibly that have thought often of the wis
dom of his advice and how well one can
apply it to any kind of exercise. At that
time did not know quite so much about ex-
erciSe in general as l have since learned, and
on asking him what diet he lived on and how
he kept himself down in flesh, Hanlan said:
GAN these ideas about my dieting or reducing
flesh are wrong. Ny rowing ability has
come simply from continued use OF certain
muscles and put me on an exercise that would
bring in the use of muscles other than those
developed on the and | will be all at sea, even
though most people probably imagine that l
am in splendid condition and fearfully strong
all over"
Hanlan at this time was in fine rowing fet-
tie, and we were just about the same size and
weight. Now, however, he is about twenty
five pounds heavier, for he lately told me he
weighed 1S5 pounds in athletic costume. To
continue what he told me at our first meet
ing, l remember well his asking me to feel
certain parts of his arm developed by the ex-
ercise of pulling an oar, and he said: Il can
tell by feeling yours that there Is quite
difference in shape from mine. You have
showed dumb bells and done & good deal of