The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-12-20


peptics Benefit.
There are not many men in Congress who
appear more rugged and vigorous than Mr..
McMillin, Of Tennessee. And he is fully as
hardy as he looks, as all who know his capac-
ity for work In the House and on the stump
are well aware. And yet Mr.. McMillin when
boy was sickly and consumptive. Up to the
time ne was 90 years of age so wretched was
his health that his family and friends had no
expectation that he would live to reach mans
full estate.
But one day when his health was at it's low
est ebb young McMillin made up his mind
that he would not only live but would make
himself well and vigorous if it was within
human power to do it. He started in on this
big undertaking, and the success he met is
plain to every one who looks at him now.
The story of how he made himself physically
is an interesting one. Mr. McMillin told it the
other day for the benefit and encouragement of
ayoung man who was complaining of dyspepsia
and general debility. 1t is well worth repeating
as an instance of what pluck, perseverance,
and intelligence can do in the way of physical
development.
After the House adjourned the other day
Mr.. McMillin stood with group of news
paper men in the open space in front of the
Speakers desk. Something brought up the
subject Of eating, and the Tennesseean said he
never paid any attention to what or when he
ate.
yesterday for instance" he continued, s,I
took breakfast at 8 in the morning. My next
meal, dinner, took at 10 last nightn
ua ctad hot boo I.
self down by this sort sort Of treatment of his
stomach, but he declared he wasn't afraid Of
that. He had schooled himself to endure
this sort of thing by years of discipline
He knew no man who was more hardy than
himself or who had better stomach.
Sand yet, used to be miserable dyspeptic
but thoroughly cured myself"
This Immediately interested one of tae
group, who was at that moment suffering all
the agonies of acute indigestion. He had just
eaten half dozen fried oysters and said he
could count them individually at that mo-
ment in his stomach. He asked Mr.. Nc
Milln what sort of medicine he had taken to
cure dyspepsia.
The Tennessean answered:
"No medicine but diet and exercise / have
taken no medicine since was 10 years old.
AT that time was such an invalid that no one
expected me to live. I had always suffered
more or less with dyspepsia, and within
period Of thirteen months had had two attacks
of pneumonia and the measles. I was a COM
plete wreck. To-day, as you see, / am a
strong, vigorous man in perfect health 1 can
stand any thing in the way of work or hard
ship. ] never tire. | could stand here from
now until midnight without getting tired.
Then l could go to bed feeling pretty COM
Portable and sleep perfectly; and yet as say,
at 19 was considered almost hopeless in
valid. 1t is no exageration for me to say that
all am physically made myself"
The little group had by this time become
thoroughly interested, especially the man
with the dyspepsia, who was very anxious to
get Mr.. McMilin's experience in dealing with
that terrible foe OF good temper and good
health. So Mr.. McMillin went more into par
ticulars as to the methods by which he made
himself physically.
"As have said," he continued, sat 10 l
was used up with a wreck of a stomach and
weak lungs. | made up n. mind something
had to be done. told the doctor il he could
only get me out where l could see the sun
rise and set once more would undertake to
do the rest myself. He said he thought he
could do that much for me, and he did. For
long time was SO weak that l was barely
able to drag myself about. But 1 kept
out doors much as possible and
took little more exercise every day.
AS grew stronger made 1t point to walk
two hours every morning, no matter what the
weather was When it was raining in torrents
would put on pair Of high boots, take an
old umbrella and start out for my walk.
When got home / stripped off everything /
had on, took cold bath, rubbed myself with
rough towel, until my skin was as red as
lobster and then put on dry clothes through
out. Meanwhile, dieted myself carefully,
eating anything found would agree with me.
81 had to change my diet constantly be-
cause food that agreed with me for while
my stomach afterward rejected Then l
would try something else. All this time after
had had my daily exercise, did the hardest
kind OF studying, often reading seven and
eight hours day. About all that l know of
literature learned during this time In the
morning before breakfast l made it point to
read and commit TO memory piece of poetry
in order to get myself in pleasant frame Of
mind. For seven years | rigidly adhered to
this regimen of diet and exercise. | never
took any holidays, neither Fourth of July nor
Christmas. | was determined and persistent
and l not only saved my life but made myself
as vigorous and hardy aud capable of doing
as much work as any man, think.n