The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-08-29
FAT MANS
Jed Spalding Tells a Detroit Newspaper
Man How He Reduced His Weight
Over Fifty Pounds--He Ad-

49, o@0
vises Grover Cleveland to
Eat One Meal a Day.
Some time ago the Times published
an interS lew with Jedediah Spalding,
in which that gentleman stated that
he had reduced his weight so pounds
by restricting himself to one meal q
day. Joseph E. Grensel, the we'll
known newspaper correspondent, OF
Detroit, read the interview wrote Mr..
Spalding a long letter, submitting
eleven questions which he vas re,
quested to answer for the benefit OF
President Cleveland and other fat men
of the country. Mr.. Greusel stated
that he wished to obtain answer to
the questions for publication in an
Eastern magazine.
For the benefit of all the fat men the
Times publishes Mr.. Spalding's let
ter to the Detroit newspaper CORES
pendent:
Joseph E.. GreuseI, Esq, go Fort
street, Uest, Detroit, Michigan.
III DEAh OlhS74 was uOu Ou4y
amused but surprised on receipt of
your favor to think that a brief inter
view with a reporter Of the Port Huron
Times in a ocular manner which he
published should cause a stranger and
prominent citizen of Detroit to take
the interest manifested in your letter
in my personal affairs. However, I
cheerfully comply with your request,
briefly as possible:
First question: what isyou theory
of the accumulation of fesh9"
Any experience (not theory is
that a sprinkling of clear conscience
and as little manual labor and exercise
as possible and the gratifying of ones
appetite for the good things Divine
Providence has provided so abundantly
for us will cause obesity to those who
are blest with a happy combination of
temperaments."
Second question: "How much did
you weigh at birth, twenty, thirty
years, etc9"
A.-"Although I was present at the
time 1 neglected to record my weight
at Birth, but at twenty to thirty my
weight was from 40 to 165 pounds.
During those years I was engaged in
the manufacturing of lumber, taken
from the stump and delivered and in
spected on the rail of vessels. Com
mencing to work at my trade, that of
a mason builder, working ten hours
instead of sixteen out of twenty-four,
I gradually increased in avoirdupois,
until 1876 when 1 weighed 275 pounds,
and did not vary but a tride either
way until about a year ago, when 1
found myself tipping the beam at 29O
pounds. Owing to strong competition
I dropped the contracting and build
ing business in 1881; since then I have
confined myself exclusively to the
manufacturing of lime and dealing in
masons' building material, until about
a year ago, when for the same cause
I dropped that industry, and like the
national bankers 1 am now living on
the interest of what l owe. Un
doubtedly that may have some effect
on avoirdupois."
Third question: "Give a brief &C
count of the way in which you hit
upon your system of treatments"
A.-"fnding it very inconvenient to
tie up my shoes or to get on or off my
boots, etc., I took charge of the mason
work and cut stone work for a fine
residence for parties in this city, not
w~ithstanding I was for the first time
in my life suffering with rheumatism.
I have not lost a day at the work and
for the past three weeks have been
using tools, and find myself now almost
entirely over my lameness and good
for the going wages"
Fourth question: "How much have
you reduced yourself in a given timer"
A.-"On the first of February last l
weighed 281; I now tip the beam at
251; commenced to lose flesh about six
weeks ago, losing thirty pounds since
that time"
Fifth question. How do you live
and how pass time the time9"
Ann up at 6 a. m. and do the
necessary morning chores, take care
of our driving horse; am at the build
ing during the day actively employed,
except at noon hour, when I take my
usual nap on the soft side of a clean
plank; like Ben Butler am a good
sleeper; believe I could sleep on a
battle field, after the battle had
been fought some time; take my
one meal at $50 p. M; read the
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