The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-08-03
CheckIey on Physical Culture.

Edwin Checkley, "the strong man, "
gives some hints on acquiring bodily
perfection that are interesting and i'm
portant. He writes a chapter in Lippin-
colts Magazine on muscle building.
To begin, he has no faith in systems
of physical culture that attempt to
build up the human frame by alternate
contraction and relaxation of the mus
cles. These muscular movements he
pronounces "straining methods" Mel
ther does he believe that Indians are
healthier, stronger or handsomer than
white people. On the contrary, he de-
clares emphatically that civilization
does not cause the race to deteriorate
physically.
His particular theory about health and
physical exercise is worth noting: "The
force called gravity, unless resisted,
tends to destroy life" The more we al
low ourselves to slump or lend over, the
more we give way to this Ii e destroying
force. The more we strive to hold the
chest up, the more we are able to resist
the deadening power by giving room to
the processes of digestion and respira-
ton. Constant mental effort to brace
up thus will help wonderfully. His
somewhat novel ideas are partly to be
found in the extract below:
am bold to lay all stress on this theory of
al
assisted by any means other than the will. In
my own experience and that Of my pupils it
conserv-s physical energy, and conduces to
health End long life The body needs chiefly
air and food to keep up its elements, as bone,
blood, muscle and sinew. These, firmly be-
lieve, can be preserved in healthy state only
by the cultivation of that subtle something
which we call reason or intelligence. Thought
pulls the string thar moves our mass of matter;
whether IL be the distinctive or the voluntary
functions of the brain, the result is the same.
The ancients held that death could be re-
tarded in two ways by develop ing vitality nd
by conserving physical energy. AS to the best
means to attain the first of these ends, many
discussions have been held and many theories
advanced. My advice TO those who wish TO
develop vitality is TO attain good circulation
of the blood by persuading the organs of diges-
ton, secretion and excretion to perform their
proper functions-Eot to shake up the body by
special exercise, but to resist the crushing eff
fects of gravity as much and as constantly as
possible, whether seated on foot. Don't
slump. Don't loll. Hold the body, from the
top of the head to the joints of the hips.
stretched out to its fullest extent, so as TO give
the organs incased within IL all the room pos
sible to perform their work, instead of re-
tarding the involuntary peristaltic action
of the stomach and intestines by letting
the body sag down, as is so often DONE
Then fill your lungs with air by drawing
IL gently into them through the nose and ex-
pei it through the same organ, as the horse
does. Use the mouth as the chief organ to
reach the stomach with, and not for breathing
During this process do not forget TO relax the
muscles of the arms, shoulders and chest. Let
the abdomen, as an assistant to respiration,
alone. Use the muscles of the nose, upper lip
and chest instead-they will do all that is
necessary I'm the respiratory act without its
aid, and do IL n great deal better. Relax the
muscles Of the arms and shoulders when walk
ing or In any position In which these members
are directly used. Let them hang by their own
weight-they will not fall off. There is nc
need OF clnching the hands and contracting
the muscles of the arms, carrying the shoul-
ders high or pressing them back. Let them
alone; they will find their best position IL the
body proper Is carried Alright g., IL you
stand and sit with your spine straight, pelvis
back, trunk erect and head held with face IN
line with the body, and no round shoulders OF
'dorsal curve"