The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-16

HON. MICHAEL j. M'ETTRICK.
asked him to tell an interesting story out
of his life experience "Whcn L was bow.
L could outrun and outlcap any youngster
OF my age in the district My father was
strong man before no and was the only
man in that district who could put a bar
rel OF flour up on his shoulder. come from
district which has produced moro ath-
letes than any other district in the coun-
try. John l.. Sullivan came from that dis
trlct, and George Dixon and Jake Kilrain
were born near there. George Winship.
the celebrated strong man, also came from
the same district. When WAS 16 years
OLD, was good boxer and wrestler, and
when l was II years old could easily put
up u l2S pound bell. 1 became a profcs-
slonal pedestrian so as to get money to 90
TO college. This was only sport for me.
but paid well, rs ut that time 1t was u very
rcnuncrativc profession. l went out OF tho
business because my sister cxactcd from
me dying pledge that would abandon
athletics as u profession.
During the time 1 was engaged I'm pro
fossional Professionalism 1 was never beaten
In contest, and although thousands of
dollars changed hands on contests in which
TOOK part never put dollar in nv
pocket Won III Il wager, never drank
drop OF Intoxicating liquor and perhaps
did moro to elevate the tone of athletics i'm
those days tL1n any other man. WIS
born and brought up in the district and
was we'll known as n member of IA respect
able family, and consequently respectable
ladies who had never been in the habit of
attending athletic performances attended
contests In which took part met some
OF the best pedestrians of that day, amonu
them lInydock. Robinson and lrlcy, and
beat them in 100 mile walks, the time be-
ing about 10 hours
Training for athletes WAS different then
from that OF today. II was very crude.
Athletes preparing for contests went
through u course like this: They were first
given black draft, ii powerful purCa-
tive, and We're then dictcd on almost raw
meats and black tea without milk or sugar
ana put through Il terrible sweating proc
eSSs. L used to grow weak and fcycrish
from IT. The trainer refused me water
when the fur on my tongue could have
been scrapcd off with knife, but sncaked
on and drank Il quart. / was one of the
first To point out the defects of this old
method CT training and advise in its stead
healthy, nutritious, palatablc foods, prop
or degree OF exercise governed by circum-
stances and adapted to individual cases.
plenty OF sleep and proper bathing, all I'M
der the direction of q skillful and experi-
cnccd trainer. ! also suggested that the
exercise taken should be adapted TO the
particular kind of contest to DO entered.
whether prize fighting, walking, rowing
or sprinting. In short, pointed out that
the training should be based on common
sense
1t used to be considered that a small.
round, bullet shaped head was best in all
athletics But take 20 men, general con
formation and other things being equal,
ana OF the 20 the man with IA large. we'll
shaped head will win in any kind of con
test The reason for this is that the head
Is the center of the nervous organization,
anu strength is a combination of nerves
ana muscles and does not depend on mus
clc alone. Great care should be taken
against training cXtravagantly. Many ath-
lctes strain themselves. 1t : all well cnouph
TO tram tor comclincss. but some men draw
on their vital forces in order To look we'll
outside. l have known many instances of
men noted for great muscular powers and
remarkablc development going to pieces
all ut onccIfalling into rapid consump
1--WE decline, all because of overtraininp.
1hclr Nltal forces had been drawn upon
TOO much L. building up the muscular sys-
ten. was one OF the first To rccoonizo
DrODor
training. AND r!y success in athletics is
PROBABLY dre i'll sornc measure tc this. DIR.
eargcES of tho Hemingway gymnasium
was the pioneer in the idea of hcalthful
pooy bu!.di::: and jim Lathrop of Har-
Taru was the Pioneer III proper training
Tor Held >i'cr;s knew both of them well.
II often sat i'll my seat i'll the house,
continued Mr. McIittrick, land looked
over my col.cas7ics from an athletic point
Oh View. There were not many athletes in
the la'c congress. Champ Clark of Mis-
souri, has model build, and with proper
training would make fine athlete. He
has the body, head and shoulders of an old
sine gladiator. Payne of New York has
the hcaG a:.d body OF L. litter. Tucker Of
Virginia could walk forever up and down
his native mountains. He has the loosely
Knit figure OF mountain climber. For a
great h!g nan stone OF Pennsylvania has
the most graceful, caSy walk OF any man
Of his size I've ever seen. He starts of
Ike roadste-, III wing easily and vet with