The evening times., 1895-11-05

Rev. T. Dc Witt Talmage, of the First
Presbyterian Church, has applied for menu
bersbip in the Columbia Athletic Club.
He was not acquainted there; he was not
solicited to join. free American citizen,
feeling the need of gymnasium, lie in
quIrcd for 1t and was told Of the Columbia.
1t Is five minutes walk from his residence
at the Arlington, and probably the best
in the city. 1t suited him.
He walked over to the building n few
DAYS ago, found the secretary and had
his name posted. At the next meeting of
the board of governors he will be voted
One black BAH excludes, but there seems
10 possible objection TO so genial, eminent
and athletic man.
His accession, on the other hand, will
be or advantage to the club in many ways
and may be made to help materially the
approaching fair Ia raise money for the
support of the club.
President Alexander Grant, of the club,
was seen in regard 10 the matter at his
desk in the railway mail department at
the general postoffice.
Il understand DR.. Talmage has made
application" he said, but I'm AFRAID or
publicity in the matter Sir Julian Paunce-
fote had applied for membership, and was
down at the rooms enjoying its privl-
legcs almost daily, when some newspaper
man who is a member wrote i story
about IL.
SIR JULIAN WAS ANNOYED.
"He told how Sir Julian was stripped
to buff and knocking about with the boys
and that sort of thing. The old gentle
man felt very much annoyed about it and
Withdrew his application.
"Of course, regarding DR.. Talmage, l
can only speak for myself. l think he
will be a very acceptable member. He Is
a well-built large, healthy man, and says
he needs it,
DR.. Talmagc was standing ut the Arling-
ton Hotel Office when reporter called
this morning. His big form lowered above
most men about him by a head, and that
head was one to attract attention any
where.
Huge, rough featured, with strength and
kindness speaking from every line and
enthusiasm sparkling from the eyes, the
great divine is more than approachable;
he draws men To him. His most notice
able articles of dress were a large ovcrcoat
and not too shiny tall hat. He was about
going out, and was inquiring for an auc-
tion On Massachusetts, avenue he had
seen advertised for to-day.
"Massa chusctts street or avenue, do
You call it?'' he asked. He has recently
acquired the title to the elegant residence
setts avenue, near Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury Hamlin. but he said he had
made a contract to live at the Arlington
for year. He exchanged his home in
Brooklyn for Mrs. Coles residence.
ALWAYS LIKED ATHLETICS.
II like to own a place in the city where
l live, whether l occupy ii or not,'' he
said.
In reply TO a question about the athletic
club, he said:
I've always liked the gymnasium from
boyhood. It's the greatest thing for health.
Physical life is a luxury to me. / ip-
tend to continue to enjoy it,
what form of exercise do you prefer?''
Running. / think there is nothing like
IL, and have always run every day when /
could get the opportunity without making
people think there was fire or something.
1t fills the lungs TO the fun, putting oxygen
into every air space. Five minutes run
is worth more than an hours walk. The
walk doesn't so stir and purify the blood.
Then you can think very abstractedly when
you walk; you can't when you run. do
much of my thinking while walking. When
/ run / forget everything else.
The gymnasium affords you the advan-
tages Of good course, and of knowing
just how far you have run. A half mile
is about the right distance
in?''
"Dumb-bclls, Indian Clubs. rowing ma
chine, punching the bag-everything, in
fact.''
You're not a follower OF Sulivan?''
'.Oh, no; i never hit anybody" was the
reply with smile. Il exercise for my
health, not to become an athlete.''
what do you think OF wood-chopping?''
The doctors face lighted with memo
ri, of IDd nd Hl
RUNNING BEATS 1T.
"Oh. that is good hc replied, but not
SO good as running A good deal of the
! exercise is in a comparatively STOPPING
posture, hich is never 20 good as when
you can stand erect.
Mr.. Gladstone told me all about his
wood chopping when l was there. He
told me very mirthfully the story of our
big trees in California; how two men went
TO chOpping on opposite sides of tree,
| and after a weeks work one OF them
happened TO " ak around to the other side
| to be surprised to find another chopper at
work on the same tree.
"Chopping is not good for man W ith
heart disease. As we were standing i'm
his wood Mr.. Gladstone told me this and
pointing TO a stump said, There is where
Lord So and SO,' a friend of his. forget
the name, fell dead just after cutting
down the tree.
He takes a sort of personal interest
in his trees, and has names for many of
them. He showed me a sycamore. had
just come from the Holy Land. He asked
if had seen anything finer there. had
not"
DIR. Talmage belonged TO an athletic
club in Philadelphia, afterw ard to q
similar organization on Schermerhorn
street, in Brooklyn, and OF late years has
used the Y. NJ. G. A. gymnasium in Brook
lyn.