Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-27
PUNCHING THE BAG.

ting powers, and there Is no exercise that
will compare with hitting tho punching
ball for general Development of the mus
Giles, healthy stretching and working,
but not Il straining. The trouble with
most exercises is that they either give one
work where he has it already or they re-
quire some expensive or tiresome or time
destroying method TO attain their end
Bicycling, for instance, is capital form
of exercise but for one thing it gives one
more exercise just where most men and
women get the greatest part of their exer-
else anyway. Ii the bicycle was propelled
by the arms instead of by the legs, it
would be moro suitable for the greater
asnumber Of those who ride.
Rowing is an antidote for too much hi
cycling in that it exercises the arms and
upper parts of the body, but it takes much
time and hundred preparations are noces-
sary for its thorough enjoyment. Football
is q splendid game and full of all sorts of
possibilities of fine development and
strengthened frame, but it is almost i'm
possible for the average business man
few years past boyhood. Horseback riding,
lawn tennis, handball and racket are
all forms OF exercise that might be discuss
ed under the same caption, but all are
open to the same obiections-need of space
and time and opportunity to play them.
Every one is not within reach of good
gymnasium, and when one is il requires
good teacher to go in for this form of ex-
ercise intelligently and get out all there is
in it without troubles that will last
through life. The great danger of doing
gymnasium work is the strain Of which
one is always in danger
The New York Tribune, in view of these
various obstacles in the pathway to proper
exercise, recommends the following:
What normal man can take in the
way of exercise is few minutes every
morning when he takes his bath 1t
should be of kind to amuse, not weary,
to refresh, not tire; to inyigorate, not
strain. This kind Of exercise is furnished
by the latest development of the boxers
punching bag. The last thing in punch
ing balls is ball hung in frame which
may be taken apart, and is small enough
to be placed in a good sized bathroom.
Fencing, trap shooting, boxing all includ-
ed, there is nothing that so holds the at
tention and works the muscles as this lat
est evolution of the perfect exercise boxers
and athletes have SO long sought.
When you have secured one of these
punching balls in frame from any of the
up to date gymnasium supply dealers, set
it up I'M the bathroom, where it may be
easily taken apart every day, if desired,
and putting on pair of light driving
gloves bang the bag up against the top OF
the frame, which represents the old time
ceiling, as fast and as hard as you arc
able. No danger Of strafning or Of over
doing. You will be so tired in few min
utes that you viii not by any chance over
exert yourself, and the exercise will initiate
every lung cell, break down every effete
corpuscle in your blood and clear away
every dead muscle fiber. A man who uses
q punching ball every morning may look
as harmless as a dove, but be is no more
to be imposed upon than stick Of dyna-
mite.