The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-09
MEN MADE MUSCULAR
Muldoon. the Veteran Trainer, Tells How
II Is Done.
"Good Times" and Their Results
Degenerate Prize Ring Giants

have Just PASSED the half century mark
of a somewhat eyentful existence, and as I
glance back at the physical wrecks with
which lifo's highway Is strewn / expert
encc deep qualification at tho good fortune
u Lenofloont Creator has bestowed upon me
Rs well az gratitude 10 that divine power
for permitting me TO enjoy, besides perfect
health, the greatest Of all earthly blessings,
untiring strength. AT the age Of 80 find
myself IN the armo of condition, 1t as
ever, almost, for any trial of skill, strength
and endurance. ] can wrostlc, fence, run,
box, swing clubs and dumbholls or do any
gymnastic exercise as we'll as / could a
score Of years ago.
am moved TO mako these remarks In
no vaipglorious spirit but simply TO illus
trste how men oan make or mar them
selves as they Will In a physical way.
America produces the best athletes in the
world but, sad TO relate, they fade away
faster thnn those OF any other country.
This IL not due, as has been frequently as
serted, 10 climatic conditions, but almost
entirely TO the swift pace our boys cut out
and follow in their daily lives A cham
pion Of any kind, boxer, wrestler, sprfntcr,
oarsman or pedestrian, Is fotod, wined and
dined until his stomach as well as his head
Is turned. Life becomes perpetual holi-
day with him, and days OF brave athletic
effort are followed by nights OF roistering
and carousal. So called friends bring this
about for the champion, for no Is usually
vain and good natured and seldom has the
mental stamina TO refuse a good time. He
thus contracts habits of debauchery which
soon disintcgrate his physical powers and
make him wreck at an age when he
should be at his fittest and best.
What can be more Instructive upon this
point than the examples we hayo witnessed
during the past decade Of champions who
have collapsed physically before they had
reached the age of 35-indee6, some Of
them before they wero 80s Just think of
I'll Edward Hanlan, champion oarsman OF
the world, the victor of three continents,
America, Europe and Australia, breaks
down ut S5, the age at which John Hig-
gins once champion of England, started
out on his aquatic career. John L. Sulli-
van, the greatest pugilist tho world ever
saw, was complete wreck at 54 when he
went up against the lucky and the youth
full Corbctt. The Californian, too, they tell
me, although he Is barely 30, is not one
half his former sturdy self The big Aus
tralians Peter jackson and Paddy Slavin,
gallant Jack Dempsey of America and the
Joey Bagstock of pugilism, 'sly, devilish
sly" Charley Mitchell of England, all lost
the strength, speed and endurance which
made them famous on two continents be-
fore they were 88, the period described In
the Bible as the perfect age. The enjoy
ment Of good times, constant and protract-
ed, did the trick for all of them.
Other men, too, outside Of professional
athletes abuse nature Some were at one
time amateur athletes, not rugged old
timers like Harry Buermeyer and Father
Bill' Curtis, the one b4 and the other SO
years Of age, and who can even now whip
the majority Of fighters, but lads who went
into athletics heartily and then gave way
TO years of roistering. Others are men who