The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-14
THE BENEFITS OF
ATHLETIC TRAINING,
1t Gives Strength, Appetite,
Endurance and Sound
Sleep.
Everybody Can Take Long Walks
in the Morning or
Evening.
A Young Athlete Whose Training Gave
Him the Power TO Save Many
Lives From Train Wreck.

The benefits to be derived from thor
ough course OF athletics are very apparent
to the one benefited, but it is sometimes
difficult to convince others of the fact.
Some one remarks that he never takes
anv exercise to speak OF, yet his appetite
is always at high water mark. Then he
tells with enthusiasm how comfortably he
sleeps. He is interrupted by one who as
serts that his sleep is perfectly sound in
spite of the fact that he has not taken out
door exercise for years. Nothing daunted,
our friend tells of his increased speed and
strength, at which a cynic present remarks
that he is strong without going to all that
trouble; and as for speed, why he has no
need of such an accomplishment beyond
catching a car. Moreover, he asks con-
temptuously: ''What good does it do you?
Do you make any money out of it?"
Such remarks do not tend to strengthen
our friends ambition to development and
success in physical exercise. Perhaps he
even begins to doubt whether athletics
pay. The real stumbling-block in his
path, however, is that he cannot answer
these slurs and sights. l propose to
come to his rescne, and from the resources
of many years experience and observa-
ton assist him to either refute these argu-
ments or to so strengthen his convictions
that he may treat them with Indifference.
Suppose a person does eat and sleep
well without great physical exercise; or
suppose some are strong naturally; we
should be thankful that such is the case,
for some people have not the time and
others lack the opportunity for physical
exercise. Suppose you do not make
money by the sport; are you not an anna
teur2 Can you not earn your living by
your brains2 Can you not afford to COM
pete with gentlemen for the exercise and
excitement of honest competition?
Then we have a loftier idea in view.
Take many of the great men of the world;
Napoleon tramping across the burning
sands of Egypt and Palestine. climbing
the Alps or riding for weeks with scarcely
any rest during his campaigns, burning
his midnight candle over his maps while
his soldiers sleep. Could anything but an
iron constitution have endured such or
deals? Read the biography of Washing
ton and be assured that without his power
full frame and vital energy our struggle
for independence might have failed. Lin
coins splendid health contributed to the
buoyancy of spirits and calmness of judg-
ment that were indispensable to success
during those trying days. Yet everybody
knows that it was the splitting rails and
other laborious work that gave to that
wonderful man the foundation and posi-
biIity of eminence in spite of the disad.
vantages under which he labored. Con-
slider Gladstone, who has so many times
risen to the highest place of political
power in England. 1t is well known that
day has seldom passed in the whole of
his eventful career without his chopping
down a tree and taking long walk. Thus
the "Grand Old Man" long ago established
himself in health and vigor, and has cher
ished the same through life, building up
on it the superstructure of his splendid
genius.
Our country needs strong, vigorous ma
terial for its leaders. Let the elderly men,
who have borne the heat and burden of
the day, sit in the halls of legislation and
preside at the courts of justice; but stall
wart men are wanted to fight our battles,
build our railroads and handle our ships
The fact that Napoleon suffered acheck in
one of his campaigns by reason of severe
cold only substantiates my assertions.
We are all, even the healthiest, at the
mercy of the Ellis the flesh is heir to-; but
others know as well as myself that whole
some exercise. If it does not render per-
son proof against illness, at least modifes
the force of the attack even as barbados.
A better illustration does not occur to me
than the fact that, though l have been in
business over seventeen years, 1 have
never lost even half day through sick
ness.
The majority of people labor under the
delusion that in order to take exercise a
person must have considerable leisure,
some ready cash and an experienced in
structor. A friend once told me that on con-
sulting a physician in regard to sleepless-
ness and general ill-health, he was adYise ed
to take more exercise-especially walking.
"But what can do? l have no time fol
exercise" l at once asked him what time
he must be at the Office. "Nine o'clock. y
"And what time do you leave?" -Four
o'clock, was the response.
"Now you mean to say that you cannot
walk between and and between and
81" demanded. He shrugged his shonl-
ders and com renensively replied: "Who
wants to exercise so early or so later" o
course, that man would rather be sick than
be tired. He was glad of an excuse to be
lazy. He might blame the doctor for his
headaches, sleeplessnesS, biliousness and
dyspepsia, but rebel at the order to walk
two or three miles before breakfast and
before going to bed.
1t requires competent instructor. LIE
man study himself and read up on thu
subject, and he will find for hsalth alont
an instructor is not indispensable.
We do not appreciate the necessity O
perfect health until we discover our weak
nesses, or until an opportunity for usefu
ness has escaped US to do some good.
once read an incident of young man il
England, who was distance-runner, trav
cling on a railroad train. There was col
lision and the train was wrecked. Gu
friend escaped without injury, but tn
brakeman was not so fortunate. Whel
they pulled him out of the wreck the faith
full fellow had enough consciousness an
self-forgetfulness to murmur the name @
the evening express. Somebody had suffi