The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-26
rs THE ATHLETE HEILTHra
The Views or EuSen sandow.


! have read with great interest the article
under this heading which appeared in the 81.
James, Gazette Of the 9Th inst, and it Is with
much pleasure that / set out 10 say a few words
upon a subject which l can, without conceit,
lay claim to know as thoroughly as any man
breathing. l have studied il all my life; and
though am still quite II young man, l dare
say that few men OF any age have devoted more
attention to physical culture and all that ap-
pertains to il. l AIN not speaking merely Of
physical development us exempli!lcd in myself,
although l may be pardoned if ! contend that l.
in my own person, am an irrcfutable proof Of
the correctness OF my theories. But my con-
victons are based on much wider grounds. I
have tested my theories upon others. and in
every instance such experiments have brought
about the same results. There are o good
many people. ! believe, who think that ! am
merely q ~phenomenAlly strong man who Is him
self ignorant Of the sources Of his strength, and
who argue that my 'so-callcd system OF physi-
cal culture" is. TO use - common expression, so
much 'showman's pattcr.' That this is not
the case | hope TO show; | have gone into tho
subject in a scientific manner and with the sole
desire Of wrestling from nature the secret Of
identifying and developing the body. In that
| think ! have succeeded.
The athlete, IN the sense that tho word
lete Mt ali. For a real athlete must bo a
healthy man. But this is perhaps a little
beside the point. As has been stated. by an
athlete is usually meant the maj VINO has been
trained; and it is really on this Point, whether
training produces strength in the best sense OF
] say. No! The training which an oarsinan or
IA runner undcrgoes not only does not conduce
gerous. Training, so far as amateur athletes
are concerned, Is largely, a matter Of dieting
and living by hard and fast rules. 1t means
living for a considerable length OF time under
entirely different conditions from those which
u man has been accustomed to. This is alto
gether wrong. rs it goes directly contrary 10
nature. Nature gives a man IA craving for Ger
tain articles or food aud drink: and the fact
that these things viii do him good. The pleas
ure. he, gets in having that which he desires
will help him TO digest md assimilate it. OF
course, am speaking OF The normal man, not
OF tho dipsomnniac. tho giulton. or the obese
man, This theory Is, | am aware. contrary to
tho Ideas OF many medical mon; but | know
something about the construction and duties
OF the internal organs, 40 well as Of the bones
md muscles, and ho.d to II no. Notwithstanding
thi< the cnse. So the yoGnE man who, prior
to period of framing, has been living an
mf OF the little Injuries such as his glass OF
I'D r and his tobacco no has been accustomed
to indulge In. And on tho top OF this he has 10
do an eaira amount of hard physical work -
the engine haa, to put ont moro energy hy the
aid OF fuel which Is PERHAPS utterly lnsaited
but the proof OF Tho pudding Is in the eating;
this noNioGs system does turn out thGc Young
answer, itrgcI! depends ui"n what you mean
by condition. Certainly Ms university oars.
man %craIlc't in Tins s%7tcrn aprnprt ~ benefit
by II; but does he really | s!y, 30; that he
not only wcakcus his whole constitution, but
does not produce anything liz" tHr amount OF
muscle aud go which he might obtain by
more Judicious methods with n 1.-THE Of tho exer-
lion.
10 my mind. the building mp OF IA ine ply
siqGe. Is similar to The bnilding OF n house.
You do not put "A massive roof upon thin walls;
you are careful that every brick is truly laid
you make quito sure OF your foundations he-
1t be in the development of the human
body. II can bo dOno n othor WY.