New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25

they themselves are beyond this certain point
and will do wisely TO moderate their training. II
is all very well to say that one u as good physi
cay at forty he was at twenty-five pro-
vided tina, his boxing. running. rowing and wrest-
ling have been practised daily; or. in other WORDS
that one has kept In perpetual training through
all these years. But while this may be urged III
behalf of some. satisfactory tests do not estab-
lish the principle for the many Given equal fai'h-
funess in work, steadiness Of habits ana origihai
strength OF constitution. the man Of twenty-five u
physically superior TO the man OF forty-hve Ana
the reason is that past forty. In spite OF MS
care Is Obliged To make a considerably greater
effort TO do the same thing than he had 10 make
fifteen years earlier And almost before he re-
Allies the strain his heart Is pumping more furi-
ously ;Ean it ought, even when his wind is unim-
paired Moreover. while man past forty should
be ashamed Of abdominal tendencies commonly
termed "aldermanic" the fact remains that he Is
obliged as a rule TO toll Ike Trojan 10 Keep
down his flesh. particularly in prosperous en-
ylronment. ana the extra effort required may IN
si1ously sap vitality
There is od sparring Instructor now forty
three lean as Il greyhound. with forty-two ches.
and a thirty-two waist. who mas almost endless
endurance in teaching his art He VIII take n lot
of heavy college men. one after another. put
them through the boxing exercises in turn. give
each set-to OF three lively rounds and wind his
pupils without even breathing hard himself. But
IL is the professors business 10 guard his appetite
and health. and 70 maintain his condition IT
highly seryiccable point II Is a bread-and-butter
motive that propels the machine OF the body IN eX-
cellert running order Vet this old instructor.
temperate and sef-Controet by instinct and neces-
sity admits that he cannot begin to work as easily
now as in the days when. lad OF eighteen. he
taught the heavy-set British officers TO box in
Montreal
II is to he concluded Their that there is extreme
danger that a man Of the type or the stal"art
4 I,f,,p arI oil
pectingly. Natures first signals for retreat are
not always heard. There IL a man OF forty-three
writer and student Weighing 80 Ia hard flesh. VINO
until recently. and rowed in excellent wilma ana
strength lie had not the first suspicion OF strain
until at the point OF beginning hna course or
boxing lessons. he consulted a surgeon merely as
sop TO precautlon. II WAS a thoroughly disagree
able surprise bc told that his heart was not sound
and that the strain put upon Il i'm the severe work
done complicated by unwise smoking. rendered all
heavy exercise hazardous for some months. Now
if is probably true that the mlddle-ageri members
of athletic clubs are In danger OF overeXeruon
(yhen they do anything, and without thought
of diminishing resources of physical stamina az
the years recedc Not necessarily falling resources
that will abbreviate the natural term OF life or
| undermine health but rather the almost insensble
shrinkage OF vitalities that belong in their abund-
ance to men under thirty. Hence caution becomes
an essential part of wisdom In the athletic haot
Indeed the whole aim OF physical culture. after
one mas passed the tortieth milestone Is not so
judicious exercise. DR.. bio Lewis said that once
when walking down Boyston-st. In Boston. he
saw a big stout man suddenly stop leap into the
air give a whoop. slap his arms and walk on.
Naturally asionished. the Doctor pulled up along
side and venured TO Inquire the reason OF the out
break. $50 ,,.
''Oh" said the fellow. II feel good.
The adjective employed may be open 20 criti-
clsm, hut the status Of such a man Is enviabe;
And all that need concern him who Is upward OF
forty Is to feel good. but well ana vigorous a
condition OF mind and body fostered by the exer-
clsc of intelligence and discrimination In The use
OF athletic means to this end. The majority or
men IN middle life, however, are endangered by
| physcal lazness In far greater degree than they
are endangered by any form OF bodily gymnastics.
Good dinners good wines good cigars. convenient
cable and trolley lines and other aids 10 Incidence
convert the Wis vita into the Wis inertia even with
| fellows vino were famous athletes In college: II
| fakes nerve for "A middle aged man 10 force him
self TO systematic and steady daily exercise Ana
| If ne Is a good deal OF a smoker the chances are
thar his lazncss Will grow apace. for the tobacco
ma carried excess. gives leaden neels ana
hail hahn legs to the devotee OF the seductive
weed. .. 49, ..
The two dangers then. which confront the man
OF forty are the perils Of both under and over
physical exerton, and he who preserves the happy
medium Is he who continues In such Pnyscai
shape that his business or professional TASKS are