The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-13
PHYSICAL STRENGTH THE THING
The PopuIarity OF Athletics in sa-
vannah.

The Popularity of Athletics in Sa-
vannah.
Greater interest is being taken this win
ter in physical work in the clubs and as
socia lions of Savannah than there has
ever been. The gymnasiums of all the
associations are better patronized and ath-
letics, may not be said to have become a
fad, but have acquired a steady popular
fly.
The Y. M. c. A. gymnasium, which is
one of the best equipped in the city, is
busy scene at almost any time. The Cath
Ole Library Association and Young Mems
Hebrew Association both have excellent
gymnasiums. and they are we'll patronized
by the members. There are numbers of
private gynnasi1ms, of less extent in
equipment, OF course but which go a long
ways in physical development. In con-
nection with the development of physical
strength, the following by DR.. c. W. Gull
lette is printed:
'Ivanhoe, the wounded knight in Scott's
novel of that title, laments that he must
lie sti1l, like a bed-Fidden monk, while
the game that gave him freedom or death
was played out by others. The valiant
and impatient warrior was held captive
by his wounds. No war slave, chained to
the rover 8 Dencn OF a ROMAN SdIley, was
more helpless than he who is bound to
his couch by the cord of disease. To at
tain the largest measure of success, a
man needs lungs like an OK, a stomach
like an ostrich, a heart like a stag, nerves
like buffalo, and muscles like a race
horse. Webster had a frame like Hercu-
les Clay was tall and stalwart. Charles
James Fox, pronounced by Burke the
most brilliant debator the world ever saw,
~, H..
was prodigy Of endurance. After his
speech on the trial of Hastings, which
was long, and to any other man would
have been prostrating, he was seen hand
ing the ladies into their carriages and
hating as If he had never known IA
tigue O'Connell, the Irish orator, who
boasted that he could drive coach and
six through any act passed by Parlia-
ment was a giant and athlete; he it was
that called Wellington stunted corporal
but there was no point to that sarcasm;
Wellington was only of middle size, but
he had such power of endurance that he
was called the Iron Duke" Napoleon
said that the first requisite of good gen.
eralship was good health.
washington was from boy noted for
his strength; a spot is still shown near
Fredericksburg where he is said 10 have
flung stone across the Rappahannock
river. Logan had the complexion of an
Indian and the eye of an eagle; he had
also the strength and endurance Of an In
dian as well as the ambition of the eagle.
Pascal says the natural state Of the
Christian is disease-but that is blasphemy
against the nature of things. But burly
Luther was a steam engine under hat.
wesley, though small in stature never
knew what WEAKNESS or sickness was.
These and hundreds of others prove that
the first element in getting to the top is
to have a sound body.
zone must make the most of the physi-
cal stuff that nature gives him. Cicero
found that his stomach was paralyzing his
brain. heart and vocal chords; he fed to
Greece and put himself In training In the
gymnasium; in two years he returned with
thews of steel and voice of thunder. With
all thy getting, first get strength. 1t
adds no strength to the tired beast to
drive the spur into his sides; stitnulants
are but spurs to prick the jaded body to
greater exertlons. No man can climb to
the top on a coffee urn or float upon the
fumes of wine; quinine will only twist his
limbs and twist his brain so that he can
not climb Guttony Is a foe to success.
Pie has been the cause of many a mans
failure. Lack of sufficient sleep will
sooner or later sap a mans vitality. Ex-
ercise means appetite and strength"