The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-21
POINTS OUT I HE
ROAD TO HEALTH
BY j. L. Sullivan. President United
States Amateur Athletic Union
;l,.d kn,cA crbuckcr Atli-
Ietic Club

every young man should look about MN
for the nearest gymnasium.
There is no doubt that nine-tenths OF
the nervous and mental breakdowns among
our business men could be prevented by
little regular physical exercise taken every
day.
any Young man with an ordinary con-
stitution can easily add ten years to MS
lie by keeping his body in good condition.
The recent death Of William Wood, Amer
lca's Oldest athlete. is a str king instance
of the benefit OF athletics in pro.ongin5
life Mr.. Wood attained the age OF eishy-
six without the loss OF a day through
sickness, and preserved almost the e!as-
city of youth until his eightieth year
The streets are thronged with narrow
,I1esred, dyspeptic. nervous wrecks TO whom
existence is not a pleasure. They are tor
mented with business anNeties all day
and with insomnia al n'ght? BY the aid Of
Stimulartss-corfee or liquors or druss-theT
sustain themselves for q few unhappy
years and finish with complete collapse
Six months at sa1litarium Or at some
mineral springs abroad gives a little
strength 10 their misused bodies and
they return to business and stimulants
only 10 have a more serious breakdown
III a shorter time and SO it continues until
death rings down the curtain.
COMMON SENSE.
A little common sense and ten minutes
exercise every morning would prevent this
sort OF slow suicide Gymnastics is no
longer the laborious task that 1t was
when 1h0-ponnd dn1nb-belis We're Used and
when the idea OF making record domi-
mated all sport.
To-day the main idea is not to show how
much man can do in a certain line OF
athletics. but to make him stronger and
more shilful so that he can do more than
before
The leading athletic clubs are now in
struct'ng their members how to receive
benefit from the everyday activities of
the body. suc'l as walking. breathing. etc.
A New York club gives the following
advice as regards breathing:
Not one business man in n thousand
hreathes properly. And yet it is the oxy-
gen Of the ar that brightens the blood
and makes it life-giving.
Children run and romp and shout and
laugh and cry.
They fill Their lungs with air and empty
them almost to the last inch. maybe TWEEN.
" times 4 minute if the play be vio-
lent.
They do as nature demands.
But thu business man rides when he
IAN walks when he must and exerts
himself as little rasshle
He hraattns f,sor, the ION Of his LUNGS
onlv. The hood that is be,ro rrrnne7 into
ais lungs every second meets the langud
tonni1 OF vt.ated air
What wander that there is tIeadene9
-nlse. a d,rnr,ed eve. fab,v muscles and
-isns of nre-,a-nr. old age? That man
s. noisonine himself.
H'a would hermit horse TO be
treated 50 fooli=h1v.
NO EXCUSE.
There is no excuse for this neglect. No
SPECIAL time or apparatus is needed The
man has only to breathe deeply to take
the first great step in the right way.
Empty the lungs by breathing out as
much as possible, and then slowly draw in
and in until the chest is expanded to its
fullest.
Five minutes, or even one minute Of this
exercise twice a day Will work wonders.
Another leaflet issued by the same club
gives the following instructions as regards
walking:
To walk properly. to get an elastic,
springy step to acquire a wel-balanced.
easy stride Stimulates lungs. heart and
spirits.
Every normal man does miles OF walk
ing every day regardless OF cars and car
riages.
THE WALK.
Let MIN MAKE MS Waking d Llie iioi
.aretul. little more thoughtful No need
% take an extra step unless tho delight
IF It inspires the effort.
Let him walk with head up chin down
shoulders back, abdominal muscles tense
and end ngz each step with a toe-tip.
Let him carry his head and shoulders
steady without any side-sWaylns-
Walk when you can, bearing in mind
that perhaps che who rides in a carriage
rides to his grave.
No investment brings as sure ana quick
a return as athletics: It has now been
jeye,oped to a. point where the weakest
may be helped
Exercise machines have become SO cheap
and convenient that no house need be
without one, and their use viii be nnsver-
sal as soon as people realize that physical
exercise is the common sense road to
health.