New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-11
NO NEED TO STARVE.
COMMON SENSE EXERCISE BETTEf
THAN TOTAL ABSTINENCE.
WHILE MILTON RATHBUN FAsTs. OTHER MEN
ADOPT BETTER METHODS TO CONTROL
THEIR PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT.

THEIR PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT.
When Milton Rathbun. of Mount Vernon. an
nounced TO his friends more than two weeks
ago that he was getting too fat the statement
was more or less superhuous. for the fact was
apparent But when he said that he going
TO fast for forty days in order to reduce the
superauous tissue people outside of Mount
Vernon began to take some interest in the case.
According to Mr.. Rathbun, he has not tasted
food for many days. and he expects to finish
the twenty-ffth day OF his total abstinence
from healthful food on next Thursday. He
does not want to be bothered until that time
when he says he will make a public statement
According TO Mr.. Rathbun's friends. the faster
Is a Spiritualist. and. like some others of that
belief does not partake of food between the
hours of g O'Clock in the evening and noon next
day.
The study of physical development in Amer
ica has attracted increased attention in the
last few years. Men prominent in the bust
ness professional and social worlds have found
that a certain amount Of outdoor exercise does
them good. They find that after a spin on
bicycle mild exercise with dumbbells or Indian
clubs, followed by cold or tepd bath and rub
down they are better fitted for the battle with
the world than they we're Of old. The increased
interest in healthful outdoor sport is the re-
suit. Old time college athletes who dive into
business and forget their early training-and
there are thousands such IN NewYork-fnd
after q time that their physical being is not
what it should be. They either get hog fat
or just the reverse, thin, pale and sallow. If
they are sensible they get a bicycle or some
golf clubs ard get out and hustle. In few
weeks they find themselves in better condition,
both physically and mentally. But they do not
starve themselves to bring about change, and
neither do they gorInandize
According to experts the subject of physi-
cal exercise, one must not take up the home
treatment with enthusiasm and then suddenly
abandon it. Exercise, particularly if it be of
the robust sort develops the physical organs,
such as the heart and lungs; suddenly to
abandon all sports recreation and exercise, to
become bookworm piece of human office
furniture is dangerous. Robust exercise will
cause what is known as the big heart" The
blood flows freely through the veins. and if it is
allowed TO become sluggish disastrous results
are bound to follow. Those who have studied
the subject of muscular development thorough
ly say that should not begin robust exer-
cises too suddenly. but that it is just as dan
gerous stop suddenly.
The reporter decided yesterday to see several
men whose names sometimes appear in the
public prints regarding what obey thought
about flesh bones, sinewe and things Of that
sort. ]. E. Sullivan is oldtime athlete and
a high official in the affairs of the Amateur
Athletic Union. Mr.. Sullivan appears to weigh
about two hundred pounds at present. and good
health. strength, happiness and contentment
are his other attributes.
What do you think of a man fasting forty
days?" Mr. sullivan was asked yesterday.
"Oh. its all right said Mr.. Sullivan; but !
correcting himself, he said, Why he's crazy |
What I mean is that man. matter how
fat he may be- need adopt any such heroic
measures TO reduce his flesh OF course, there
are certain things which fat man should not
eat, but to say that he should fast for any
length of time is nonsense. Why, a man who
fasts for forty days is interfering with the
work prescribed by nature, and evil results are
bound to follow. Nov, let Mr.. Rathbun do as
1 did last summer. 1 that I getting
too fat, and remembering my early training, 1
set out to get rid of some of it. 1 was careful
of my diet and ate fattening food, but 1 did
not stint my appetite. Then started in to ride
fifteen miles on a bicycle every morning be-
fore l started to business. l dressed in heavy
hannels and kept up good speed while on my
wheel Then I followed this with a cold bath
and a rundown, and in a month 1 had reduced
my weight by thirty pounds and felt like a
fighting cock at the same time. l benefit
ing my physical being and having a good time
as We'll
Then the reporter asked Isaac B. Potter and
w. s Bull. men high up in the League of
American WheelInen, how they kept from get
ting fat. Mr.. Ball said that he kept down his
weight worrying to death because the league
did not gain membership fast he thought
it should. He said that the reason Mr.. Potter
looked so enaciated lately the fact that a
new baby had arrived at his house, and that
the eX-pTesident of the League of American
Wheelmen was taking much walking exercise
ia the early morning hours.
A. G. Spalding is a big man, and if he did not
take outdoor exercise moderately he would take
weight rapidly. Mr.. Spalding devotes
siderable time TO gymnasium work, does con-
siderable swimming il. the summer, plays golf,
and as a result he is favored with physique
which many men envy and of which few men
in New-York possess the equal.
Professor Graham Hamilton fences and runs
long and short distances, and has no trouble
IN keeping his physical being in symmetrical
mould and his health in the best of condition
William B. Curtis the father of athletics
IN this country, has never been troubled with
superfluous tissue. He was never known TO
wear an overcoat, and always referees the
skating championships without a wrap or
gloves, even if the temperature is below zero.
Mr. Curtis takes long walks. and thinks moth
ing Of a twenty mile jaunt on a Sunday
There are few men Of his age who approach so
near TO physical perfection Curtis's friends
say that he freezes himself and 'goosefeshes"
away the fat.
Jarvis c. Howard, Of the New-York Athletic
Club is d vigorous man and who takes his
outdoor exercise nationally and sensibly and he
consequently has no fear Of fat.
Mr. Howard f. Weinacht Dr. A. F. Myrick
ana 4 a Alley, Of the club, at time
thought that they would indulge in a scheme to
keep down fat and get into good physical con-
dition- So they agreed each OF them to ride
bicycle at least five miles a day. They kept
this up for more than year. and their exploits
IN billiards. will be remembered by many. The
club offered cup TO the survivor
Athletes when starting in to train ALWAYS
lose considerable flesh at first, but afterward
they harden up, and in the end weigh more
than when they started in. Muldoon's plans
are well known. He says that he can take away
needless flesh or add weight when weight is
n flvan mar oil