The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-03
LACK OF EXERCISE.
One OF the Disadvantages of Public
Service at Washington.
Boston Transcript.

Boston Transcript.
The physicians and surgeons who at
tended President Mckinley in their report
to the New York Medical Society enumer-
ates among the "contributory causes" of
his death lack of exercise. This may well
have been the case without the President
having been naturally indisposed to exer-
else. Indeed, he had taken a great deal of
exercise in his early life, for the four years
of his army service involved much labor,
fighting and marching. and many days and
nights in the saddle. Whether such eX-
perience gives or impairs strength depends
a good deal on the natural constitution of
man, but certainly President Mckinley
of ordinarily active bodily habits I'M
I'll he entered the White House.
Once President, he, like other public men
in Washington. found II difficult TO obtain
time for exercise. The President was very
hard worker. He was up early and he went
to bed very late. His working day, with
simply the intervals for luncheon and din
ner often was from o'clock in the morn
ing until midnight In this time he trans
acted great deal of routine business,
passed upon many questions requiring his
decision, listened TO delegations which
term Gladstone defined noun of multitude
sgnifying many. but not signifying much
and received visitors who came to talk
either patronage or some more legitimate
subject on which they desired the execu-
tiVeS views. What exercise the President
could obtain was very limited. He was a
most conscientious worker, who between
himself and his work never favored him.
self.
One OF the Presidents expedients for get
ting little exercise was To take a walk in
the corridors of the White House just be-
fore retiring for the night. He would then
light cigar and march up and down until
he had smoked IL out. Then, going TO the
door of his apartments, he faced about,
and with a courteous Il wish YOU good
night. gentlemen" dismissed those mem
bers of the White House staff who have no
hours" but are on duty as long as the
Presidents lamp burns. Last winter there
were persistent rumors in Washington that
the Presidents health was breaking down
member of the Cabinet in commenting on
them said that the Presidents condition
was simply that of a man of his build"
who got no exercise worth mentioning,
and that he had advised him to resort to
chest weight exercises which he had found
beneficial in his own case.
Public men in Washington have TO live
under conditions that expose the strongest
stale. The public buildings, after the
weather justihes any fires whatever are
intOlerably hot. Even the corridors OF the
great department buildings are fairly
sitting. and the offices seem like ovens Is
IL wonderful that men who in such
rooms eight or nine hours a day suddenly
lose vitality, become bilious, dyspeptic and
tired out2 Our Cabinet officers lead very
different official lives from those OF Euro
pean ministers. The heads of the great
exercise. are overrun with visitors and OBJ
tain little rest between official duties and
social eXactiOns.
President Roosevelt demonstrates a dis
position 10 get plenty of exercise We hone
he VIII persevere I'm this determination ~ N
IL IL compels the delegations To wait
hours unit! he has finished a brisk walk or
considerable rough-riding