New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-05
HEALTH And EXERCISE.
Tseo Systems That 4re Not 80
Contradictory as They Seem.

THE PHYSICAL CULTURE LIFE. a G, di[6di fo =
Al Who SEEK me siIh EE4,c ctTS With twenty
two Illustrations from photographs Emo pp
xvi =. G z. Putnam's Sons
POWER AND HEALTH THROUGH , PROG 4 Hi
sTVE FXFRCISE. BY George E!iot M ~
win an introduction by Austin Flint n -
WIN fhirTv illustrations from photographs.
l2ao PIP. rs. The Baker & Taylor company
When doctors disagree. who shall decioe'
Here We have two ably written volumes ooli'
the work Of acknowledged experts, each concur
eivelv proving that his system is the true SUI
"a rt,vsical perfection. one contends that gei'ie
evercises are the best means OF attaining anu
maintaining bodily Development me oIlleI d
r-- ,ba, the putting forth Of severe effort Tor
short periods at occasional Intervals IL 'i0
,atioraI way 10 secure the same result Were
This all. the seeker for health might wen Ieei
free n exercise his own judgment even 10 lol-
so-- his own inclination To which course nc
snor1s 7,,,rsue But not content with proving
his own method right each author proceeds 70
r,-ove that the others method IS wrong Il per
sisted IN. and more likely TO result in permanent
injury than in lasting benefit
NJ Hancock. who Is the leading exponent OF
.in5itsU in this country, declares that 40
really heavy work in fact, IS suited TO one VINO
desires 10 keep in purely normal heaIu- hi'
Flint states with equal force that those e"el-
lass yhi
6o ns,rher produce a high health IN short mat
9, strength. and in strength only, is health MI
Hancock views athleticsm with a doubtful eye
.s77,A hama Of athletics" he says. lis that they
era made ooIupetitive Each contestant must
.~os1 his fellows The Anglo-Saxon nature IS
one that does not brook superiority. Hence me
vouugster who IS determined 10 prove hliiis'li
tbs strongest and sDeediest of his klnu ol.et1
carries the matter far as TO wreck ms neS'i'A-
a. fba end" He admits that the athlete VINO
7azvas college with a record Of triumph on the
seld or the track is "a young fellow WIN
rplendid physique;" but he adds;
7.ha has escaped serious injury. and has been
fortunate at the same tune IN HeePlss damaged
ana b e e tted by athletics Of the conpet1ve
s,, to Lee 6sln To ood ola age Is not the fact
that most men who have f s ist 5 teens and earlier
fventies stien as they groW oiuer esr1y In the
usually at somewhere in the ffres OF ea'i' -
fixties?
M Flint believes IN competition men a
man can practically demonstrate to hi1nseh
.asr+ 6av that he IS gaining in strength ne VIII
continue his trainingI he is not likely to con-
,,,us Il otherwise IN opposition TO those
VIM believe only IN light exercises he says
that sthe notion that It Is necessary 10 lausue
q muscle In order to develop It is fallacy
7-,s+ re,zvzvesefts cannot fatigue the muscles in
-earv SO profound degree as lghtweights a SIM
pie experiment W1 mare ;r oF IiaTr dunbeIls as
Tasrv successive times as he can " men ne sloLS
-. ,srIes are so exhausted that he Is utterly IN
*. "a ..-enest even once mora. This means, sup
u posing the bells TO weigh two POUNDS f Inn i1oef
co--1is+e exhaustion IS profound and lasting <oW'
have the ss9a man nan p successive times as can,
pound WelsillS -
when he stops. ask him IngdaIeIE 20 ~ ~ Rrcp
-,7oves coBcIUsively that the fatigue produced by
he heavier weights has been comparatively s1si41'
Fortunately. on closer examination Of the
two books. the reader viii discover that the
two authorities" are not so far apart as 4
hzstv inspection would seem 10 indicate. IN
the 7rst place. M Hancocks book takes up
The whole subject OF the physical culture lie,
which should be led far as possible out OF
doors Mr. F1int's book is concerned almost
sYcI,Isiyelv With gymnasium work. Mr.. Han
cock seeks 70 secure in variety of exercises the
interest that Mr.. Flint finds only in competition
when exercising IS confined 70 the limited OPP
portunities Of indoor work with apparatus. Mr..
Flint himself prescribes a course of light exer-
cises as necessary 10 develop the muscles up to
the point where the heavy strains may be at
tempted Mr. Hancock recommends that light
exercises should be done briskly and with such
frequent changes as not to tire the muscles.
hut 10 develop equally all parts Of the body.
Hs does not say that no one should undertake
severe athletics. but believes that these should
be confined 10 the few who by nature
adapted to undergo such violent effort, and
then with the greatest care that they do not
over5o. For the man in the city whose leisure
Is limited. Mr.. Flint's suggestions may be fol-
lowed with profit, If also with caution. For
The man who prefers and IS able to take his
exercise n the open air and to adapt his eat
ing. breathing. drinking. work and play to
healthtul principles. Mr.. Hancocks volume will
be found TO abound in valuable practical sug-
Ee5t5onA