Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-12-01
TO INCREASE STRENGTH.
Physical Culturiats Err, Il Is said, In
SeSlecting heavy Exercise.

u
NeSlecting Heavy Exercise.
No question in physical culture has
been or Is the subject OF more bitter
controversy than that as to the relative
value to health and strength of light,
and heavy work, writes q. Elliott Flint,
author Of Power and Health Through
Progressive Exercise" III the New
York World. In old times men belIev-
rd that the harder they worked the
stronger they became Knights woro
armor weighing Il hundred pounds or
more and seemed none the worse for
the wear. \ marvellous tale is told or
an ancient hero who carried an OK OH
his shoulders Tor long distance, then.
The strenuous exercise making him
hungry, SAT down and dcvourcd the ell
tire carcass. puellists in that time
trained very differently from modcr!,
puglilSts. They did heavy WORK, which
made them STRONG, hut not quick. Now
they do light work, which makes them
quick, but not strong. The truth OF
this last statement will he conceded il
the reader will compare the strength ct
our pugil!sis with that Of our wrestlerS
aud strong men"
AS Il matter of fact. ancient athletes
went 10 an 'cNtrcInc III heavy work
culture. and Ibis brought out the dis.
advantages * we'll ais the advantages
Of their system. y reaction. therefore.
set in against the heavy work system,
anu this like most reactions. Went too
far. To-day we have firmly intrcnclcd
The light work system.
While tide extremists Of either school
are wrong, neither school is wholly
WRONG. There is something To he said
i'll favor of each. Heavy work dcvel-
ops strength. muscular and organic.
thereby also beneliting health. Light
cr, quicker work irnparts elasticity 10
the muscles, Inns countcracting any
StitfcniI= effect from heavy exercise.
\ combination OF the Two kinds OF
work would. then. seem to I've dpsiril-
BILE
4 distinct advantage thar heavy work
has Of light work is in time saving. II
man performs fairly heavy work for
fifteen minutes every day or even but
three times Il week his muscles and or
ity will continue capable uf that work
that is. they will remain strong but
il Il man persists in light work he must
continue il for III least one or two
hours every day: otherwise he will get
not even II small result. l say .'suiull
result" advisetily, for because muscles
cannot do what they huve not been
progressively trained Ia do muscles
and organs only lightly used for no
matter how long will not thus be rcn.
d,Te,l potent for any very vigorous
Use. If this is tile ctse-and | think &c
cannot honestly bc dened-thcn light
exercise alone IS not sufficient as IL
means Of bodily culture
Heavy work is especially useful rs Il
means 10 build III strength. Muscles
develop through strain, and the greater
illc strain. provided il be within whnE
HE muscles can bear, the more will.
muscles develop. but putting Il hart
strain Oh muscles puts II hard strain on
organs, and thus develops also organic
strength, wlicnce heavy work builds
Up health as well as strength. The
practical truth OF this theory is evil
'lcnccd 10y The fact that men who ha-
bllunly take their exercise in large
doses are. rs rule. both healthy and
strong.
Light, quick work is useful 10 couIi-
tc:Act any stiffness or slowness result
ing from heavy work Ii has the ad .
vantage Of heavy work in that il may
he more prolonged, thereby Inducing
irrspiration and Il more thorough AGRA
ton of The body. II Is excellent 10 stir
into activity all The eliminating or
gans. which result is extremely ini-
portant. il being Il necessary condition
Of health that the body lie freed from
effete matter as quickly us possible.