Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-14


times, as in the case of Hercules, the people
have made gods of the brawny heroes.
One of the earliest strong men OF whom
we have exact historical knowledge was
Fermus, native of Salonica, who f1ourished
in the third century. His career was, however,
unhappily cut short by the Emperor Aurelian,
who ordered him to be beheaded because he
had espoused the cause of Zenobla. Vop1cus
declares that Fermus could support on his
breast an anvil, while iron was forged thereon.
In performing this feat. he made an arch of
his body, supporting it only by the heels and
shoulders.
In 1903, Joyce, an Englishman from Kent,
displa yed his ability to lift enormous weights,
and successfully pitted his strength against
that of span of horses.
The Strength of Trckery
STILL another exponent of the muscular
- was John Charles Van Eckeberg, of Harz-
gerode in Anhalt. He travelled through Europe
giving exhibitions of his extraordinary power.
These the more remarka BILE, 1nasmuch
as the man was not of more than ordinary
size, and had no appearance of excessive
strength.
And Just here we find the first positive
evidence that being strong is much a matter
of skill. In other words. there is art of
strength. The enduring of terrific blows from
sledge hammers. the resisting of the COM
bined pull of two strong horses, and many
another seeming wonder may be more tri-
umph of manner and method than of muscle.
MOSL OF us IN DOynOOu IndL each IcdC
undertook required not alone strength,
but also the knack of it. The principle in
volved is far reaching.
DR.. Desaguliers amazed by the exploits of
Van Eckeberg, observed the performances
with closest scrutiny, and became convinced
that they were to be explained in great meas
ure by the fellows skill. With the idea of
testing this theory, he visited the exhibition,
accompanied by the Marquis of Tullibardine
and two physicians, DR.. Stewart and DR..
ole fafn cfr161 led he 6fc mia "
to such good purpose that they themselves
afterward duplicated some of the feats. Ulti
mately, Desaguliers repeated some of the most
impressive performances IN the presence OF
the Royal Society, and along with them
gave explanation of how they were accom-
plished.
In the exhibition, the performer. sat
inclined board; that his feet were somewhat
elevated and rested against heavy upright:
He wore round his IONS heavy glrdle OF
leather, having an iron ring, to which rope
was fastened by means of hook. The rope
passed between his legs, through hole in the
upright, and was then attached to the span
of horses. The man laid hold on the rope with
his hands, and pulled against it while the
horses were urged forward. The best efforts
of the team were powerless to move him from
his place.
In another exhibition the performer exerted
his strength against the weight of cannon.
For this, he employed platform erected on
a frame of pyramidal shape, where he took
up his position standing, wearing the leather
girdle as before. The rope from the girdle
ran down through a hole in the platform at
his feet, and at the bottom of the framework
attached to a cannon, which rested on
rollers. Again, the chung to the rope
with his hands Then the rollers were knocked
from under the cannon, and the of
metal hung in air, supported by the per-
former.
In a third feat the exhibitor lay stretched
at length and permitted an anvil to be placed
ON his breast. Then this was hammered with
mighty sledges or two smiths with their