Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-08-04
ON LASSOING.

ON LAssolNG.
Buffalo Bill Says II Is Preventive of
Consumption.
The writer recently had a highly in
teresting conversation with Col. w. F.
Cody (Buffalo Bid on the health
giving results obtained by throwing a
lariat. Col. Cody has been in his time
one of the most expert demonstrators
OF the wonderful possibilities Of the
lasso, and though he very seldom gives
an exhibition today, even in his own
Wild West show. he can still handle
the leather moose with considerable
skill. But 1t was not upon the intri-
cacies Of lasso-throwlng that the wri-
ter questioned the celebrated colonel,
but regarding it's power as healer Of
weak lungs
IT have never known a cowboy, or
any man accustomed to throwing the
lariat. who has suffered from con-
sumption or other pulmonary disease" "
said Col. Cody. land I do not believe
1t would be possible to find one. OF
course the outdoor life. Is antagonis-
tic to all forms Of lung complaint, so
that 1t is probably not entirely due to
the fact of throwing a rope that ex-
empts them from this particular kind
Of disease. But ! have always advo-
Gated lassoing to those who do suffer
from weak lungs. and in every in
stance these people have benefited
greatly from the exercise.
II remember a few years ago I had
in my company a very clever little
rider, a girl who was somewhat deli
cate and who suffered from a weak
chest. She was not from the plains,
but had been taught by her father to
give various exhibitions Of bareback
riding. I took an interest in the young
woman. and noting one day that she
seemed anything but strong I asked
her what was the matter. She said
she didn't know, so I got my doctor
to have look at her. He said her
lungs were weak, and getting weaker
every day. Unless there was change
she wouldn't be member Of my COM
pany for long. He advised various
forms Of diet. told her to wear flannel
next her skin. and so on. and believe
she followed the advice, though
didn't see much Improvement. So
determined to take a hand as medical
| adviser.
'I saw that what she wanted was ia
expand her lungs, and knew the best
| way to reach that end was to practise
| half an hour or so daily with the lar
lat She had never thrown lasso in
her life, and I offered to teach her
She proved an apt pupil. and every
morning would give her a few hints
She took keen delight in the exercise
and soon became quite expert. Every
day she would practise for an hour or
so. and soon there came marked i'm
provement in her health The color
returned to her cheeks, she began to
put on flesh. her appetite improved
and soon she threw away the doctors
medicine and devoted herself entirely
| to my cure-lassoing. In six months
she was a changed woman, and today
she Is probably the strongest lady-ri-
der in my company. Moreover she
has become wonderfully expert with
the lariat and now includes that
among her other accomplishments
Her Improvement in health / ascribe
entirely to the splendid exercise deriv-
ed from throwing the lasso.
After that l suggested practising
with the lasso to many Of my friends
who evinced any chest weakness. and
several of them took my advice. In
every case the result was beneficial
and those who continued the pastime
for there is a good deal Of fun to be
derived from throwing the rope-re-
covered their health and became
strong men and women. 1t is an ex-
ercise that / would much like to see
taken up by growing girls. for it ex-
pands the chest, opens the lungs. and
strengthens the tissues as nothing else
will. The simplest way is to rig up q
pole from to feet in height and
practise encircling it with a 3O-foo,
| rope. The moose should be about
feet in circumference. A great deal OF
amusement may be got out or this
form Of entertainment"
Many doctors are now advocating
lassoing as preventive-if not a cure
for people who have tendency to-
ward consumption. One doctor, known
| to the writer, has no fewer than 81.
patients practising with the lasso fol
half an hour each morning. For wo'
men especially the exercise is wonder
fully beneficial, not only giving then
health and vigor but also supplenes!
and grace In other words, lassoint
is a beauty as we'll as health produc
er. 1t should not be INDUCED in VIC
lently but easily. the right arm being
thrown out to its full length before
the rope Is finally let go. The arm
should swing behind the head unit
the chest expands to the full, then re
turn to it's natural position again. Th'
lasso should be thrown first with th
the right hand and then with the left
as this is necessary for the uniform
expansion of both sides of the chest
An expert can moose a flying figure a
easily with the left hand as with tn
right, and were he to practise will
one hand only, then the exercise woult
have an ill-effect on the symmetry o
the body.-Tit-Bits.