The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-30
HE TRAINERS CORNER
A Column of Comment on Sporting and Athletic Men and Events, Physical Culture, Exercise, Health Measures and Body Building.
 (By Mac Levy of Babylon.)


 (MacLevy, the famous Long Island health farmer" has been engaged for eighteen years in the training of athletes and the building mp of run down people, and is recognized au- thortty on all subjects connected with athletics. physical culture. and sciesa- ufc exerctse.)
 'The Russian soldiers said a cable from Petrograd the other day, ''are better able than any other troops to withstand the rigors and hardsh1ps incident to a Winter campaign.
 This Is probably true, for stern nec- essity has forced the inhabitants of the Czar's empire to develop physi- cal hardihood to the point Winter has no terrors for them. Tn weather which would cause a coddIed Amert- can to stick close to stove or radia- tor, hcrmetical1y seal the windows, and talk, with chatterfng teeth. of s.the worst blizzard in history, the Rusky would go out in his sleighsky and have the time of his life, although he might complain that the weather was a bit too warm for comfort.
 The majority of Amer4cans have a horror of that season, now rapidly ap- preaching when the air becomes crisp and bracing and full of vitalizing, en- ergizing pep This fear is not nor mai, and it's indulgence brings in it's wake a host of ailments, including the deadly pneumonia and the widely prevalent la grippe.
 Fear Of Winter is an adult pho bia.' The normal, healthy boy looks forward to the cold weather, and fair 1y reveIs in the sports it offers, such as skating, snowbalhng. sleddtng, and hockey or sshinny.
 The adult who desires to escape his usual Winter stcold, which may de- veIop into more serious ailments, will do we'll to begin now to cultivate an Long walking trips and indulgence in all sorts Of Autumn sports will pre- pare the way for a full enjoyment of the bracing, exhilarating pastimes pe- cuEar to Winter.
 Another simple little precaution of great value is to bathe the throat and chest, night and morning, with cold water, afterward rubbing vigorously with a coarse towel. This will go far toEard getting rid of the tendency to- ward colds. After vigorous exercise, always strip, give the body a thor o1ghs rubbing, and change to dry clothes. Dress warmly. but don't cod d1e yourself. Never wear damp stock ings or shoes a minute longer than necessary.
 Now that Americans don't care to visit Europe, 1t is an excellent time
 
 Winter sports are concerned. The Winter pastimes Of Russia, Switzer- land and the Scandinavian countries can all be reproduced on this side of the Atlantic except in the extreme Eouth. These northern peoples of Europe are the hardest in the world, and their Winter sports are largely responsible.
 Many wealthy Americans have al- ready experienced the delights of that Winter playground of the world, Switz- erland, but the United States and Cam ada offer every inducenent that the Swiss can hold out. and scenery on g. much grander sca1e. One could cite scores of localities on this side that would make the far-famed St. Moritz look like thirty cents.1
 The bobsleigh of these Swiss Winter resorts offers exciting and exhiIarating sport, which should be widely intro- duced in America.
 s.The bobsletgh as used at St. Nor itz, Davos Platz and other Swiss Win sport, s'consists Of a long fiat iron frame standing few inches above the ground, with two pairs of tubular steel runners front and back A se- ries of crossbars provides rests and points of leverage for the crew. A longitudinal bar is fixed on either side of the bob The task of the bohs1eigh brakesman is of the highest import ance. He must be ready to throw his weight this way or that, to apply the brakes with nice judgment in order to maintain his equilibrium and to check any too pronounced tendency to skid at the bends. He must know exactly the greatest speed at which the bob can take a turn without dam ger of upsetting or of losing speed by kidding.''
 This sounds sufncient1y exciting to 111 du continues:
 'Tne German Crown Prince, fre- quent visitor to St. Moritz, Is one of the keenest and most skillfuI bob men there. He invariably takes part in the races and has steered his bob, the Red Eagle, In scores of exciting contests.s'
 Scotland has a fine Winter sport in curling, which is becoming deserved1y popular in Canada and a number Of the States. The game makes use of flat circular stones, of which each player has a pair. and are provided with handles so that the players may hurl them on the ice. This ice rink game offers opportunity for much skill as well as thrilling and yftaLzing exercise.
 Ski-running and snow-shoefng, the great Winter sports of the Scandina- v1ans, are gaining constantly increas- ing followings in the Northern States and Canada. This picturesque sport Is now very popular in Michigan, Wis consin and Minnesota. and in many sections of the Dominion, and in the annual contests the American experts have hung up records equaling the best set up in Norway, Sweden, Dem mark and Finland, where the ski had its origin and where slxi-running is almost universal
 Canada has developed a Winter sport, now largely played in the Uni ted States, which has few 1T any su- periors.s Ice hockey makes an ir- res!stible appeal to every ed-blooded athlete. For fast action and thrills it has football tsbeat to frazzle"