Year: 1871

THE following interesting letter from
William Cullen Bryant, giving an account
of his mode of living, is published in re-
cent number of the Herald Of Health:


NEW YORK, March 80, 1871.
To Joseph n. Richards, ESQ.,:


DEAR SIR: promised some time since
to give you some account OF my habits OF
life, SO far at least as regards diet, exercise
and occupation. am not sure that it will
be of any use to you, although the system
which l have for many years observed
seems to answer my purpose very well.
have reached a pretty advanced period OF
life, without the usual intirmities OF old
age, and with my strength, activity and
bodily faculties generally in pretty good
preservation. How far this may be the
effect of my way of life, adopted long ago,
and steadily adhered to, is perhaps un-
certain.


rise early; at this time of the year
about 80; in summer, half an hour, or
even an hour, earlier. Immediately, with
very little incumbrance of clothing, l begin
series of exercises, for the most part de-
signed to expand the chest, and at the
same time call into action all the muscles
and articulations of the body. These are
performed with dumb bells, the very
lightest, covered with flannel with pole,
a horizontal bar, and light chair swung
around my head. After a full hour, and
sometimes more, passed in this manner, /
bathe from head to foot. When at my
place in the country, sometimes shorten
my exercise in the chamber, and, going
out, occupy myself for half an hour or
more in some work which requires brisk
exercise After my bath, if breakfast be
not II ady, sit down to my studies until L
am called.


My breakfast is q simple one-hominy
and milk, or, in place oi hominy, brown
bread, or oat meal, or wheaton grits, and,
in the season, baked sweet apples. Buck
wheat cakes l do not decline, nor any
other article of vegetable food, but animal
food l never take at breakfast. Tea aud
coffee never touch at any time. Some
times l take a cup of chocolate, which has
no narcotic effect, and agrees with me
very well. At breakfast often take fruit,
either in its natural state or freshly stewed.
Alter breakfast l occupy myself for a
while with my studies and then, when in
town, walk down to the office of the
EUen6n0 Post, nearly three miles distant,
| and, after about three hours, return, always
walking, whatever be the weather or the
state of the streets. In the country l am
engaged in my literary tasks till feeling
| OF weariness drives me out into open air,
and go upon my farm or into the garden,
and prune the trees, or perform some
other work about them which they need,
and then go back to my books. do not
often drive out, preferrlng to walk.


In the country l dine early, and it is
only at that meal that l take either meat
or fish, and of these but a moderate guam
tity, making my dinner mostly of vege
tables At the meal which is called tea,
take only a little bread and butter, with
fruit, if it be on the table. In town
where I dine later, / make but two
meals day. Fruit makes a considerable
part of my diet, and / eat it at almost any
hour of the day without inconvenience
My drink is water, yet l sometimes
though rarely, take glass of wine. l an
a natural temperance man, finding myself
rather confused than exhilerated by wine
/ never meddle with tobacco, except tC
quarrel with its use.


That may rise early, l, of course, &c
to bed early; in town, as early as ten; IL
the country, somewhat earlier. For many
years l have avoided in the evening every
kind of literary occupation which task
the faculties, such as composition, even tt
the writing of letters, for the reason that i
excites the nervous system, and prevents
sound sleep.


My brother told me not long since tina


he had seen in Chicago newspaper, anC


several other Western journals, para
: graph in which it was said that am IL
the habit of taking quinine as stimulent
that have depended upon the excitemen


it produces in writing my verses; and that
in consequence of using it in that way,
had become as deaf as a post. AS to my
deafness, you know that to be false, ant
the Test of the story is equally SO.
abominate all drugs and narcotics. ant


have always carefully avoided everything


which spurs nature to exertions which !
would not otherwise make. Even will
my food l do not take the usual condi
ments, such as pepper and the like.


am, sir, truly yours, w. q. BRYANT.
-Bacchus has drowned more men thai
Tho of this rrnverl