Edgerly wrote eighty-two of what would today be called self-help books under the pseudonym "Edmund Shaftesbury". They covered subjects like diet, exercise, punctuation, sexual magnetism, artistic deep breathing, facial expressions and ventriloquism. Although Edgerly publicly claimed that the Ralston Company had no goods for sale, he did sell his books through mail order. Many of these books are still available through old-books dealers. In addition to advice like brushing your teeth , the books make various recommendations, for example that every young man should engage in a form of probationary marriage with a woman old enough to be his grandmother. Edgerly also created his own language, called the " Adam-Man-Tongue " , with a 33-letter alphabet. The Magnetism Club of America, another Ralstonite organization, was founded to give its members control over the minds of others . Ralstonites were to follow strict dietary guidelines. For example, watermelons were supposed to be poisonous to Caucasians. Correct diet and proper physical exercise would help readers attain "personal magnetism" , which would give them control over the thoughts of others. Much of the physical regime demanded moving in graceful curves and arcs and walking exclusively on the balls of one's feet. Because sudden starts and stops and sharp angular movements caused a "leakage of vital force", Ralstonites were to even pick marbles in continuous circles. There was a proper way to bathe (dry bath), gesture, sit, stand, sleep, talk and have sex. Edgerly claimed a scientific basis for all this. In 1900 Edgerly joined forces with the founder of Purina Food Company, which took the name Ralston Purina Company ( now Nestlé Purina PetCare). It made whole-wheat cereal that Ralstonites were to consume. The food company Edgerly founded evolved into what is now called Ralcorp , and was the original owner of the cereal brands Chex and Cookie Crisp. Between 1894 and 1895  Edgerly bought large areas of farmland along the northern slope of Hopewell Valley, New Jersey . There Edgerly founded Ralston Heights in 1905, a house built to his own design to contain a community of Ralstonites he meant to be a core of a future City of Ralston. The contours of the estate followed Edgerly's conviction that sudden stops and walking in straight lines would cause leakage of vital force. Edgerly planned to expand to hundreds of lots, sixteen small farms, seven palaces and a Temple of Ralston. This community did not materialize, at least not in the form Edgerly intended. Much of the estate still stands today, in ruined condition. References Janet Six - "Hidden History of Ralston Heights" (Archaeology May/June 2004) abstract External links A Website About the Writings of Webster Edgerly  Life building method of the Ralston Health Club; "All nature" course at archive.org Book of general membership of the Ralston Health Club at archive.org Magnetism Manual of the Magnetism Club of America 
Edgerly wrote 82 of what would today be called self-help books under the pseudonym "Edmund Shaftesbury". They covered subjects including diet, exercise, punctuation, sexual magnetism, artistic deep breathing, facial expressions and ventriloquism. Although Edgerly publicly claimed that the Ralston Company had no goods for sale, he did sell his books through mail order. Many of these books are still available through old-books dealers. In addition to advice like toothbrushing , the books make various recommendations, for example that every young man should engage in a form of probationary marriage with a woman old enough to be his grandmother. Edgerly also created his own language, called the Adam-Man-Tongue , with a 33-letter alphabet. The Magnetism Club of America, another Ralstonite organization, was founded to give its members mind control . Ralstonites were to follow strict dietary guidelines. For example, watermelons were supposed to be poisonous to Caucasians. Correct diet and proper physical exercise would help readers attain personal magnetism , which would give them control over the thoughts of others. Much of the physical regime demanded moving in graceful curves and arcs and walking exclusively on the balls of one's feet. Because sudden starts and stops and sharp angular movements caused a "leakage of vital force", Ralstonites were to even pick marbles in continuous circles. There was a proper way to bathe (dry bath), gesture, sit, stand, sleep, talk and have sex. Edgerly claimed a scientific basis for all this. In 1900 Edgerly joined forces with the founder of Purina Food Company, which took the name Ralston Purina Company ( which would later become Nestlé Purina PetCare). It made whole wheat cereal that Ralstonites were to consume. The food company Edgerly founded evolved into what is now called Ralcorp which was the original manufacturer of cereal brands including Chex and Cookie Crisp. Between 1894 and 1895 , Edgerly bought large areas of farmland along the northern slope of Hopewell Valley, New Jersey , where he founded Ralston Heights in 1905. A house he designed was built to contain a community of Ralstonites he meant to be a core of a future City of Ralston. The contours of the estate followed Edgerly's conviction that sudden stops and walking in straight lines would cause leakage of vital force. Edgerly planned to expand to hundreds of lots, sixteen small farms, seven palaces and a Temple of Ralston. This community did not materialize, at least not in the form Edgerly intended. Much of the estate still exists, albeit in ruined condition. References External links Writings of Webster Edgerly at oddbooks.com Life building method of the Ralston Health Club; "All nature" course at archive.org Book of general membership of the Ralston Health Club at archive.org Magnetism Manual of the Magnetism Club of America (archived) (formerly at neurolinguistic.com)
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