THE NEW ZEALAND SANDOW

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3762, 28 March 1907, Page 2

THE NEW ZEALAND SANDOW

Mr R. O. Jarrett, the now famous exponent of the Sandow system, lectured to a fair number of ladies at the Masonic Hall yesterday afternoon, notwithstanding the inclement weather and the fact that the usnal half-hoiiday was unobserved. Mr Jarrett’s name will go down to posterity as a public benefactor, being the first man who advocated breathing exercises for school children in New Zealand schools, and who has devoted the best years of his life to this cause by lecturing, demonstrating, visiting many public schools, converting teachers, parents, and school committees by actual results in their schools; arranging exercises for such ailments as curvature of the spine, chest complaints, etc., to which school children are so susceptible. It was through his untiring energy and enthusiasm and results achieved in the Wanganui Education Board district, breathing exercises have become household words in New Zealand. Mr Sandow may well be proud of his pupil. He has climbed obstacle after obstacle, difficulty after difficulty, and now when he might well retire from public life he proceeds more determined than ever to spread the gospel of the cult. Mr Jarrett in opening his address, said he trusted they would overlook his short comings as a speaker, immediately began to interest his audience. He ex-* plained in a lucid way the manner of utilising fresh air, pointing out the great and far reaching benefits of fresh air, water and exercise, attacking with vigour those deadly enemies to woman’s health —corsets —and ridiculing the idea that woman was so constructed as to be unable to breathe with the diaphragmn. In doing so he explained the use of that little understood muscle ; also the effect of breathing and exercise upon the internal organs—the upper, such as lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, etc., the lower, bowels, etc. During the demonstration which followed the various exercises, with and without Sandow’s developers, Mr Jarrett’s little son (Master Claude) and daughter (Miss Myrtle) gave an exhibition of Sandow’s breathing exercises, now in general use in the N.Z. public schools. Miss Myrtle’s method of breathing was watched with keen interest as applying to the fair sex. At the conclusion a number of those present gave in their names as intending members of the class, and we understand a considerable number of ladies who were not present, have intimated their intention of joining. A hearty vote of thanks . was accorded to Mr Jarrett for his efforts on behalf of the fair sex.

In the evening a large and enthusiastic audience greeted the lecturer. Amongst those present we noticed a fair sprinkling of country visitors, some of whom had come long distances to see the man they had heard so much of. Mr Jarrett was introduced by Mr John Mounsey, of Palmerston North, who in a few brief words referred to his abilities as an exponent of the Sandow system, instancing the many successful classes which had been inaugurated" by Mr Jarrett in Wanganui, Bulls, Feilding and Palmerston North, and from which schools and classes hundreds of healthy, robust men and women had graduated. The lecturer explained in a clear manner the theory of physical culture, the effect upon the involuntary organs and muscles, viz, lungs, liver, kidneys, and abdominal regions, emphasising the value-of fresh air water and exercise, deprecating and condemning the all-too common practise of over exercise—overtaxing the ' strength. The fallacy of weight lifting, without previously exercisng with light dumb-bell developers, etc. He fully explained and illustrated the exercises suitable for the cure and prevention of obesity, constipation, indigestion, deformities such as lateral and angular curvature of spine, pigeon chest, weak lungs, anaemia, etc., and was listened to with rapt attention throughout, and heartily applauded at the conclusion. The demonstration followed, and after some preparation Mr Jarrett reappeared clad in a tiger skin loin cloth and proceeded to give a muscular display in various poises, showing to advantage his magnificent muscular development, wonderful control of the voluntary muscles, moving them at will both individually and collectively ; also showing the right and wrong methods of breathing. Mr Jarrett possesses what at first sight appears to be marvellous chest expansion and. strength of lungs, and was greeted with applause. He then proceeded to burst ordinary iron “Jack’’chains by expansion and N and tensi<?n of chest “and back muscles with apparent ease; He explained that,he does not actually break, but bursts open the chain (and many of his pupils can do the same). He tore a pack of cards with the same ease as an ordinary individual would a piece of cardboard . Passing a strap around his chest and inflating it to the full (turning around to show the audience the strap securely buckled) he then exhaled and allowed a member of the audience to pass his head through between chest and strap. One of the audience remarked, “ What if he takes a breath ?’ ’ It would indeed be bad for the passive subject. He concluded his feats of strength by handling a pair of 641 b dumb-bells simultaneously with apparently no effort, following with various feats with a 1501 b bar-bell. Mr Jarrett has evidently mastered the art of scientific weight - lifting, demonstrating the different Ufts.v'sloy; straight press, bench body ptess,

and the jerk lift, although he disclaims' weight-lifting indiscriminately. Then followed an exhibition. of the Sandow system, commencing with his little son Claude, who vigorously worked his way through the exercises for school children, the father watching with evident pride. Although the boy is only 10 years he already shows splendid chest and all-round development, Continuing Mr Jarrett demonstrated fully the use of the developer, grip dumb-bells, etc., finishing an highly interesting and instructive entertainment by an exposition of the ju-jitsu system of training and self-defence, with the assistance of two members of the ' audience.

At the conclusion Mr G. Thompson moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Jarrett, and that those present form themselves into a body to assist him ir| carrying on this good work. This was unanimously carried. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.

Thirty names were handed in as members of the class now being formed. The class will open on 10th April, in the Masonic Hall.