The Rival Strong Men.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 440, 25 January 1890, Page 6

The Rival Strong Men.

A CHAT WITH EUGENE SANDOW. I was fortunate in the time at which I paid my visit to the ‘ hero of ■ the day ’ in athletic circles, writes one of our representatives, for both Mr Sandow and Professor Attila were within and very much ‘at home,’ a feeling which, engendered by their genial reception, was quickly communicated to me. Professor Attila was playing a lively march on the piano while Mr Sandow, stripped to the waist, was engaged in going through his exercises with a powerful india-rubber chest expander, the extension power of which is literally equal to the strength of tour horses, so it may be well imagined that its use is no child’s play, and even Cyclops, strong as he is, could not, I was assured, extend it across his chest. I could scarcely take my eyes oft this model of symmetry and physical power, standing quietly and unassumingly before me, with each muscle standing out, round, hard, and full, and reproducing in the flesh the muscular development imparted to the Farnese Hercules by the Greek sculp’or who, under the influence of the realism characterising the last stage of Greek sculpture, was evidently unjustly accused of exaggeration. And I could well appreciate the eulogi i of the foreign anatomists of viewing this splendid specimen of manhood, and rendered not the less pleasing because possessed of finely cut features, crowned by a crop of fair curly hair. Two favourite pugs lay munching biscuits on the hearth, while a parrot on its perch, though silent, was probably thinking all the more, when Mr. Sandow, now nearly full-dressed, sab down and gave attention to your representative’s questions. But, first of all, Professor Attila i 3 anxious to tell of his acquaintance with his pupil, whom he took in hand two years ago, while he was a teacher and trainer of youth in the city of Brussels. Mr. Sandow joined his cla-s with many others, the sons of the best families in the town, and immediately the Professor observed the youth’s—for he is now only twenty-two—remarkable natural strength, although he was ignorant, till he met Mr. Attila, of any system of exercising it. But a few weeks’ training demonstrated that his new pupil was the most powerful man of the 280 whom he had ever trained ; and an exhibition they jointly gave in the Salle St. Michael indisputably proved that Sandow was a phenomenon amongst athletes. And so Sandow, for the mere love of the thing for he assured me he had never performed for money, and that he was a true amateur—accompanied by his ‘ coach," travelled through the towns of Belgium and Holland, establish ng his reputation at the Universities, especially at Leyden.

* Then,’ remarked Sandow, speaking sometimes in German and sometimes in English, ‘ I went off for a tour in Italy, 111 Attila, on hearing what Mr. Samson was doing and saying in London, and knowing my ambition to excel, wrote r.o me to come, and I replied, “ As y<.u tell me to come, I come,'’ for I have every confidence in his discreti in and judgment.’ ‘ And may I ask if you ever wrote to Mr j Samson a letter in French, as has been alleged ?’ 1 inquirt-d, somewhat diffidently. ‘Never. I never in my life wrote or caused any letter to be written to Mr Samson, 1 assure you on my honour (auf meiner Khre). And, as a matter of fact, I may add, I do not even Know the language.’ * When did you arrive i.i London ?’ ‘ I reached Loudon on Monday, the 28th ultimo, at seven o’clock, and at nine o’clock I was at the Aquarium with Attila. When I saw Samson perform some feats and heard him offer to give £SOO to anyone who could do the same “tricks” he was doing at the Aquarium, and £IOO to anyone who could do those done by Cyclops—well, you know what happened on the Tuesday after I stepped upon the stage,’ he said, smiling. ‘ And what do you think of Cyclops ? ’ ‘I think him a very powerful athlete, though at the same time I should nob fear to meet him in any contest.’ ‘Did Mr Samson make the appointment for the following Saturday ?’ ‘ Yes, certainly. I wanted there and then to do his feats, but he declared himself too excited.’ * Now, about the chains about which there has been so much dispute.’ * Welt, all I know is that before I left on the Tuesday I asked Mr. Samson for a piece of chain as a sample, but he declined to give it to me, saying I could obtain the self same chain as he used from Mr. Addis, of Leicester-streeb. And I there purchased it. Bub now I hear that he says he always uses American-made chain. And I understand he asserts that my chain will not legitimately break, being too soft, and that the links will only open out. I cannot understand his chain being as hard as he says if he a link twice a day to make his bracelets. Anyhow, lam willing to use and breuk a piece of bis own chain at any time af er he fla< paid up his bet of £SOO lost on the 2nd inst.’ ‘ Then the stages have not been paid ? ’ * Nob a kreubzer.’ ‘Now tell me, Mr Sandow, how it wag that the wire cable broke at your back (which, by the way, Mr Samson dentes ia possible), while with him it bieaks always, in front?’ ‘lt is difficult to say. I know it dtd break at my back, however,’ replied Sandow emphatically. ‘Do you think that, while Mr Samson ia tying it very tightly round his body, the wire gets frettei near the .final tie, and so breaks a few inches from it? ’ ‘I think it is very possible. I know in my own case that I was given a piece rather too short for my girth of chest, and nob being able to get well hold of the ends and nojb being up to the secret of the feat, I could only tie the cable comparatively loosely, and, I suppose, the wire, r.ob being fretted, broke naturally in the weakest part of the cable, which, on that occasion, happened to be at my back.’ ‘ And what is your opinion of the champagne bottle trick ? ’ ‘ That's not a feat of strength at all. Anyone used to playing the piano could easily accomplish it. And at the Pelican Club, where I was very kindly received, several members did the trick, with a full bottle, too.’ ‘ Indeed. Do you know that Mr Samson won 10,000 thalers in Germany by that feat?’ ‘Then I heartily congratulate him/ laughingly replied Mr Sandow, as I got up and.bid them both ‘Good night,’