THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1902. HOW TO BE STRONG.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 156, 23 January 1902, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1902. HOW TO BE STRONG.

SISCE the days of old, when strength was absolutely necessary to protect life and when the ; " survival of the fittest" was an unwritten law rigidly adhered to, physical strength in every form hag been a source of exceeding pride to its possessor and a source of delight to the populace who witnessed the competitions between the rivals for premier place. Strange that with such a nation as the British, whose feats of arms are noted the world over, its civilian element should be suffering a gradual degeneration of body. Against the British army no such [charge can bo laid, for from ! enlistment the soldier is obliged to pass periodical instruction in the gymnasium, and at all times the traditians of his race have made camp and barrack-room a centre of all manly sports. Such a great deal of rubbish is talked about the superiority of the colonial over the British soldier that one would expect to find the latter a set of nndersized " wasters," whereas its ranks include specimens of manhood fit to rank with those who provided models for the old-time Greek sculptors. But the civilian has now too much to occupy his mind to allow him any leisure to develop his body. It is precisely to meet euch a state of things that Eugene Sandow —who has evolved from a music-hall strong 'man to a lecturer on physical culture whose worth is recognised throughout the world—set himself to meet. As a youth was very delicate. He was taken by his father from his birthplace (Germany) to Rome on a visit, and there his attention was attracted by the classical sculptnre in the Capitol and the Vatican museum. He asked his father why such superb men were not to be found nowadays, and was told that the ancients cultivated the body, and the moderns devoted most attention to the mind. This inspired the young Sandow to attempt to emulate the ancients. Though but a poor subject to start on, he studied his subject scientifically, applied it practically, and is now able to pose as a splendid testimonial to the excellence of his methods. Sandow, unlike the other strong men who have appeared from time to time, claims no extraordinary powers of himself, but instead says that almost anyone can do as he did if they would but accept his teaching and follow his example. The result is that he has in his schools 60,000 pupils of all ages and stations in life diligently practising the culture of the muscles and the development of the body, and thus fitting themselves for the struggle of existence, which necessitates a sound body and its natural companion, a sound mind. The present aim and object of Sandow is to induce thy House of Commons to pass a law whksh. will Becure for every child in oar elementary schools at least twenty minutes' physical exercise every day. He doeg not want the gymnasium—he objects rather to gymnastics as they are practised. What he wishes to see is physical exercise rationally directed to the improvement of the pbjßique of our town-bred people. Those who have graduated in the school of Sandow maintain that by following his teaching and putting their mind into the work they can develop the muscles of their arms as much in twenty minutes as a blacksmith will strengthen them

by swinging his sledge-hammer for ten hours. The system is on© that can be readily followed by either sex, and its practice is extending greatly in these colonies. That it haa ; not yet obtained the hold it should" have is proved by the number of rejects from the applicants for places in the contingents, many of whom could easily have acquired the requisite chest measurement by a few months' ;ourse oi " Sandow." Aimless -winging of clubs or dumbbells is of little use in muscular 'evelopuient, and this system 1 .jives separate exercises to develop each set of muscles, hence i its great success. The time is coming when Sandow's gieafe work in the world will be adequately recognised, and we ?;an only urge our readers to purchase Sandow's book and jnrol themselves as his disciples -—a course they "''would never regret.