British Manly Exercises

290 TRAINING. which ought instantly to be remedied, by such alterations as the circumstances of the case may demand. It is evident, therefore, that in many instances the trainer must be guided by his judgment, and that no fixed rules of management can, with absolute certainty, be depended upon, for producing an invariable and de­ terminate result. In general, however, it may be calculated, that the known rules are adequate to the purpose, if the pe­ destrian strictly adhere to them, and the trainer bestow a moderate degree of attention to his state and condition during theprogress of training. It isimpossible to fixany precise period for the com­ pletion of the training process, as it depends upon the previous condition of the pedestrian; but from two to three months, inmost cases, will be sufficient, especially if he be in tolerable condition at the commencement, and possessed of sufficient perseverance and courage to submit cheerfully to the privations and hardships to which he must unavoidably be subjected. The criterion by which it may be known whether a man is in good condition, or, what is the same thing, whether he has been properly trained, is the state of the skin, which becomes smooth, elasticand well-coloured, or transparent: the flesh is also firm, and the person trained feels himself light, and fullof spirits. Even however, in the progress of the training, his con­ dition may be ascertained by the effect of the sweats, which cease to reduce his weight; and by the manner in which he performs one mile at the top of his speed.—It