The Modern Method of Training for Running, Walking, Rowing & Boxing

24 TEDESTEIAKISM. riorated race of men to accomplish, with ease and comfort,feats of whiclithe pedestrians of the old school would never have thought in their least lucid moments. An inquiry into the oldmethodof trainingmust have frightened awaymany an aspirant forpedestrian honours, and when we give an explanation of the pro­ cess through which a man was supposed to pass beforehe was considered fit and well,we are certain that our readers, to a man, will agree and concur with us in our sentiments. When a man had entered into an engagement to accomplish a distance in a certain time he was immediatelydrenched with Glauber salts, in large doses on alternate clays, until the stomachwas supposed to besufficientlyemptied, and after this, as frequentlyhappened,should there be any symptomof feverishness or hard­ nessabout the regionof the bowels, the addi­ tional misery ofan emetic was forceduponhim. After undergoing these NIELIMINAIIY SMALL ATTENTIONS , he was taken to his training quar­ ters and placed under the care of a severe trainer, whoinvariablyhad a number ofrecipe? byheart, the numberofwhichin many instances constituted his chief merit in the eyes of his employers,and to whichhe most religiouslyad­ hered,right or wrong, advancingas the last and an unanswerable argumentthat the man whom he had trained last had faithfully followed hia instructionand won his race through this much vauntedlasting power, when the chanceswere, had the learned empiricnot been his attendani OLD SYSTEM OE TRAINING. 25 hewould have won easily. There is no occa­ sion to enter at fuller length respecting the training of the old school, and it wouldnot have taken the placeof moreinteresting infor­ mation,had not the author consideredit neces- saxy to show his readers a clear reason for the want of, and the immense improvement alreadyworkedby,the present but little known eystemof preparation.