HOW TO GET STRONG
Now, while the exercises which bring any given set of muscles into play are very numerous; if a few can be grouped together which shall be at once simple and plain; and shall call either for inexpensive apparatus, or none at all; which will also enable almost any one, by a little energy and determination, to bring up any limb or muscles now weak; they may prove of value.
TO DEVELOP THE LEG BELOW THE KNEE
The main part of the leg below the knee, for instance, is composed of muscles which raise the heel. Stand erect, with the head high, chest out, and shoulders down; keeping the knees all the time well sprung back; having the feet about three inches apart, with the toes turned outward. Now slowly raise the heels until they are high off the floor; and the whole weight rests on the soles and toes. Now drop slowly down. Then repeat. Next place the hand on the muscles of the calf, and while at first not firm, feel them harden as you rise; and all doubt as to whether the exercise in question uses these muscles will speedily vanish. Continue this exercise at the same rate; keeping at it until you have risen fifty times. Now, it will not be necessary, with most persons, to have to place the hand on these muscles to learn if they are brought into play; for already that is becoming very plain in another way, one that is bringing conclusive proof to the mind—internal evidence it might well be called. Unless the calves are unusually strong; long before the one hundredth effort, there is an unmistakable ache in them, which, in the majority of instances, will cause the person to stop outright, from sheer inability to proceed. It has not taken much time to get a pretty thorough measure of about what power
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