HOW TO GET STRONG
persisted in, in about all weathers. This guarantees that pure and bracing air shall be had; breaks up the thread of the day's thoughts; rests the mind; and quickly refits it for new work. This alone gives the full deep breathing; and the healthy tire of the muscles. It furnishes constantly varying scene, with needed eye and ear gymnastics—in short, everything which is the reverse of that quiet, sedentary, plodding life over books or papers, read too often in poorly-lighted rooms.
Home-exercise, then, with the out-of-door life, will combine to tone us up; to invigorate our persons; and to keep oil either mental or physical exhaustion and disorder.
The above work, followed up assiduously, ought to bring in its train health, symmetry, a good carriage, buoyant spirits, and a fair share of nerve and agility. But many a young man is not content with merely these; he wants to be very strong. He is already at or near his majority. He is quite strong, perhaps, in some ways, but in others is plainly deficient. What ought he to do?
DAILY EXERCISE FOR YOUNG MEN
On rising, let him stand erect (that is with the back of his neck held firmly against his collar, or held well back if he has not put on his collar), brace his chest firmly out, and, breathing deeply, curl dumb-bells (each of about one-fifteenth of his own weight) fifty times without stopping. This is biceps work enough for the early morning. Then, placing the bells on the floor at his feet, and bending his knees a little, and his arms none at all, rise to an upright position with them fifty times. The loins and back have had their turn now.
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