IN CONCLUSION
Had you asked one of the most inventive and valuable minds America has yet known, inventor and patentee in 1836 of the screw-propeller—honor enough for any one man—of the little Monitor which revolutionized the world's naval architecture,—John Ericsson; who worked mentally ten hours a day for over sixty years, yet always had h is half-hour or more every day for sharp gymnastic and athletic work (as it is a serious mistake that Edison has not);—who, on his eightieth birthday in a tug-of-war alone against two young and rather vigorous-looking men, hauled them in like tom-cod; and whose splendid body brought him comfortably through clear up to eighty-four;—had you asked him if athletes need to die young; does it take long to tell what would have been his reply?
Ask William B. Curtis[1]—"Father Bill," as the athletes
- ↑ In response to our request for data as to some of his best work, he hands us this:
"Running, 50 yards, 5¾ sec.; 60 yards, 6½ sec.; 75 yards, 8 sec.; 100 yards (many times), 10 sec.; 220 yards, 23 sec.; 440 yards, 51½ sec.
Walking, 1 mile, 8 min. 51 sec.
120-yard hurdle race, 19 sec.
Skating, 1 mile, 3 min. 18 sec.
Swimming, 100 yards, 1 min. 40 sec.; 200 yards, 3 min. 39 sec.
Rowing, single sculls, 1 mile, 6 min. 49 sec.; 2 miles, 13 min. 57 sec.; 3 miles, 23 min. 13 sec.; double sculls, 1 mile, 6 min. 9 sec.; 2 miles, 12 min. 23 sec.; pair-oared, 3 miles, 22 min. 48 sec.; four-oared, 3 miles, 18 min. 12 sec.; six-oared, 1 mile, 5 min. 38 sec.
Running long jump, 19 feet, 4 in.; high jump, 5 feet 1 in.
Throwing hammer, 90 feet; 56-pound weight, 24 feet.
Putting up one dumb bell of 168 pounds; two dumbbells, 100 pounds each.
Lifting, with hands alone, 1323 pounds; with harness, 3239 pounds."
470
