A Latterday Sampson.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 239, 6 October 1894, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Latterday Sampson.

Sandow Sells thb Secret of

Strength,

His Method of Physical Training.

(FROM ODE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

London, August 17.

Eugene Sandow may nob be, aa is claimed by his showmen, ' the Strongest Man on Earth,' bub ho is certainly the finest example living of muscular development abtained solely by practice, and, therefore, the handsome book on 'physical training he has written in conjunction with Me Mercor Adams, is specially valuable in showing how far training can be made /to supply the physical attributes in man and woman nob given them by Nature. The work aims ab giving a Btudy of the perfect type of the human form, and the opening chapter is n wellwritten essay on anatomy and physical development. Mr Sandow's own career is fully dealb with and illustrations are supplied in profusion. The book is certainly worth reading by everyone anxious to improve their physique, and oven those men whose years are too many for them to take action on tho advice and information given will find plenty to interest them in its pages. The following brief excerpts will give some idea of the contents of the work, which is issued by Sale and Polden, of Amen Corner, B.C.:— Biographical. Eugene Sandow was born at Konigaberg, in Prussia, on April 2, lfe67- He was a strong and healthy child, but far from a physical or mental prodigy, whilst his parents wore of normal statue. Indeed, until he was fifteen years of age, Eugene Sandow was ' of slight build and delicate constitution.' Thi» fact is noteworthy, as bearing oub the author's contention that the training can supply moab of tho attributes which Nature has failed to provide. Sandow was a studious youth, and was deemed to be a fair, all round scholar, with a preference for mathematics, in which he frequently won honors. Bub coming events now cast their shadows before, and from the outset of his school-boy days ' he devoted himself with great ardour to all forms of gymnastic exercinea and athletics.' He was soon able, by means of a systematic striving to excel, which he never abandoned, to beat bis seniors on their own ground, and his spare time was wholly devoted to the gymnasium and the circus, as he longed to test his strength and ekill against the professors who bad posed before the public in the ring. Ib is odd tv loam in passing that his parents in* tended to make him a Lutheran minister, and that he took up medicine as a serious pursuit in deference to their wishes.

His Pbofessional Career,

But fate ii stronger than parental hopes* especially when joined to inclination, and Sandow's soul was that of a showman. After eomo family disturbances and spasmodic attempts to sink into a humdrum existence, Sandow finally began to earn his living by giving gymnastic and wrestling exhibitions, and ere long succeeded in winning for his strength something Hke international fame. Ib is now a matter of much pride to the champion that one of his earlieeb performances was given for the pleasure of the late Emperor of Germany, Frederick 11., who was himself a, man of great) physical strength, though ab the time, stricken ab San Remo with the malady which shortly afterwards killed him. The JSmperor witnessed Sandal's feat?, and- ab .the conclusion of thp performance a Httle' >xbibitioSv himsolf by tearing in two a comip^ete pact of-playing cards;" Had Sandow"' been,.a courtier he mighb have left tbo Emperor in possession of the field, bat, being of more robust habit, he simply' took two packs, placed them together, and tore them into two halves, whereupon the monarch went) out of the business by handiug Sandow a valuable ring, and telling him fchab he wished his army were made up of many such fine types of manhood. Ib is, however, quite impossible in the cause of a brief review, to deal adequately with the many good stories told in the book, so I will devotetbe remainder of this column to a synopsis of fene methods which Sandow recommends for the development of the physique.

Position,

The firab essential in practising the series of exercises he details in the book ia to assume and maintain a proper standing attitude. Tbe heels should bo in line and closed, the knees held well back, and the toes turned out at an angle of sixty degrees. The body should be full to the fronb, straight, and inclined forward, so that its weight shall fall on to the arch of the instep, supported by the ball of the toes, and only lightly on the heels. The arms should hang tensely from the uhouldere, hands firmly grasping the dumb-bel!*, the socond joints of the fingers lightly touching the thighs. The head must be held erect with the chin drawn in and the eyes looking Btraighb to the front. In fact, the position indicated is that known to drill instructors as that of 'Attention, 1 and the description given by Sandow is practically identical with that contained in the infantry red-book. Simple exercises, such as lacing the shoes without bending the spine, touching the floor with the finger-tips without .bending the kneee, and trying to bring the toes to the teeth whilst bringing the body as erecb as possible, nhould always be practised as prefatory to the more formal physical training. Dumbbells for beginners should bo «f light .construction, and if thirty consecutive minutes cannot be given to the exercises, then two periods of fifteen minutes each should be indulged in.

Mind in Harmony With Mcsclb,

One point Sandow repeatedly insists upon in the course of his volume. He aays :—

' There must' be a concentration of the will power upon the exercise in hand, and the dumb-bell must be held and used, nob passively, but as a potentiality to be actively and strenuously exerted, that the muscles may be first loosened and then alternately contracted and relaxed, in tho process which Nature had designed for their healthy growth and development. With flabby muscles there can hardly ever be vigorous frames or sound health. Nor neod the possession of either be a matter of serious or difficult attainment. Much might be gained by an exercise of an hour or two a week in the intelligent use of a pair of light dumb-bells. Even oat of a daily "constitutional" we might get more benefit did we import energy to our movements, and put the muscles of progression to strain, in a sharp and exhilarating walk —bearing in mind that tho test of having put the muscles to use is to tire them.' There is a mine of combined science and common sense in the passages 1 have quoted, and ib may be taken as a fair sample of the second portion of the book, which deals exclusively with the anatomy of the body and the means whereby its development may be cultured. A large number of readers will find much entertainment and- instruction in the history of Sandow's own career, and there can be no question that the excellence and abounding number of illustrations add largely to the general interesb of the book.