Practical Training for Running, Walking, Rowing, Wrestling, Boxing, Jumping, and All Kinds of Athletic Feats / Together with tables of proportional measurement for height and weight of men in and out of condition; etc. etc.

GEORGE SEWARD, THE AMERICAN WONDER, who ran 100 yards in 9¼secs.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878, BY ED. JAMES, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.
Notwithstanding that so many books have been written on Physical Culture, there still remained a large field to be covered—hence the publication of the present volume. Great care having been taken in its compilation, we feel confident that the work will be in every sense of the word practical; so that those who desire may follow whatever their fancy prefers in athletic sports, in a creditable manner. In our opinion, the general usefulness of the book could in no way be improved upon; but, in order to be thoroughly posted in the laws governing athletic contests, the “Manual of Sporting Rules,” as a companion to this work, will be found very beneficial. The table of Proportional Measurements, according to height and weight, will form a good guide for the athlete as to his special muscular development. Banting’s System of Reducing Corpulency, though not exactly intended for training purposes, is not to be despised, containing, as it does, much interesting and reliable information, on the subject of diet especially. To complete the treatise, and in order to prove what can be done by man when in proper physical condition, we add a record of the best athletic performances.
Pedestrianism, from its being the basis and principal agent in securing a thorough and perfect training to all who may have, from choice or necessity, to undergo a great amount of physical exertion, may be considered the chief feature in the preparation of men for all contests in which great strength, speed, and wind may be required. From this point of view the science of walking will be treated in the present work; for whether a man may have entered in an engagement to run, walk, jump, swim, row, or box, no training can be thoroughly accomplished until the athlete has undergone a certain amount of exercise on foot, and reduced his superfluous weight to such an extent that he can follow up his peculiar forte with fair chance of improvement, or at least so that he may not have to stop short from sheer want of wind or strength.