The Life and Adventures of Ben Hogan, the Wickedest Man in the World

by Ben Hogan

In order to insure perfect health, the body ought to be sponged with cold water daily, the various muscles should be exercised for a short period, and submitted to the action or tension proper to them, whether in running, lifting, striking, stretching or posturing. The chest should be expanded by the use of dumb-bells; and the muscles of the arms strengthened by the use of clubs or the trapeze—which latter is of general utility, inasmuch as it can be brought to bear upon nearly all the muscles. The lungs, also, must be distended to their fullest capacity, by frequent gulps of pure, fresh air; while the chest, during the time they remain inflated, must be gently beaten with the palms of the open hand, so that the air may find its way into the minutest of the cells. If this system of training were observed with any degree of intelligence and regularity its beneficial results would be felt almost instantly, and even in the case of the weak or suffering, who would, at first, be obliged, of course, to indulge in but homœopathic doses of this regime, until they became accustomed to it, and began to delight in all its fascinating phases. Physical strength or beauty without physical health being an impossibility, we can perceive how necessary it is to establish, restore or preserve the latter, as the case may be; and as this cannot be effected if the muscular system is not adequate to all the reasonable demands upon it, we cannot fail to apprehend the vital importance of keeping it in a state of the highest efficiency. But while attempting to accomplish this latter we must remember that to overtax either it or the nervous system would be to frustrate the object had in view, and to almost make the cure as bad as the disease. To avoid this, we must therefore study the peculiarities of our physique, and the precise nature of our constitution, in relation to the exercise and the food we take. There is an old saying, “One man’s meat is another man’s poison,” and a true saying it is. And here it may be said that the opinion and advice of the experienced athlete and professional trainer may be of some value, who invariably makes himself acquainted with the peculiarities of the physique and the constitution, before he makes a single move, and who cleanses the system of all impurities before he begins to build it up into a perfect and impregnable whole. To adopt any other course than this would be but to mask or paralyze the seeds of disease for the time being only; for, if the system is not purged until it is as free from crudities, and as pure as that of a child, the seeds of decay and death will lie at the foundations of any superstructure into which it may be sought to build it.

Those who are conversant with the mysteries and mechanism of the human frame, and who have studied its anatomy and its physiology, will tell you that its four hundred muscles, that are the primary agents in all our physical movements, are, in so far as the voluntary ones are concerned, sure to suffer vitally if not properly trained and kept in constant use. It is, indeed, to their exercise only that their efficiency is mainly due; for to allow them to fall into disuse for any length of time, would tend, not only to weaken them, but to paralyze them completely, which, of course, means to paralyze the whole frame. If we would set wind and weather, fatigue and hardships, at defiance, our muscles must be as hard as iron and our lungs as tough as leather. This condition once attained, the world is ours for the winning, for with these characteristics, an industrious spirit, and the fear of God before our eyes, we may, with a fair education, aspire to any eminence attainable in this free land. By constant and judicious exercise our muscles become fully developed, enlarged and strengthened. Look, for example, at the arm, or any of the limbs, or the chest of a young man who has never had any physical training, and what do you behold? Nothing in true shape; nothing full of life or resistance; everything soft and flabby and girlish; in short, a frame incapable of the slightest endurance, and a hot bed ready to receive and force at any moment the seeds of disease. On the other hand, take in at a glance the limbs and form of the man of trained muscles, and who is accustomed to the exercise necessary to their perfection. Mark his well assured and elastic step! His flesh, through the constant use of the sponge and proper exercise, is at once as fine as silk and as firm as steel. Were he to spring from a height of thirty feet, not a fibre of it would shake on his bones when he had struck the ground. Look at his finely developed chest, and his classic arm, glistening and corded like that of the Farnese Hercules. In truth, he is every inch a man, and such a one as a woman might well take to her bosom as her protector and the partner of her life. In like manner, compare the limp and delicate young miss of eighteen or nineteen who languishes her life away in drawing rooms, at evening parties, or in her carriage, with the brusque beauty of the same age who indulges in the training and exercises proper to her sex—whose muscles, through judicious manipulation and use, have become firm and strong, and who can walk two or three miles at a rapid rate, without suffering the slightest fatigue. What a contrast we have here: The cheek of the one is dull and colorless, and her eyes devoid of true fire and brilliancy. Her whole frame is unstrung and limp, and her step uncertain and feeble. On the part of the other, we perceive the roses of health lighting up her face; we observe her arms beautifully rounded and firm, and her bust splendidly developed, while her step is as elastic as that of the fawn. All her muscles having been trained, her whole form becomes a model of classic beauty, and she, in consequence of her constant use of the sponge and cold water, and from her absolutely breathing fresh, pure air only, renders her skin as fair as snow and as smooth and fine as satin, while her health becomes so robust that she enjoys all the blessings and comforts of life with tenfold zest.

But, as already observed, physical culture must never be characterized by anything approaching overtraining; for to tax the muscles or the system beyond their well-defined power of endurance, would be to injure both materially and perhaps permanently. We must, in this relation, study our own physique, and be guided by its premonitions. If we find that any of our muscles are weak and not fully developed, we must bring them into training gradually, never testing them to the fullest at first. If we are capable of lifting but eighty or a hundred pounds when putting forth our full strength, let us begin with fifty or sixty pounds, adding to that weight, day by day, a single pound for example, until we reach the eighty pounds, which we shall be able then to lift with the greatest ease. By this system of judicious or gradual augmentation we shall find ourselves, in a few weeks, able to lift a hundred pounds with greater ease than we had lifted the sixty pounds when first testing our strength in this direction. And this may be taken as an example of how we ought to proceed in all our exercises for developing, strengthening and hardening the muscles, expanding the chest and enlarging the lungs. We must perform the work gradually and intelligently. We must not fatigue ourselves to an uncomfortable extent when we first take up our dumb-bells, or clubs, but accustom ourselves to them by degrees, until their use involves but little exertion. In like manner, when we would inflate our lungs with fresh air, should they be weak in any degree, we must commence by inhaling smaller volumes, gradually augmenting them until we feel that our chest is distended to its utmost capacity. By observing caution in all these relations we shall, if we persevere intelligently, soon begin to feel and enjoy the inestimable blessings that arise from true physical culture, and be able to accomplish feats of strength and agility of which we were before utterly incapable.

And when we come to consider that the brain shares essentially and largely in the benefits arising from this culture, and that through its agency it is capable of doing more and better work than if it should be unaided by the physical training of our body generally, how important does this subject become at once. No man can perform with ease any great amount of mental labor where physical culture has been neglected, or who does not use the sponge freely and indulge daily in the proper amount of physical exercise. This, together with pure cold air as food for the lungs and suitable diet, will accomplish miracles, and tend to secure health and happiness, presuming always that our habits are temperate, and that we eschew those excesses—such as the immoderate use of wine and tobacco—of which we perceive so many victims of all ages and sexes, and which in even the healthiest constitutions sometimes sow the seeds of disease and death.

It would, of course, be almost impossible to lay down rules for every case, but as a general thing the system of physical culture, as explained by me to the gentlemen referred to in my introductory notice, and of which I have given some hints here, may be followed without the slightest misgiving. Obviously, however, it must be modified to suit the years and the constitution of those subjected to it; but how young or aged soever, how delicate or robust, it can, under judicious guidance, be made to build up into perfect health and strength those who are feeble, constitutionally or otherwise, and assure and develop the muscular resources of those who are already in possession of a sound and healthy constitution. The aged also will find great benefit from it, and from a careful and gentle exercise of their muscles and the constant use of the sponge and cold water. To all of what I have hitherto observed on this subject, well ventilated residences and bedrooms must be added, as a sine qua non, for neither health nor strength, nor anything pertaining to true comfort, can be found in connection with badly ventilated bedrooms. The air we breath becomes impure and vitiated while being expelled from the lungs, and is utterly unfit to be inhaled again. Consequently, if through some open casement or door there is no mode of escape for it, once it has performed its mission, or no mode of ingress for fresh, pure air from without, we are, while slumbering during the silent watches of the night, not only marring the completeness and refreshing character of our repose, but actually poisoning ourselves by slow degrees. We must, therefore, never submit to any conditions that will shut out the pure, fresh air of heaven from us, awake or asleep; for it and the bright, warm sunlight falling upon us whenever it may, are indispensable to our mental and physical well being—the sun bath itself being a great promoter of health.

In my experience as a trainer and athlete, I have met with numerous instances where ladies and gentlemen, of weak constitutions originally, and frames the most feeble, became, through a judicious course of physical culture, not only healthy in the first degree, but robust, powerful and agile. In fact, I question very much whether any disease common to our race may not be thoroughly eradicated by a system of physical training, while it is equally obvious that the adoption of such a system under all ordinary circumstances secures the body from the attacks to which it is subject in this relation. In addition, should fate so decree it that a frame developed and strengthened through a good system of physical training, should fall within the power of any of the diseases incident to us, it is quite plain that the chances of recovery are infinitely beyond those shared by the patient whose body is all unstrung, and who is incapable of presenting any physical resistance to the inroads of the malady. Let this be engraven upon our memories, for rest assured that long life and happiness wait on physical culture; and that no good work, mental or otherwise, can ever be achieved where it is wholly neglected.

Our whole structure, with all its delicate and complex machinery, is entrusted to our keeping; and when we come to glance at its numerous nerves, its four hundred muscles, its two hundred and fifty-two bones, and its various organs, we will be able to perceive that it behooves us to be most careful and systematic in our treatment of it. Some persons may possibly be inclined to say that our involuntary muscles are not under our control; but, then, the objection can be disposed of summarily by instancing the act of the suicide, that in a single moment stills them forever. It is, therefore, incontrovertible that our physical organism is placed in the charge of our mental, and that any neglect or mismanagement of it must result in disease or discomfort, and the lowering of its legitimate powers and mission to a grave extent.

Rock salt, dissolved in the tub, when we are about to use the sponge, will be found to heighten the efficacy of our bath. When well sponged, from head to foot, so that our flesh and pores are thoroughly cleansed of the effects of perspiration, which so tend to clog the latter, crash towels should be applied briskly until we feel a warm glow, when soft ones may be used to dry the skin thoroughly. None save those who have tried it can be aware of the pleasure derived from this invigorating process, and the absolute comfort to ourselves, which invariably follows it and abides with us until we again perform our ablutions. The clogging of the pores is a fruitful source of disease, and should never be permitted to obtain for a single hour. If perspiration be obstructed in any way, our internal organs and whole system begin to suffer at once. All our secretions must flow freely to make health possible; therefore, the constant use of the sponge and the bath is necessary to our very existence. Any neglect in this relation will register itself at once in a sallow complexion, eruptions of the skin, and general debility, if not the active development of some serious disease. Let this be borne well in mind, and acted upon, and we shall have cause to be grateful. The bath and sponge form a primary element of physical culture, for without them the proper training of our muscles becomes utterly impossible. The pores must be kept comfortably and uniformly open before we can realize the benefit of active physical training, and this can be effected only by means of the sponge, which should be applied every morning, and after any violent exercise, which had caused us to perspire to any unusual extent. In this latter case, however, care must be taken to use tepid or slightly warm water only; for cold water, under the circumstances, might be accompanied with injurious effects, and tend to close suddenly the pores that had been already so much relaxed through over or active exertion.

There is another advantage connected with physical culture and athletic exercises which is of all importance, and especially to the young; it is that of a tendency toward temperance, and the utter rejection of all excesses touching the use of spirituous liquors, and that of tobacco also. There is nothing so prejudicial to the system and to manly beauty as the immoderate use of the wine cup. No man who indulges in alcoholic drinks or in the “weed” as it is called, can ever be all that he should be. The love and the respect of a pure and good woman is lost to a man, or never accorded to him if he will persist in the debasing use of the bowl; and when he is deprived of this—when he is a pariah to the sex—there is not much left for him to live for here below. Let me not be misunderstood in this important point:—no man who is given to the immoderate use of whisky and such abominations has ever secured happiness to himself or the partner of his bosom. I need not dwell on this part of the subject. The newspaper press and the experience of thousands bear evidence to the truth of what I say, in the countless illustrations presented to us daily. We must, then, if we would be men, eschew the bottle and take the way pointed out by temperance and virtue, which simply means the way of happiness, prosperity and peace.

The mind and body appear to go hand in hand. When virtue imbues the one, health and strength appear to wait on the other. It is the order and the way of heaven. Neither soul nor body is ever itself in abnormal conditions. The way is clear before us; and we who would attain the highest standards of perfect man or womanhood must obey natural laws, and conform to them systematically.