“Would you be good enough to explain what that is?” asked the judge.
“Certainly,” answered Ben. “It is a moving of the arms, the body and the limbs in such a manner as to bring all the muscles into play, thus,” (here he began to work the upper part of his body to and fro, while the spectators roared aloud). “Practice of this kind,” continued Ben, “is most beneficial to the whole system. It is better than trying to lift heavy weights, in which there is more or less danger of overstraining oneself. The body exercise can be taken by anybody, no matter how weak. It’s a great thing!”
“I should say so!” interrupted the judge.
“Yes,” resumed Ben, “it does persons a great deal of good, and in order to know how much they are improving, their relations come around frequently to witness their performances, and to judge of what progress they have made, both in health and strength.”
This called forth a fresh outburst of applause; but Ben preserved the utmost gravity.
“I may say to your honor,” he went on, “that this subject is not understood by the great mass of the people in this country. They do not take exercise enough. They shut themselves up in offices and shops, over-tax their energies, eat unwholesome food, and as a consequence become dyspeptic, sallow-faced, and miserable. Now, if they would spend a few hours each week in a gymnasium, it would do them more good than all the doctor’s pills that were ever made.”
“Upon my word,” exclaimed the judge, “you are not the sort of man I had supposed from what I had heard of you. I thought that you must be a monster, but I find that you are very much of a gentleman.”
This compliment was greeted by a round of applause from the spectators, all of whom had been won by Ben’s ready wit and intelligent bearing.
“I think you will find, sir,” rejoined Ben, “that the monsters are those who have pressed these charges against me.”
“Well, perhaps that is so,” said the judge. “However, it is my duty to hold you, and I will therefore put you under two hundred dollars bonds.”