The history of another muscular leader, Milo of Crotona, may possibly have some elements of truth in it, and we can quite imagine his marching with his countrymen against an army of Sybarites, clothed in a lion’s skin and brandishing a tremendous club; but it will take more than the proverbial “grain of salt” to enable us to swallow the story of his running a mile with a four-year-old ox on his shoulders, killing the animal, and eating the carcase, every inch, in one day!
It is not the way of modern athletes to show their strength by killing four-year-old oxen, or knocking men down like ninepins. They let us see their development of muscle at the wrestling match, at the oar and the wicket, at swimming and cycling, at their walking, running, and leaping performances, and one great advantage of this is that the ladies, who were excluded from the ancient “gymnasia” on pain of death, can in these days, by their presence, not only secure enjoyment to themselves, but give pleasure and encouragement to many an aspirant for athletic fame, who, if for no other reason, would endure the hardest training to “win the plaudits of the fair.”
In the matter of training and developing the muscles, the old Italian proverb will, as in so many other cases, apply, “Chi va piano va sano e lontano,” or, as we should say, “He that goes gently and steadily goes safely and far.” There must be moderation in the commencement, or there will be a “breakdown” in the end. No youth who doubts the soundness of his heart and lungs should go in for muscular training—for heavy work with the dumb-bells, for instance—without medical advice. To weakly constitutions training may be injurious—even fatal. In developing the voluntary muscles, as of the arm and leg, the growth of which we can measure, we must be careful of the involuntary muscles—those regulating the heart and lungs, and which are naturally and unconsciously brought into use. Of course, those muscles most brought into play by special exercise will be most developed—of the legs and thighs, for instance, in walking, and those of the arms, legs, and loins in rowing. For the general development of muscle, it is, of course, well to “take on” those sets of muscles not used in one’s ordinary occupation. Thus a youth who is sitting the greater part of his time at study or work should walk, swim, and row; one who has a walking occupation would do well to take both to rowing and swimming; whilst a “waterman” would do best to go in for hard walking.
Every one knows that diet has a great deal to do with the development or deterioration of “muscle,” and that meat, vegetables, and drink should be very judiciously combined. Weston—whose great walk, in 1884, of 5,000 miles in 100 days, was spoken of by Dr. Andrew Blyth as “the greatest recorded labour, if its continuity be considered, that a human being has ever taken without injury”—dieted himself as follows:—
Breakfast (6.30 a.m.).—Porridge, eggs or fish, bread and butter, toast or mutton, and coffee.
Lunch (11 a.m.).—Bread and butter, and coffee.
Dinner (2 p.m.).—Mutton broth, meat, potatoes, cabbage, bread pudding, and soda water or ginger ale.
Tea (7 p.m.).—A little toast, and tea or coffee.
Supper (10.30 p.m.).—Toast, figs, sponge cake, pudding, and milk or soda water.