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^^

THE

SCIENCE OF SELF DEFENCE.

A TKEATISE ON

SPARRING AND WRESTLING,

[KCIiUDING

COMPLETE INSTKUCTIONS
DEVELOPMENT.

TEAINING

AND PHYSICAL

iVEKAL REMARKS UPON, AND A COURSE PRESCRIBED

FOR THE REDUCTION OF CORPULENCY.

BY EDMUND

E.

PEICE.

^Trt-

NEW YOEK

DICK & FITZGEEALD, PUBLISHERS.

\W1

Qv

n 3$
7P9 f

Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1867, by

DICK & FJTZGERALD,

In the Clerk's ofSce of the District Coui-t of the United States, for the Southern
District of

New York.

Pharles

p.

Godfrey,

THE GBNEBOUS FKIEND

AND ACCOMPLISHED GENTLEMAN,

THIS WOEE
IS

AJPPECTIONATELX DEDICATED BY

THE AUTHOE.

^sq.,

PREFACE

giving

we do

tlie

following pages

so witli

oscillating

between pride and

our maiden effort/ear for

to write

soon

its

tMs work in 1860, but

after,

to

the world,

a certain degree of anxiety

pride at

fear

"We began

success.

war breaking out

tlie

compelled us to defer tke undertaking to

a more auspicious season.

And now

tkat Military

arms are no longer fasHonable, doubtless "Old Nature's"

will

arms in adjusting quarrels or in

be the only weapons needed-

self-protection

Therefore as a

natural consequence, their practical development'and

scientific

Some
preface,
sider all

use should be earnestly cultivated.

readers

may

inquire

and many devoted to

prefaces lores.

why

our work needs a

light literature

With

all

may

con-

due deference, we

esteem this an error, for from a preface you

may

glean

the author's intentions and opinions in reference to his

work.

The

prefaces of Sir "Walter Scott, are models

humor and

of

historic

Bulwer instructive and

most eminent authors

truth and beauty

interesting.

those of

all

have in

in all ages

deprecated the severity of

At

events the

their prefaces

and appealed

critics

to the

kindness of their readers in regard to faults and imperfections

and anticipated

"Custom

An

So

We
shall

it is

exacts,

and who denies her sway?

epilogue to every five-act play."

equally imperative on the subject of prefaces.

have therefore resolved that our

be ushered into

the literary honors.

of?

objections,

Shall

to the

days of Grreece and

throwing the discus, hurling

at

the

Olympian, Pythian, Isthmian or

religious

festivals

javelin,

in

Running,

Shall we tell of the

Nemean games, and

months the Athletes underwent prepara-

tory training in the

Gymnasium

at Elis

careful tuition of accomplished Masters,

greatest Statesmen, Poets,

Olive

Rome

Romans contended

Leaping, Wrestling and Boxing f

the

all

classic lore in recounting the sports

and games of antiquity; how

for ten

bantling

shall our preface treat

the noblest of the Grecians and

how

little

"breathing world" with

But what

we go back

and exhibit our

this

Crown,

under the

and how the

and Warriors contended

and how Alcibiades, the

for

finest

PREFACE,

formed

man

physique to
"

of his age,

Ms

owed Ms

training for

He deemed
To wear

it

XI

tlie

exquisite

and superb

Olympian games?

no small part of

his

renown

the Olive with the Laurel crown."

Our purpose

is

not to dwell on the past; but no

one familiar with the history of the Grrecian or

people, can fail
sports

to realize the

fact,

and games they were indebted

that to

Eoman

out-door

for their stalwart

made Eome the mistress of the

was only when effeminacy and luxury per-

warriors, warriors that

world.

It

vaded the masses of the nation that the seven-hilled

Queen

fell

before the conquering

and Yandals.
will

"We presume no one

deny the advantages

arm of the

Groths

at the present

(not only to the

day

sedentary

but to every one) of wise and systematic physical

training.
The umon of strength and beauty in the
human form is the greatest point to be acMeved, and
if "

Mens sana in

ings, it

of

all

corpore sano'^ is the greatest of bless-

can only be obtained by a judicious exercise

the powers of the

mind and the muscles of the

body acting in harmony;

therefore

contradiction

that

in

asserting

we do not

fear

out-door sports and

gymnastic exercises promote cheerfulness, "clear the

cobwebs from the brain," excite a healthy circulation

of the blood, and brace and harden the muscles.

many

earnest students have

defeated

How

all their efforts

Xn

TREFACE.

mankind, by a neglect of

for the elevation of

tbeir pbjsical resources

dooming tbemselves

We

of suffering and a premature grave.

many
in

examples of

illustrious

tbis

to a life

could quote

tbis neglect of tbe body,

tbe over anxiety for tbe development of

Tbougb

tellectual powers.

most

and strengtbening

obvious principle of busbanding

tbe in

barmonyis

perfect

perfect

beauty, and tbougb tbe immortal soul, tbe ever-active

mind of man,

gems of

are

priceless

wortby of preservation and care

is

value, not less

tbe casket in wbicb

tbey are ensbrined.

But our work

we must

not

and

not a treatise on medicine

is

Mgbten our

readers, nor

must we com-

mit tbe worst of offences in tbis wide-awake age by

Our

becoming prosy.
to give a correct

and

object, tben, in tbis

reliable

Self Bef&nce^'' not founded

volume

Manual on tbe

on

"

is

Art of

" obsolete" rules

of a

by-gone age, but on xue practical results of our own

experience and obser\^ation, and,

we

ness and precision tbat will render

trust,
it

witb a clear-

invaluable to tbe

pupil and interesting to tbe amateur and general reader.

We

also give sucb bints

on

training as will be usefiil

to all persons engaged in sedentary pursuits.

Even

tbose

wbo look witb

borror and disgust on

tbe Priae Ring are willing to allow tbat a scientific

knowledge of

self

defence

is

desirable

simply a^

a,

Xm

PEEFACE.

means of

and

self preservation

tainly the philantliropist, of

two

and

protection,

a " free fight," which, as Shakespeare says

least,

cer-

evils will choose the

may

end in "bloody noses and cracked crowns," being

far

butcheries that have too

preferable to the wholesale

many

often disgraced the civilization of

of our large

cities.

Man

The organ of com-

a pugnacious animal.

is

developed in

hativeness is largely

many

and has

heads,

and

just as legitimate a place as Reverence or Ideality^

though Phrenologists term

distinction to

it

a propensity, (in contra-

the moral and

intellectual

and

energy are

organs,)

Without

indispensable.

it

which courage

enters largely into every enterprise in

it,

Greorge

Stevenson would never have spanned England with

railroads, or

our Fulton set his

in majestic beauty

Wisdom

on the

should teach

istence, or

power

guide and control

us,

fair

good or

it.

It is a

evil,

but

men

a giant."

ex-

fact that pro-

of great forbearance

satisfied that a

thorough

forbearing, for they feel

" glorious to possess a giant's strength,

it like

its

wisely to

Art of Self Defence" renders men

not quarrelsome but

use

how

well-known

under provocation, and we are

"

steamer floating

not to ignore either

for

fessional pugilists are generally

knowledge of the

first

bosom of the Hudson.

Therefore,

it

is

but cowardly to

on the score of good

XIV

PREFACE.

manners and good breeding, we suggest a thorough

cultivation of this

manly accomplishment.

must bring these

eliminary remarks to a close, trust-

pi

ing our labors will

physical training

we hope our

is

little

not prove entirely in vain.

book

may be

who have

its

tc

the

means of

attract-

hitherto given

little

may be

acted

judicious system of training

may
may

thought to the subject, that

plant the rose on

As

exciting attention in this country,

ing the notice of those

upon, and that

But we

its

hints

any a faded cheek and that we

see the rare combination of physical beauty, strength

and

gentleness, un'tcd to those moral

qualities that ever

mark

and

intellectual

the true gentleman.

ON TENTS.

PAGE

The Aem
The Feet,

17
23

The Head,

28

The Body,

32

Spaeeing,

35

Blow Number One,

38

Blow Number Two,

41

Blow Number Three,

Blow Number Four,
Blow Number
Blow Number

..,...,

45

Five,

Blow Number Seven,

55

Pabettng,

59

Parry

Pany Number Four,

Parry Number Five
Parry Number Six,
Parry Number Seven,

50
53

Six,

Number One,
Parry Number Two,
Parry Number Three,

47

61

63
,

65

67
69
71

73

XVI

CONTENTS.
PAGE

Fibbing,

76

Cross and Counter Fibbing,

Getting the Head in Chanceey,

Getting the Head

ottt

op Ohancebt,

78
81

85

SlDE-FAULS,

91

Cboss-buttocks

93

Steikeng the Bag,

96

iNTEODtrCTION TO TEAINING,

98

Teaining,

110

ooepulency,

123

THE ARM

S a motive power

offence

for

or defence,

would be a mere waste of our time

that of our readers, were

the propriety

arm

is

we

to expatiate

of the heading to these pages.

literally the

it

as well as

upon

The

motive power physi-

principal

man for offence and defence. This is

Who, possessing the ordinary instinct of
pugnacity common to humanity, ever received a blow
that did not at once acknowledge the favor by hitting
cally given to
self evident.

'

out" straight from the shoulder?

"Who

that

is

about

to receive one, does not instinctively place himself as

rapidly as possible in the best natural position to

it

ward

off ?

Whether a man

is

of an extremely bellicose disposi-

tion or otherwise, the disposition to return or parry a

blow

mal

is

instinctive

and cannot be wanting in

his nor-

condition.

With

or without a weapon,

it

may be

considered

18

To

invaluable.

the honor of the Anglo-Saxon blood,

be said that the tendency to use a weapon

let it

by

rarely evinced, either

save the cause of quarrel be one

can wipe

is

American or Englishman,

the

wMch

blood alone

such a manifest disparity in

out, or there is

age or physical strength between the parties as to render such a

results,

Let

trial

of the question between them in

its

a prejudged certainty.

me

then indicate to

in which, they can

my

readers the best

employ the

original

manner

weapons of

defence which they inberit from their primary progenitor.

To
is

it

Old Adam.

administer a blow with sharp and telling

absolutely necessary that

and clean in your delivery

j

uring your opponent,

you

you should be

effect,

precise

otherwise, instead of in-

are liable to disable yourself.

This must, as a necessary consequence, render you liable

to defeat, even

though you

may be

infinitely stronger

than your adversary.

To avoid

tion should be given

to the position of

this,

They should invariably be disposed

(which, because

it

is

easy,

ready to repel an attack

by

assailing,

The

is

your

first atten-

your arms.

in an easy attitude,

certain to

be graceful,) as

efficiently, as to retaliate

upon,

your adversary.

position of the arms

varied according to your

ypill,

own

however, have to be

capabilities.

THE AEM.

No specific

19

wHcb

or invariable rule can be given

is

applicable to every kind of figure, disposition, or weigbt.

Tbere are perbaps in tbe world no two

wbose position

Is

As no two poets

figbt

treating tbe

deliver tbemselves of tbe

painters
it

in perfectly tbe

same

wbile

one

we

no two

as

same lineaments

as

no two

so is

it

men

almost

pugilists to take exactly tbe

bowever nearly tbe pbysical conforma-

attitude,

tion of

subject could treat

same manner, and

an impossibility for two

spar or

same subject would

same numbers

wben embodying tbe same

possess exactly tbe

pu.gilists

wben tbey

precisely alike

man may

state

tbis,

approacb tbe otber.

However,

tbere are rules witbout tbe ob-

servance of wbicb neitber tbe poet nor painter can do

So tbere are

anytbing wortb looking at

po'sition

tend

to, if

you intend covering yourself

your opponent.
norance

be

tbe

unavoidable

frontispiece

ornamented by your

at-

or punisbing

Sbould tbese by any cbance or

unobserved,

would be tbat your

ately

rules for tbe

of tbe arms, wbicb you would do well to

would be

ig-

certainty

so elabor-

assailant, or at all events

your body would be so cruelly punisbed, tbat you migbt

find

it

extremely unpleasant to be visible to your

fiiends for tbe

ensuing two or tbree weeks.

tbese circumstances

you may

in*-all

as well as not to attend to tbem.

Under

probability find

it

20

THE AEM.
In the

or, as

up.

first

place

the phrase

This

is

tlie

is,

fist

a matter of

require practice.

The

too tightly,) and the

of them, that

hand should be properly

the

when

much

importance and will

fingers should

thumb
the

arm

closed,

should be properly made

be clenched, (not

fo doubled
is

down

outside

in proper position for

-FIBST POSITION.

action before your adversary,

above the knuckles.

If the

he can see no portion of it

hand be

knuckles form a sort of arch, and

if at

rightly held the

the

moment

the

THE AEM.

21

blow be given, the band be clencbed witb

might

it

cannot but be

In the next place your

at

about two thirds of

tremity of the

left arra.

its

should be extended

whole length, and the ex-

arm should range

The back of

of your shoulder.

just below the level

the

hand should be

turned downward, but at the same time

the

should be slightly turned upward from the

wrist.

this position the

upon a

exactly

back of jour knuckles

fatiguing,

and while

easier or less

powerful propelling muscle

its

scarcely in full tension,

at

By

be thrown

this position of the left arm, is

and nothing could well be

prompt exertion

will

hand

with the face of your opponent.

line

The advantage of
self evident,

your

all

effective.

it is

is

capable of complete and

any moment

for offence or defence.

Secondly, your right arm should be extended across

your body, your finger knuckles touching the nipple

of the

left

This must necessarily bring the

breast.

knuckles of the back of your hand immediately towards

your adversary's
This position
while

its

face.

is

even easier than that of the

In each of them
squared, so that

arm,

your elbows should be evenly

when

will just clear the

vancing.

left

advantages are precisely the same.

either

body

arm

either in

is

put in motion,

it

drawing back or ad-

22

when you

Thirdly,

are sparring

you

deliver or

push

out each arm alternately, throwing out the one arm, as

you recover
one arm

the other

draw back the

or

when

other, so that

the

out from the body, ready to repel or attack,

is

prompt

quietly at rest,

is

may

chance for any mischief which

to seize

upon a

court attention.

In laying down these rules for the position of the

arms we have

manner

expressed ourselves

possible.

Whether

it

is

Brevity

or not, this

in the

simplest

said to be the soul of wit.

is

we do know,

teaching the science of sparring,

that while

we have

invariably

found that brevity of explanation and immediate practical

exemplification were the surest

means of giving

the pupil an accurate idea of that which

necessary.

(sometimes
the pupil)

Here, of
it

is

course, practical

must be owned

almost

as

above

absolutely

practically unpleasant to

by a

impossible, but

figures given with tlie

is

exemplification

reference to the

rules, it will

easy for the willing

learner

however be
to

acquire

thoroughly the elementary principles of the right position of the arms,

when they

are intended to be em-

ployed, either as the means of attack, or as a

mode

of

defence.

THE FEET

to his arms, in their actual utility to the

'EXT

pupil his feet

pugnacious
single
art

may be

calling.

can be at

is

They must not

moment suppose

But

reckoned.

should be warned that Boxing

readers

an essentially

therefore for a

that a preceptor in the scientific

disposed to rank the power of running

all

away, as one of the principal elements of this

utility.

Fleetness of foot might be an equivocal compliment

when

proffered as the leading one to a Boxer.

a certain extent

be cultivated, as
vantage

when

balanced.

It

Yet

to

absolutely necessary, and should

celerity of

motion

is

always an ad-

weight, height, and science are equally

is,

body upon the

may be

it is

however, in the accurate poise of the

feet, in

the additional

momentum which

given to the force of a blow

by momentarily

shifting the centre of gravity, as well as

rapidity in

change of position, that the main value of the members

THE

24

Otlierwise the "

consists,
tlie

FEET.

iiglitiiig

upon

liis

stumps" as

Old Knight does in the ballad of Chevy Chase,

the legs were "hacked

off,"

geous, although, as far as the author

consider
position

as

it

is

concerned,

feet,

then, is

No amount

an

affair

we

Your

very decidedly objectionable.

upon your

importance.

if

might not be disadvanta-

of paramount

of skill in the management

of your arms would in any

way compensate

for ignor-

This the more

ance or carelessness in this respect.

especially as the rules for the position of the pupil are

and easy of comprehension with reference to his

clear
feet.

"When once

them

is

learned, the practical advantage of

so palpably obvious that they run

no

risk of

being speedily or indeed ever forgottenLet

it

therefore

readers, that

it is

be

impressed strongly upon

all

positively a matter of vital necessity

that they should thoroughly

comprehend and employ

the rules which are here given

them

in as simple

and

condensed a form as practicable.

The

position to be

assumed by amateurs must be

taken as on opposite page.

you

If
most,

are accustomed to

which

commonly

is

also

the

left foot fore-

and

must be placed

in a

adopted, the

direct line with

box with

generally considered preferable,

left

foot

your adversary

be in a direct

line

the right heel must

with the line of your

left foot.

THE FEET.
The

distance between

25

two heels should

tiie

be, as

precisely as possible, thirteen inches, while the toe of

the right foot should be placed as nearly as can be at

an angle of forty-five

degrees

drawn between your

heel.

Two

left

and

supposed to be

and your right

thirds of the weight of

be thrown upon your

FIG- n.

left

footj

PosrxioN

The reason

foremost.

line

heel,

from a

toe

which

your body should

is

supposed to be

of

for stating that so great a pro-

portion of your weight should be thrown

left leg,

is,

to constitute it as

much

upon your

as practicable the

centre of gravity of your body.

The

left

leg should be nearly straight.

however be

The

stiff

right leg should

portion of

It

should not

in position.

be slightly bent, and the pro-

your weight which

thrown upon the ball of the

it

bears

should

be

foot.

Your body should be turned about

a quarter face

from your adversary.

This

is

in order that

you should avoid making your

THE FEET.

26

body more of a

target for the

blows of jour opponent,

tban you can rationally avoid.

In moving your arms, remember tbat your body

ought by the aid of your legs to move with them; and

do not keep your

feet in the

same

place,

but move

gently round your adversary, feeling for an opening

to strike.

If these rules appear

let

him remember

somewhat minute

that without a

to the reader,

good and well

bal-

anced position he loses not only half of his capacity to

avoid, dodge, or

ward

an opponent's blow, but fully

off"

two thirds of his power in

This

striking.

last

depends

not alone on his muscle, or the amount of knowledge he

may

possess of the use of his arms, but in a very great

measure upon the

ease, precision

and strength of his

attitude.

In a word the leverage of his power depends

upon

feet.

his

We

are sorry to differ so widely from

the old school of Boxing, yet are willing to be termed

radical in this case, as our position, practically speaking,
is

infinitely

the better one;

for instance,

throw the centre of gravity on the

blow reaches your opponent

why

not have

celerity to

your right

it

there

all

time, if only to give

at the

a measure) so that you

ease should necessity require

you must

before your

then, if that is the case,

the

your motions, and

(in

left foot

it.

same time

may

relieve

retreat with

THE

FEET.

27

Arcliimedes demanded a fulcrum for

lie

might be able to move the world.

liis

lever that

Rightly using

the leverage which nature has given him, the Boxer

may

not be able to emulate the Utopian wish of the

Greek, but will at

all

events give a blow treble the

weight, and with an impetus which he might not other-

wise do.

Such a
sirable.

result

is,

Therefore

upon the

to say the least of

is it

that

we have

position of the legs

and

it,

it

much

stress

Let the stu-

feet.

dent in the physical science of Boxing

neglect to give

extremely de-

laid so

by no means

a corresponding attention.

THE HEAD.

MAN without

a head, could

by no

possibility

The same negative

become a Boxer,

would,

be also implied by the absence of the arms, or

member

a corresponding deficiency of any other

members of the body.

would have

be

to

may

Legs or arms

accepted with a wide

Perhaps the

demanded from the

realities

by

but in the continuous progress of

ture,

we have no

will

be forever an imperfect one.

ered as

it

last

difierence.

of these

be perfectly able to perform

perfected, the

right to

the

may

scientific

all positive

presume that

its

tageous to the

be,

not

the duties,

all

Boxer,

manufac-

competency

Should

it

ever be

blow from an iron clenched hand,

might

or

implication, however,

be and have been supplied by the

surgical machinist.
at present

Such an

deliv-

would be so decidedly advan-

man who gave

it,

that if that point of

THE HEAD.

29

completion were readied in our time,

unwilling to undergo amputation for

purpose of

re-

much

harder

decidedly different.

The

wildest

hitter.

"With the head

it

is

of the most inventive genius, or the highest

vision
effort

member with

placing the amputated

and more rapid

we might not be

tlie

of mechanical ingenuity, can never succeed in

supplying or replacing the loss of that most valuable

member

of the body.

Therefore

is it

cessity that a

that

we propound it as a positive nequ.ite as much necessity for a

Boxer has

head as a pohtician.
ISTay

in nine cases out of ten, at the least,

he has

more.

But

for the eyes in that

head he would be unable to

detect the vulnerable points left

versary.

'

He would

open to him, by

his ad-

be open to attacks, which, because

unexpected, he would be unable to

foil

he would, in a

word, be liable to continuous punishment, without the

possibility (save

by

any way returning

But

a fortuitous or chance blow,) of in

it.

for the brain in that head,

originate a

mode of attack

he would be unable to

or conceive a plan of defence.

For these reasons do we strongly recommend our

pupils, as

we

advise our readers, to look after this very

important organ.

30

THE HEAD.

The

rules for

its

position are very simple.

should be well poised upon the body.

It

Its posi-

tion should neither

be too rigidly nor too loosely main-

tained, so

may be

that

it

rapidly thrown on either

may

shoulder to avoid, if possible, a blow which

wickedly auned at
to close

it,

by an opponent who

your eyes or

to otherwise deface

is

be

disposed

your

frontis-

piece.

The chin should be

^this

inclination

The

inclined

must be

in,

but not too

much

so

slight.

teeth should be closed firmly, but

by no means

too tightly.
This,

by

necessity.

the bye,

How

is

not only a physical but a mental

can you suppose any energy, be

physical or mental, in a

man who

open, as if he were disposed to trap

an open mouth
biit

one that

circuip.stance

is

not with

flies ?

A man with

one that opens occasionally,

open in grave circumstances

(and what

can be more momentarily grave than a

possibly proximate thrashing)

ton.

it

keeps his mouth

is an'

indubitable simple-

Let no simpleton imagine that he can become an

accomplished Boxer.

Brain

nacity in any shape as

Greneral

Grrant

and

J.

it is

C.

is

as

necessary to pug-

to pacific progress in

life.

Heenan may be examples,

widely different in position and degree, yet both of

them (we

state this fact

with regard to the

first

simply

THE HEAD.
upon

31

report, witli respect to the last

may be

knowledge,)

sonal

endowed

per-

with, brain.

The eyes should not be

as with

however,

should,

upon intimate

considered tolerably well

directly fastened

widely open.
foils

They

too

the

in

upon those of your

fencing,

be

antagonist, with

the purpose, if

you

plan of attack.

Let the reader however be warned that

the eye
servant.

is

are able to do

an unwittingly treacherous

often, too often,

As you may

be able to divine his purpose, by

observing the eyes of your adversary,

that

of divining his

so,

it

might happen

he would be able to divine yours.

would recommend you,

charge

all active

ponent of average

opposed to one
fully

made.

much

as

skill

much

and

The eye

his superior,

direction of the

as

much

closed, as a person

open.

An

we
dis-

op-

strength, can always, unless

ward a blow

which he supposes beforehand

The

Therefore

possible, to

expression from your eyes.

is

success-

about to be

blow you purpose should

consequently never be evinced

much

as

by

as possible

the eye.

should be one third

can look steadily at an object for a

longer period thus,

than with his eyes wide

THE BODY.
..44

body

the

there

is

much

said than of either of the

attached to
its

This

it.

is

less that

members
not on

need be
that

are

account of

not being an exceedingly necessary component por-

tion of the animal structure of the Boxer.

may be af&rmed

Like the Eegimental

pugilistic figure.

be of

little

ertheless

boxes as
fight.

use

it

is

is

In

when

Sutler,

necessity to the

a positive

it

sumes everything.
something, bu.t

it

may
The

man who

provide nothing while

Sutler,

it

may
Nev-

the actual fighting begins.

the Sutler to the Regiment that

Perhaps

fact it

to be an indispensable portion of the

would
it

con-

is true, does provide

generally contrives to

consume much

more.

Unlike the Sutler of a regiment, however, who generally contrives to

the

keep out of the way of

body of the Boxer

society

when hard blows

is

bound

to

are current.

all fighting,

be present in his

Very

generally,

THE BODY.
a number of them

also, it takes

the

members have not been

without the

33

invariably

so,

when

trained to do their duty,

of individually testifying

capability

its

gratitude.

Unfortunately, no advice can be given to the reader

by which

body can avoid a blow.

his

been introduced to good

and arms, or

legs

at

themselves, as
to profit

by

failure will

them

their

it

rate,

in

it

manner

advice,

it is

duties, or

its results,

Should they

However, a

in such a

fail

say that their

being about to do

may

ally

advantageous to

them and

so,

we

to

shall

their interest.

body from

perforce be dormant part-

although during such whipping they

active partners.

little

In taking your

Boxer.

as

manifestly their interest to save the

may have been

own

Having explained

be no fault of ours.

being whipped, as they

ners in

its

method has been

we can only

leave the matter entirely to

For

the

can be to the body.

this

however,

members by which they may

indicated to those

themselves with

any

It has,

the shape of

allies in

manner

advice

may be

position, the

as not to

given to the body.

body should be placed

render

it

irksome to the

In other words, the chest should be inclined

the least particle forward, while as the arms move, the

body should

also

sway with them,

easing the muscles of either leg.

for the

sake of

34

THE BODY.

By

paying attention to

tain degree

something

them

assist its

towards

this,

members
balancing

the

body

the

an account, which, by the by,

mirably adjust

after the

work

is

will to a cer-

in tbeir work,

done.

and do

account

between

may

very ad-

it

SPAKEOG.

AYING

laid

down

tlie

foregoing

rules

in

regard to the position of the limbs and general attitude of the

Boxer,

we now come

to

the practical part of the science.

Few
how

individuals are there to be

to spar well

perhaps,

and thoroughly.

who know how

we are

fectly willing as

first.

On

for

with,

As

who know

few are there

to write for publication.

to

it

would be worse than

us to profess an ignorance of the

the contrary, having

some knowledge,

most Professors of science themselves admit, of

ring, it is believed that it

this little

Per-

acknowledge our compara-

tive inability as to the latter,

mock modesty

met

can be placed

as

spar-

intelligibly, in

volume, before the mass of those

who may

believe their time will not be lost in teaching themselves the practical utility of the muscle

has given them.

which nature

36

SPAEEING.

Should we be able to do

in rarer ones, as

we

will

all legiti-

and

for self-protection,

it

sincerely hope, for the

Our endeavors

of others.

they will in

so,

mate cases be enabled to use

punishment

be mainly to simplify

the science, so that the plainest intelligence

may

under-

stand our meaning.

In the rules already given for

that

we have

position, it is believed

succeeded, and that our readers are at

present thoroughly conversant

with

elements,

its

as

thoroughly as they could be after having had a series

of personal lessons

if so,

they are

now

in a condition

to learn the blows.

There are only seven blows, which will be denoted

by

their

doubt can

numbers,

as

1,

exist that it will

2,

3,

4,

5,

6,

and

7.

No

appear strange that there

should be so few blows in the science of Boxing.

But

no more than seven notes in music.

The

there are
palette

on which the painter spreads

tains only seven.

nations

are

not

his

colors con-

But of what a multitude of combitone

and color

susceptible.

How

numerous are the variations and hues which may be

wrought out of each of them

with what a skill can

the painter and the musician blend

and

tint.

When

them

into

harmony

the old Greeks gave their marble

glories to the world, they

orders of architecture.

were contented with three

The Romans

afterwards added

37

SPARRING.

two bastard

to tliese
ite.

days,

It

no budding

Tuscan and Compos-

orders, the

would be only

presume, that in those

fair to

grumbled about the poverty

architect

Norman and

of architecture, although afterwards the

But how

Gothic styles were added.

these orders

and

styles

been modified

ously in some cases, and

how

infinitely

How

have

incongru-

grandly and exquisitely

in others.

Why then

should you consider

ing has no greater variety

it

strange that Box-

In practice you will find that the science must, as

other sciences do, complicate
the

But

itself.

thoroughly simple from knowledge,

politics, war,

the only

is

Bear

complicate with safety.

everything you study

this in

shown

seven blows will

and not how

command

bu.siness,

to

in

Moreover, the

in the following pages, that these

the body, pre-supposing

Our present

man

mind

boxing, or any of

the thousand arts or sciences of peace.

reader will be

is

The man who can be most

primary motive.

who can

all

simplicity

ward.

all

that

the vulnerable parts of

they are

however,

is

how

not parried.
to strike

out

BLOW NUMBER

'HIS blow
any

more generally employed

is

Therefore

other.

ONE.

we

shall

tlian

endeavor

be very plain in the description of

it,

to

and

desire the reader to give this his close attention.

It is struck at the right side of the face,

with the

left

hand.

The nose being

the centre of the face, the range of

the effect of this blow extends over the whole of

right

from the eye and nose as

To

deliver this

blow with anything

must keep yourself

Your opportunity must not be

cool.

must be watched and waited

of ten, patience

ence

is

when

like effect,

Determination

cool.

for.

yon

always

anticipated.

It

allied to a fair proportion of sci-

a great Boxer.

possibility,

is

In nine cases out

Eemember

that in

should your hand be delivered at random.

by no

its

far as the right ear.

be of the

slightest

no

case

This can,

advantage to you

BLOW NUMBER
on the

contrary,

must waste your

it

quently, if persisted

strengtli.

a percliance

to

but more wily and astute opponent.

When you

are sparring,

blow, you must wait until

got in distance.

When

PIG.

and intend

to deliver this

you consider
satisfied

of

that

this,

you have

throw the

nl.BLOW NUMBEE ONE.

whole weight of your body upon your

as

Conse-

certain to result ultimately

you up an easy prey

in rendering
feebler,

in, it is

39

ONE.

quick as you possibly can do

.

Yankee's pet idea of the "greased

left

so,

foot

Then,

(think of the

flash of lightning,"


40

miMBER

13L0W

and tiy

emulate

to

opponent's

out your

dart

rapidity;

its

manner shown

liand, in tlie

ONE.

in the cut, riglit

left

upon your

face.

"Whether parried or not, your position must be

re-

covered as speedily as possible.

Should
ried

chance that

it

by your

your

position

and

you

rightly,

highly satisfactory one.

blow should not be

this

antagonist,

if

you have

generally iind

will

It will also, in

impress his

mind with a profound, and

gratifying

respect for

your

par-

calculated
it

ordinary cases,

most

to yourself

a tolerable

capability as

sure and hard hitter.*

Says a writer on this subject,

golden rules for a Boxer, namely

per.

to

that there are two

hit straight

and keep your tem-

Fail in either of these requisites,

second best

off

"Eemember
:

fail

an account of a

in both,

battle

and you

and you wiU

will certainly

'

As the

ran a prominent feature of his face against a

ling in another direction,

and immediately

of the young man's other

known

fist

assailant rushed in
fist

which was

after struck the

This second round closed the

say again, keep your temper and hit straight.

blow takes more time

he

travel-

knuckles

a severe blow with the part of his

as the epigastrium to one branch of science,

bread-basket to another.

we

come

Listen

so.

where strength and weight and anger were

overmatched by skiU and coolness

person

pi'obably

do

You

and the

battle.'

So

see a circular

to deliver than a straight one,

and

if

your

opponent swings his arm round at you, while you dart out your own
fist

at him, your

blow

will

attempt has completed

its

have taken
journey."

effect

long before his clumsy

BLOW NUMBER TWO.

HIS

that

hand on the

Owing
in giving
ent.

same blow

precisely the

is

one, save

it

of the

left side

it,

the manner of
it

face.

its

delivery

blow Number One can

be.

This

the left side forward, the right

inches shorter than the

widely

you

is for

differ-

the simple rea-

body and

arm

is

left,

throw

legs

made some

left in its reach.

invariably lead off with your

afforded

is

be given as a leading blow, as

son, that as the position of the

is

last

to the necessarily greater change in position

Neither can

chance

as the

delivered with the right

is

and follow

for doing so, with

six

Hence, you
it,

if

your right

hand-

In making

this

body, bringing

Your

it

blow, you must of necessity turn your

to a full front towards

right shoulder

must be

your adversary.

raised, so as to

draw

BLOW NUMBER TWO.

42

your right hand on the same horizontal

line with

it,

about three inches from the nipple of the right breast

Then looking

at

your

must be darted out

man

steadily,

directly at the

your right hand

left side

of your

opponent's faca

FIG.

At

IV.BLOW NTJMBEB TWO.

the same time your

back, so that should

repeat the operation.

you

left

find

hand must be drawn

it

desirable,

you may

BLOW NUMBER TWO.

At

43

hand

a cross-counter or in fibbing, the right

the more destructive of the two

and strength which that hand, arm

greater precision

and shoulder generally

Here, however, I shall

possess.

not pause to explain the cross-counter or fibbing, as

is

my desire

and

blows before you in

to bring the

it

rotation,

make you clearly understand the parts they are

their mode of delivery, and their effect.
In

to

aimed

is

from the

this arises

at,

the action of giving this blow, your right leg should be

Your

bent forward.
nearly

upon a

right

level with

your right foot has

and the whole

knee has

your

also to

also to

be brought

The

left one.

heel of

be raised from the ground,

of your spring will be conse-

force

quently centered in your

right

If the

toe.

advice

which we have given in the description of Blow Number

One, respecting the waiting and watching an opportunity for your delivery,

is

not here repeated,

it

is

be-

cause, in nine cases out of ten, the inculcation of pa-

by

tience,

acquired

precept,

by

is

worse than useless

practice.

would do more

One

failure

it

and

to imprint its necessity

has to be
its

results

upon a student

of the art of self-defence, than any amount of exhortation.

ities

Eules
of

must be

may

be taught by inculcation, but qual-

mind trenching

in

any degree upon experience

practically acquired.

of an adversary,

In a word, the knuckles

if effectually tried as

a rebuke to your

BLOW NUMBER TWO.

44
impatience,

of

its

would do

far

more

converse upon your

verbal lecturing.

manage

You

to imprint the necessity

memory

will

than any amount of

be a lucky man,

to escape so forcible a

physically the value of patience.

if

you

means of being taught

BLOW NUMBER THREE.

sHIS blow

human

aimed

is

figure,

at a

lower portion of the

being intended to take

the pit of the stomach, and

the

In executing

hand.

left

is

effect

on

delivered with

this blow,

you should

appear to be sparring with an intention of giving blow

Number

Instead of making the last mentioned

One.

blow, you should, however, rise on, or spring with your

right foot with such

an impetus as to throw the whole of

your weight upon the ball of your

left foot, at

the same

time darting your arm in a downward direction at

mark, the pit of the stomach.

left

hand

your

in

right.

making
It

of its length.
line,

this blow,

You

should

assist

its

your

by the management of

should be thrown out about two thirds

This must not, however, be in a direct

but across the body, slanting in such a way that

would range about six inches

wrist.

Your

right

directly

above the

it

left

elbow being elevated to a level with

your mouth, with the muscular side of the arm turned

BLOW NUMBER THEEE.

46

towards your antagonist,

The

object

of this will be

readily apparent.
It is

an

effective

ward against any blow which might

be aimed at your face by your adversary.

needless to say that whether

FIG.

It

would be

you make an

effective

v.BLOW N0MBEB

blow or not your position should be rapidly recovered.

If effectively and strongly delivered, this blow will be

a decided

teazer.

NUMBER FOUR.

BLOT/

felS blow

given with the right hand, and

is

should be directed at the

left

side of

your op-

ponent's ribs.

When

well put

given with your

in,

is

it

when

a terrific one, and

full strength, in a serious contest,

decide the event of a battle.

delivered, there can

In any

case, if

be no doubt of

it

be

may

fairly

seriously em-

its

barrassing your adversary.

To make
your

left

Blow Number

This will naturally cause your

adversary to

you purposed

throw up his guard.

When you

are

making

your right hand should be well drawn up

around with your whole
with

it,

tolerable

delivering

strength, as if

One.

an opening,

this blow, after sparring for

hand should be thrown out with

to lend all

Number

VI.

its

force,

letting

this feint,

then swing

your body go

weight to the blow as in Figure

In the action of

striking,

should be extended level with your

face,

your

left

arm

being bent at

BLOW NUMBEE

48

FOUR.

the elbow, to a right angle, with the muscular part of

it

turned outwards.

This
ing

is for

adversary,
return,

the exceedingly sensible purpose of parry-

simultaneous blow at your

or

from

your

which he might not unreasonably be disposed

to favor

you

with, in the event of

FIG. YI.

BLOW

is certain,

you ought

as "

your blow being a

NUMBEIl FOUE.

failure either in strength or reach.

world

face

guarding against the possibility of a

As

L'homme propose

nothing in this

et

to be prepared for all chances.

Dieu

BLOW NUMBEE
Prudence

is,

to the full, as great

cess as patience.

your opponent's

Therefore
ribs,

49

FOUE.

an element of suc-

when intending

to reach

take a special care of your

own

eyes and nose.

rapid recovery of your

or success of this blow,

3

is

j^osition, after

the attempt

absolutely necessary.

BLOW NUMBER

blow

j^ir

^^^^
^r

is

FIVE.

a precise duplicate of the preceding

one, only given with the left hand,

ward blow,

it is

rarely

much

practised

by men who

well versed in the science of Boxing;

have occasionally seen

telling effect,

it

and might,

possibly, at

us.

refuse availing one's self of

As
when

it

half

round.

hand

in

seize

we

a peculiar mo-

We

are all

An

of

inviting

It is perfectly

absurd to

you spar

an oppor-

for

should you have determined upon trying

comes you

are

it.

in the preceding blow,

tunity

it.

less subject to temptation.

chance might open upon

although

delivered with thorough and

ment, be induced to administer

us more or

upon the

Being an awk-

right side of your antagonist.

it,

it,

and swing out your arm

This blow must be given with your

such a position that your thumb will be up-

permost.

The hand must

also be slightly bent at the wrist, so

BLOW NUMBER
that

51

FIVE.

your knuckles may be brought

to

lear upon your

adversary's ribs with good effect

Your
face,

right

arm should be thrown up

your

level with

bent at a right angle from the elbow, for a similar

purpose to that which the

Number

left

arm

fulfils

in

Blow

Four.

Fia. TII.BLOW

NmtBEB

FIVE.

Should we by any chance be induced to employ

blow,

mode

it

in

would almost invariably be

which we have hitherto used

return for the attempt led off

this

as a counter, (the
it,)

that

is

as

by our opponent, with

his

BLOW NUMBER

52
left

hand at^ur

face.

Even

FIYE.

tlien it

of mongrel, crossed between blows

this one,

given

it

After

must be

would be a

species

Number Three and

and could scarcely lay claim to the number

in

its

this,

genuine character.
as in the preceding blows, the position

at once recovered.

Blow NUMBER

HIS blow
both

is

struck directly at the centre of the

commanding the

face,

SIX.

chin, throat, nose,

and may be con-

It is delivered with the left hand,

sidered in most cases a delightful blow,

of being the recipient, you administer

In giving

upon the

you

and

eyes.

you ought

blow,

this

balls of

both

feet,

at the

when

instead

it.

to

raise yourself

moment

in

which

dart out your left hand.

Your

right

arm should be thrown

to guard yourself as

hand should be

you

raised

across

your body,

are striking, while

your right

some four inches from and

above your shoulder.

This blow
so

is

very

some

cases

Indeed,

it

although by no means
Blow Number One.
In

effective,

generally employed as

might, however, be preferable.

each particular blow will be,

at times, a

BLOW NUMBEB

54

SIX.

highly advisable delivery, whatever

excellence

when compared with

FIG.

As

may be

Vin.BLOW NUMBER

it is

relative

SIX.

after the preceding blows, so, after

to administer this one,

its

others.

your attempt

scarcely necessary to say

that yonr position should at once be recovered.

BLOW NUMBER SEVEN.

HE

seventli

tlie riglit

and

hand.

last

blow

This

is

an upper cut

as a leading or principal blow, but

delivered

when your opponent has

In giving

left

hand-

sity

thrown forward and he

iation,

which by

this

this blow,
is

Ms body

thus

is

mostly

led off with his

left

is

open

of necesfor retal-

means you may administer

great personal discomfort,

witli

seldom or never given

is

to his

and with a decided advan-

tage to yourself

To

give this blow properly,

be possible to avoid

it,

a level with your hip.

sink so low as

to drop

Your

you ought

not,

should

it

your hand behind, or on

right

hand should never

this.

"When you have any

this return, wait until

intention of availing yourself of

you

see

your opportunity, and

then draw back your elbow as far as you can, some-

what sinking your

right hand.

BLOW mrMBER

56

SEYEN.

In giving tMs blow, jour wliole strength must be

thrown into your arm and shoulder, and you must
strike out with a semicircular

motion upwards, making

the face of your antagonist the focus of your blow.

We

need again scarcely impress upon you, that your

recovery of position should be as prompt as possible.

It

may be

observed by the reader that

FIG.

we have

in

is:,.^BLow KtrsnsEE seves.

every case insisted upon the necessity of an immediate

recovery of the primary position.
later

learn

to

appreciate this

You must
paramount

sooner or
necessity.

BLOW

57

NUlilBER SEVEN.

Otherwise the propriety of doing

may be

so,

practically

imprinted upon your mental faculties by the unpleasant

physical results consequent

Good

respect

upon a neglect

in

this

generalship in struggles of every kind

must follow the one

rule of guarding against every

enough

to be able to put in

a telUng and vigorous blow, unless

you can prevent an

means of attack.

immediate

It is not

retaliation

which might by some unforeseen

chance be even more telling and vigorous.

be

so,

Should

it

the result of your successful blow might be a

severe personal punishment,

called Fabius

Fabius Cunctator, also

Maximus, the Roman Consul who beat

the Carthaginians,

may be

cited as a grand

example of

the results of caution and preparation.

Had
we

the

Romans

in this time possessed newspapers,

convinced that the war correspondents of the

feel

day would have

left

vided he cared for

abuse.

him no peace

in

life,

Fortunately for him, he probably

ing of what

was

always pro-

the pin-pricking of journalistic

knew

said of his proceedings until

noth-

he had

finished his work.

.

Hoping we have thus

laid

down

the

offensive

means of operating upon an adversary, more

clearly

than any professor of sparring has done up to the present time,

we now come

to the

mode

parrying and warding off blows.

3*

of defence, or of

This, let us observe,

BLOW NUMBER SEVEN.

58
is

quite as necessary to

have abeady given the

adversary,

body.

and

The

study of the

study as that for -which

rules.

You have

also to take care of

last

is

to

we

damage an

your own face and

quite as important a part of the

scientiflc art as

the first

PARRYmCx

F you

wisli

pariy a blow effectually,

to

know what your opponent

Tbis

is

is

a paramount necessity.

pose your eyes sbould be fixed upon

ject of divining bis intentions.

mines wbat be means to

not be early

tell-tales,

do.

For

bis,

It will

look at bis bands or bis sboulders.

tbis pur-

witb tbe obbe no use to

His bead

His eyes

first

about to do.

may

deter-

or

may

but sooner or later you will be

able to form a sbrewd guess at bis purposes, from tbe

A bard

pemstent endeavor to read tbem,

you may encounter unexpectedly

knowledge.

Tbis,

you

rap or two

in your searcb after

will find all tbe better.

Your

brain will be practically cultivated, and practical cultivation

is

one of tbe few tbings tbat

wbile be. retains

power.

man

never

forgets,

any degree of mental and pbysical

Having given you

tbis bit of preparatory ad-

60
vice,

we

shall

plainly as

As

describe the parries as

the blows.

there are seven blows, so there are seven corres-

ponding
tions

endeavor to

we have done

parries,

which

will

although some few of them have varia-

be pointed out as we come to them.

PARRY NUMBER

this parry

ONE.

your right arm sliould be thrown

upward and outward.

FIG. X.--PABEX

By

this action

you

NUMBER ONE,

will catch the

nent with the inside of your wrist

arm of your oppo-

PARRY NUMBER ONE.

tj*^

This must not be done

it

sliould

his

arm

be

although

wben you

catch

the motion should be continued in a semi-

By

circle.

witb. a violent jerk,

effected so qnickly tbat

doing

his

this,

arm

is

thrown from

its

direction or point of aim.

to

As

soon as the parry

its

natural guard, or in a word, let your primary po-

sition

is effected, let

be resumed as rapidly as

impress

it

upon the mind of the

your arm return

Let us also

possible.

reader, as

we

invariably

endeavor to do upon those of our pupils, never,

possible, to catch a

blow upon the arm.

must necessarily cause an injury

the blow, and

may

if

Such a parry

to the part receiving

not improbably render

ble for administering future punishment.

it less

capa-

PAERY NUMBER TWO.

IHIS pariy

is

a siinilar one to the

first

which I

have described.
It is effected,

parries the

however, with the

blow given with the

HG.

left

right hand.

XLPABET NUMBEE

TWO.

arm, and

PARRY NUMBER TWO.

64

As

tiie left

riglit one,

arm

is

more

in advance of

you

the inside, or muscular portion of

tlian
it,

your

should

be turned towards your opponent, catching his arm on

your wrist in the same manner

as in the

precediag

parry.

Then throw

his

diately return to

arm from

your

its

point of aim, and imme-

position.

PARRY NUMBER THREE.

IHIS parry

manner

tlie

Firstly,

with

a guard for

by dropping your

speed and adroitness.

down

will break

adversary will find

to imprint

stomacli,
It

it difficult

his person

ability.

right

arm

By

this

the blow, and your

immediately to recover

which may enable you very

upon

tlie

to say that I leave tlie choice

effect it

sufficient force,

his position,

of

your own discretion and

to

you may

means your wrist

tlie pit

effected in tliree different ways.

would be needless

of

is

may be

and

satisfactorily

and memory the

necessity

of more discretion in his delivery.

Secondly, the blow
opponent,

parry

it

by a

may be

rendered useless to your

rapidly retsogressive step while you

with a similar action, with your

Thirdly, should

immediate and

you

entertain

effective retaliation,

right

arm

across

and in advance of the

so that

it

shall

left

arm.

a strong desire for

you may drop your

be nearly

at

right angles

pit of your stomach.

At

PARRY NUMBER THREE.

bb

the same time, while

you

are in the action of receiving

the blow, bend your knees a

trifle

forward,

your body half round towards the

left

hand up

to

your

left,

and swing

drawing your

left shoulder.

This will cause your antagonist's blow to glide harmlessly

from you to the

in a direct line with

left,

your

while

left

need scarcely explain the purpose

FIG.

it

we have

Feeling that

for

which

it

we

may be

Xn.PAERY NtTMBER THREE.

used by an apt pupil, we leave

which,

will bring his face

hand.

it

to

that desire

not unnaturally presumed, you

entertain, to dictate the

employment you may put

may
it to.

PARRY NUMBER FOUR.

fmS

is

and

a difficult parrj to

accomplish

neatly

from a blow whicli we have

satisfactorily,

always had a most decided objection to receiving either upon the

Endeavor
movement,

kind of recession

which may be aimed

is

by a sudden

the blow

you can possibly do

would not be cowardice.

this case,

this

if

arm or on the body.

recede from

to

so.

Eecession, in

The

truth

desirable from

at you,

that

is

every blow

but more especially

is it

desirable from this one.

To
your

stop the
left

blow

elbow should be a

arm being
the blow

for

which

this

parry

arm must be dropped on your

raised to

may be

trifle

back from your

an angle of

parried

ward movement of your

by

intended,

your

hip, the fore-

forty-five degrees.

Or

downward and

out-

a rapid

left

is

left side,

arm, catching your oppo-

PAERY NUMBER FOUR.

68

nent's wrist with the inside of jours, and. throwing

off

from you

as in cut

Number

it

Four.

In the battle between Harry Broome and Harry

Orme, Broome was very nearly defeated by the blow to

which

this

is

the necessary

parry.

doubled him up, and for a round or two

riQ.

it,

completely

after receiving

Xm.PAHBY NXTMBEa FOUB.

he looked decidedly

an especial favorite of

number of

It

his battles

serious.

this blow,

by

its

Jemmy Massey made

and won the greater

judicious application.

PARRY NUMBER HVE.

'his parry
similar
It is

the purpose of warding

is for

blow on the opposite

much more

easily

tlie

side of the body.

effected.

To do

it,

your right arm must be dropped down sharply with a

semi-circular motion from the left breast to the right
hip.

At

the

draw your

same time

hand up

left

would be quite

as well to

to the shoulder, as

you may

it

possibly be tempted to reciprocate the complimentary

attention of

Be
for

your adversary.

careful in

should

faili.re,

it

your parry that

be

so,

it

be not too rapid

you might meet with a decided

and expose you to a singularly unpleasant

re-

ception of the consequences of your too great haste.

Indeed,

we would

seriously impress

it

upon the mind

of the reader, that too great haste in parrying

is

as fatal

70
an

PARRY NUMBER FIVE.

error, as too little

speed in striking.

in practising both blows

and

parries.

Begin slowly

Tbe

necessary

promptness in either will be the result of practice when

FIG. XrV.

FABRY

NUMBEB

you thoroughly understand the

and the necessity of the

parry.

FIVE.

intention of the blow,

PARRY

HIS

parry

is

mmm

six.

designed to guard the centre of

the face from the blow with your adversary's

left

hand.

FIG. XV.

It is

PARKY

NUMBER

SIX.

very often effected with either arm.

ever, is a

mode

This,

of parrying the blow, which

is

how-

more

PAEBT NUMBER

72
ordinarily

employed by

self-defence

well as

and

effective,

SIX.

skillful professors in the art of

as the legitimate parry is

it

is

requisite

that

simple as

you should

thoroughly understand it

Your

right

arm should be thrown up

position, parallel or level with

your

in a horizontal

chin, while

upon the top of your

your

left

arm should be

its

muscular position turned outward, as in Figure

Eleven.

laid

right,

with

PARRY NUMBER SEVEN.

(his

The

is

the upper cut parry.

left

arm must be

raised at the elbow, to

very nearly the level of the shoulder, with the

fore-arm lying at right angles across the body,

some

six or seven inches from the breast

Your
your

By

right

arm should be

laid within the line

of

left.

this

means the upper cut

will

be caught on the

muscular portion of both your arms.

Let

us, in con-

cluding this portion of our treatise on the art of protecting yourself

and punishing your opponent with the

weapons which nature has

remember

that

it is

given you, urge you to

even more desirable to learn how to

parry, than to strike efficiently.

totally deficient

All

men who

are not

in courage, can strike tolerably well.

Always presupposing

that they have muscle,

delivered straight forward with an adequate

any blow

amount of

PAEEY NUMBER SEVEN.

74

momentum, and a
it

take

effect,

fair

proportion of pluck,

be productive

venience to the individual

should

will,

of considerable incon-

who may

receive

To

it.

dispense with the reception, however, of any blow,

totally different matter.

For

this,

is

whoever may be

the assailant, whether he be skillful or not in hard

FIQ. XVI.

whether he

hitting

PARE1

NUMBER

SEVEN.

can fight a stand-up battle or

some

only addicted to skirmishing

amount

quired knowledge, (and the more the better)

lutely necessary.

is

of acis

abso-

PARBY NUMBER SEVEN.

Think
struck

dash, but Sjlla

well,

attack,

was notorious

but Charles the Fifth was

dodging a hard blow

his style of

later times, while

hitter,

that Hannibal

Napoleon the

had

Marius

Francis the First was a perfect

tion.

master in his

literally
or,

First

to

any

for his cau-

sublime in

come down

to

was a smashing

how to ward, and to take

With such illustrious sam-

Wellington knew both

his time for striking out.

ples of prudence,

any

Remember

well, then, of this.

hard, Scipio parried

amount of

75

extent,

it

which might be multiplied

would seem that

would be not merely a waste of

the reader,

whom we

tute of brain.

of the subject

to almost

further

instructions

time, but

an insult to

naturally conclude not to be desti-

Let us therefore conclude this branch

FIBBING

fHIS

effected with, one,

is

or rather with both

of your hands, and as a fanciful, although by

no means

mode

elegant

entitled to a pleasant

of punishment,

consideration

by

is

the practical

Boxer.

some other

Soyer, or

great cook,

preliminary to skinning your

we would bid our

reader

first

eel,

enjoined as a

" first catch

him ;"

to get in close to his

opponent indeed as close as

possible.

this indispensable necessity,

then catch him round the

neck

After achieving

one arm, forming a kind of hook with your

with,

arm and hand.

This should be the

securing his head in

away upon

this

position

left

arm.

After

you may pound

very pleasantly, with the other occasion-

it

ally changing.
It will

referring

be altogether needless to say that we are

more

particularly to your pleasure, than that

which your opponent

as singularly

enough

may

enjoy during the operation

this affectionate fashion of bestow-

77

FIBBING.

ing your favors,

recipient as
dislike, tbis

seems scarcely so agreeable to

may be to yourself.
may bowever be persisted
it

tlie

In spite of bis
in,

eitber in tbe

Prize Eing, or in a personal " scrimmage," wbenever

you bave an opportunity

attention.

improve "bis beauty, as

bis temper.

for

paying bim sucb a delicate

If bandsomely done,
it is

it

will

by no means

tolerably certain to impair

MD

THE CROSS-COUNTER

'

iw ^

^^'

FIBBING.

however, necessary, in pointing out

means

various

of

effectually

the

annoying

an

adversary or taking care of yourself, to allude

to

two of the former which have not been previously

noticed.

These are the Cross-Counter and Fibbing;

the last of which

Prize-Ring, and

is

may

very frequently practiced in the

occasionally, in a close row, not

be a disadvantageous accomplishment to the amateur

Boxer.

CROSS-COUNTER WITH THE RIGHT,

This blow

is

a very effective' one, although

scarcely be reckoned
It

among

nevertheless possesses

many

advantages,

serves thorough and careful study, as

handed sparrer considerably.

you with
turn.

his left

it

may

the seven principal blows.

He

is

it

and

puzzles a

deleft

unable to strike

hand without insuring himself a

re-

THE CEOSS-COUNTER AKD

79

FIBBING.

This return must have nearly double the force of

The reason of

his blow.

blow properly, you

Kumber One
your

upon

To

to pass over

hand leaves

right

is,

that

by executing
hand

this

blow

in

your right shoulder, while

its

undoubted mark

either

his neck, or the side of his face.

deliver this

hurry to strike

done

this

will cause his left

so.

On

blow properly, you must be in no

but wait until your adversary has

out,

the instant that

you

see his

blow coming,

throw the whole of your weight upon your

left foot

bring your right hand up to your right shoulder, and

drop your head a

thrown outside

By

this

little

means

it

to the

Your blow must be

left.

but cross over

his,

will catch

it.

him upon

the side of the

face.

This blow

may

be given with the right hand on the

instead of the side of the face

but in

side of the

ribs,

this case it

would be a hybrid between blow Number

Four and a Counter,

Still,

like the genuine counter

it is

a remarkably uncomfortable blow, and has checked the

ambition of

more

many an

aspiring youth, convincing

you could advance,

mastered in a day

that boxing cannot be

that the philosophy of a

not invariably that of a Horatio

may

him

thoroughly than the most sagacious argument

entirely

Hamlet

is

and that a counter

count unpleasantly against him upon the winning

THE CROSS-COUNTER AND

80
side.

It

would be

cross-counter witli
witli that

annecessary to point out that a

tlie

left

liand is almost

identical

with the right hand, although scarcely so

efficacious a blow,

desirable.

FIBBING.

and

for this reason

by no means

so

GETTOG THE HEAD

rOUBTLESS

IN CHANCERY.

the reader may smile at the heading

of this page, but permit us to state that should

he ever find his own head in

position,

he

may

If the reader doubts this,

somebody already
if

serious

is

and

The

above

result as

of which

is

in

shall use the left arm.

You

round the neck, with your

self

way

we

are

For

seize

left

and

use,

illustration

your

we

adversary

arm thrown over

his

which position brings you both facing

having accomplished

round to the

right,

this,

the neck

till

his

swing your-

and stepping from your op-

ponent at the same time with your right

down by

and

to him,

more general

given in the following manner.

the same

it

stated,

embrace to your

oft-times finishing

first

right shoulder,

suggest that he get

There are two ways of performing

greatly mistaken.

enemy.

we would

initiated to administer

he does not find the

this

beautiful

this

find the laugh tm-ned against him.

head

is

on a

foot,

bear him

level with

your

GETTING THE HEAD IN CHANCERY.

Then

heart.

either grasp

right

hand and compress

might

the

left

or

if

arm

your

l^ft

wrist

you think you can hold him

alone,

with your

your hold with

do so and

strike

away

all

your

tight with

at the unpro-

tected face that presents itself to you.

FIG.

The second
favorite

XVn.

CHANCEBX.

of these chancery

with John

C.

suits,

telling effect in his pugilistic encounter

Sayers at their
boroTigh,
life

great

was a great

Heenan, and practiced with

international

with Thomas

fight

at

Farns-

and which would have terminated with the

of Sir Thomas,

if

the referee had not compelled

GETTING THE HEAD IN CHANCERY.

Heenan

We

to desist

are also informed that Bill liad

which would undoubtedly

Sullivan in this position,

have gained him the

him

prize^

to let go, saying *he

'.knocked Bill

down

method of catching
humble

servant.

description of

it

man was

At any

antagonist,

missed

its

in

and then he

This second

give

it

also a specialty of

here as

we

your

furnished a

in a letter to a friend

no.

"

had not Sullivan persuaded

would give

for his simplicity.

We

83

XVm.CHANCERY.

time that I was at close quarters with an

and had led

mark, and

off

my

with the

left

left,

which having

arm going over the

left

GETTING THE HEAD IN CHANCERY.

84

shoulder of

mj adversary,

opportunity to throw
the same
"body
left

till

at

the whole weight of

my

head down to

his

I brought his

then I would grasp

lift my
my fulcrum.

and

I "vvould avail myself of that

backwards round his neck,

moment throwing

upon him.

hip

it

my

left

friend from the ground,

arm

at the wrist

making

his head

Thus throwing the whole weight of

opponent upon his neck, which

is

my

the next thing to

hanging a man,"

GETTING THE HEAD OUT OF CHANCERY.

HE

reader will have

more cause

succeeds in the heading of

this,

to smile if

he

than being the

recipient of the success of the last chapter.

To

FIGtrEE XIX .CHANCEHT.

be able to extricate yourself from any

ter in

which way

it

may

difficulty,

no mat-

occur, is highly gratifying, but

GETTING THE HEAD OUT OF CHANOEBY.

86

more

especially so

when your head

you how

it is

must of

course,

possible for a
to

him how

in a vice,

man

The

it.

best,

if

is

to

all

his face,

your power,

you succeed in doing

and we
first

of

throw your right arm

his left shoulder, bringing the

your hand to the front of

head back with

we

CHANCERY.

to get out of

these chancery difficulties,

and over

shown

to get into danger,

think the only effective counteraction to the

across

and you

the best of our ability, endeavor

FIG. XX.

to instruct

is

Therefore, having

are in danger of strangulation.

{See Fig.

in time, that

palm

and then press

is

xix.),

of
his

which

to say before

he

GETTING THE HEAD OUT OF CHANCERY.

87

has you thoroughly in his power, you will not only

accomplish your release from his ugly gripe, but will

completely turn the tables upon your opponent, and

perhaps give him a severe back

We

know

of no positive

terrific serpent-like

have

known

the following

The manner

failed.

when

embrace,

strength of limb and

fall.

method

to counteract this

fally completed, yet

to

effort

succeed

power of action have

of performing

this

is

when
totally

easy of

explanation and will occupy but a few words.

Turn

to the instruction plate of this part,

will see that

by throwing up your

feel for the face of

your adversary

of your hand

against his

and backward.

{See Fig. xx.)

Now we
sitive

all

organ,

know

nose,

left

then pass the palm

pushing

that the proboscis

and the pain

that

and you

hand you can

this

is

it

upward

a very sen-

pressing will

naturally give, will cause his head to give way, and

probably will either

backward

make him break

to the ground.

his hold or fall

WEESTLHG AS ACCESSORY TO

EESTLING

consists

" Cross-buttocks."

fact

We

shall

and
use,

latter is

most generally in

commence with

We

bring the others in rotation.

less cases

falls that

to give

can be

results oft-times

" Back-falls,"

and

could cite number-

where men have been placed hors de combat

receiving the slightest possible

advocate

very

The

and one from which splendid

follow.

scientific

of " Side-falls," " Back-falls,"

one of the most dangerous

is

given,

by

in

important brancli of science, and for

purposes

and

and

another,

is

BOXING.

fall.

use wherever practicable.

its

this

fall

We

seriously

In preparing

watch your opportunity, and when

about to close with your adversary, rush in and throw

your

left

Your

right

arm

well

round your

opponent's waist.

arm should be thrown out

at right angles,

passing under the chin, your right hand resting near

your enemy's right shoulder.

parallel

to

it

on the other

The elbow should be

side

of the neck.

Twist

V/BESTLING AS ACCESSORY TO BOXING.

joTir left foot

round

try to

from under

lift

it

lais

right leg about the ankle,

FIG. XKI.

at the

Mm

BACE-FAIi.

push from you with

your right arm and

adversary

if

accomplish

you

it,

all

and

chest,

possibly can.

If

left

your might with

throw down your

you

find

you cannot

break away from him immediately and

The manner

regain your position at once.

have described

and

and towards you while

same time you pull towards you with your

arm, and

this fall

may be

custom or the capacity of the

if

89

the pupil can accomplish

it

in

which we

varied according to the

practicer.

better

For

instance,

and more naturally

WEESTLING AS ACCESSORY TO B0XIN3,

90

by having
leg

the right

arm under, and

under his belhcose

reversion
classic

him do

friend,

of this method,

twisting the right

or in fact

then in the

by a

total

name of

hero of the olden time, the great Achilles,

it,

and

let it

other throws that

idea or plan

is to

the
let

be understood that in either of the

we

are about to

be carried out

explain, the

same

SIDE-FALLS.

,^-,^

W^

order to give the side-fall with

be

^'^ some

down

in

learned

effect,

In fact

friend.

the book

if assisted

conld be

by another

via.

the

"will

with

exercises

laid

much more promptly

pupil,

and

as each gained

xxrt.siDE-PAii.

an idea he could impart

also state, that

all

it,

practice

necessary for the pupil to

this fall

it

is

to the other.

We

invariably given

would

when

the

92

SIDE-FALLS.

contending parties are

the act of " Fibbing,"

figliting in close quarters.

opportunity

when you

his left arm-pit, throwing

your right arm well around his

its farthest

Then, by a sudden
assisted

by

e.

are in a similar position, drop

your right shoulder under

right leg to

i.

Therefore, watching your

waist, passing

your

extent across and behind him.

lifting

motion of the right arm,

the right knee, raise your opponent off the

ground, raise your knee as high as you can, then drop

your arm and

let

ground, leaving
fall

heavily with

it

your adversary
to

him

fall

backward

to the

your own judgment whether you

or not.

CROSS-BUTTOCXS.

HIS

fall,

as

tlie

preceding

ones, is

invariably

practised in close fighting, supposing the pupil

in position,

FIG.

as

watching an opportunity, which

XXm. CKOSS-BTTTTOOKS. SIDE VTBW.

soon as he thinks

he has gained, he

rushes in

throwing his right arm round his opponent's neck.

Having accomplished

this,

by a sudden motion of

94
tlie

CEOSS-BUTTOCKS.

bod J he swings

his hips,

aroiind, turning his adversary across

and then by a sudden jerk dashes him

to the

ground.

We will close our remarks upon the subject

and

falls,

invariable

by simply observing
practice,

gloves or the bare

when

either

fists,

that

it

of blows

has been our

sparring

with

the

not to have any particular line

of action or specific rule

our guidance, but

for

to

endeavor to circumvent the powers of the adversary

FIG. XXIV.

and

seize

OROSS-BUTTOCKS. FRONT

upon any opening

that

VIEW.

might occur.

would earnestly recommend that our

never

make any

specialty

when

particular

practicing,

"Blow
but

be

"We

readers should
or

Fall"

ready

for

their

any

opportunity that presents itself of delivering the one

95

CROSS-BUTTOCKS.

There are numberless cases where

or giving the other.

men have
endeavors

totally
to

exhausted

throw down

by

themselves

their

futile

by main

antagonists

strength, turning this way, straggling that, all the time

weakening
serving
if

you

it

their

own

physical system, instead

as long as they possibly could.

get into close quarters with

any

of pre-

Therefore,

one,

and find

you cannot throw him, break away immediately and

essay

some other manoeuvre

better opportunity shall occur.

or defer the

fall until

"STRIKING THE BAG."

^LTHOUGH we

shall use the

Bag

as

an adjunct

yet not wishing to diverge from

to training,

when we mention
we have thought it

in our illustrations of

the subject

it

exercises,

best to devote a special

chapter to

its

explanation.

" Strilcing the

Bag"

a very important acquisition to

is

It teaches a person

training.

to stand erect,

how

to

balance himself, and to acquire that graceful and easy

motion of delivery, without which no one could by any

possibility

be termed a

scientific

versally called a Sand-Bag.

erroneous,
practice

Boxer.

It is

uni-

Nothing could be more

which anybody would find out were he

on one so

to

Therefore, let the student

filled.

provide himself with a bag about three feet long, with

a capacity of two bushels

of

it

so as each

bag, to

end

fasten a stick across the top

will project over the side of the

which ends attach a couple of ropes fastened

what

a beam,

or,

method

will teach

is

still

how

better, to

to

two

become used

trees, as

to

to

the last

manoeuvring

STPJKING THE BAG.

on

97

The bag should be suspended

terra Jirma.

such a manner that the bottom of

it

will reach

in

down

And

about twelve inches below the level of the chin.

now, presupposing the pupil has got his sack fixed in

and that he

proper position,

its

exercise, let

him spar

antagonist he

had facing him.

hand with
can, as

fall

force,

at

as

it

and

is

though

ready for
it

Strike out with the left

as straight as

you possibly

though you were delivering Blow Number Six.

Recover yourself, and on the bag's retiim meet

your right and drive

nately

the

were a real

with either

it

from you.

hand

till

it

with

Strike thus alter-

you think you have

received sufficient exercise.

The bag
ness

is

an excellent practice to teach a

man

the

of both hands with great precision and effective-

use
;

a desideratum which

who

even professors,

hand

is

all

that

hands oft-times
instances where

ment

is

little

is

very

much

neglected

by

think that one good punishing

necessary.

"We have found two

enough, and have actually

we could have given

active

known

employ-

to half a dozen.

"We had nearly forgotten

to state that the

bag should

contain about three-quarters of a bushel of oats, and

the rest of the bag filled with hay.

INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING.

must not be

for

moment supposed

that

training for a personal encounter, or the science

of Boxing, had

its

origin with Figg, Slack, or

Broughton, or even with the

British nation.

It

has

existed from time immemorial, and had reached that

exalted position in public favor, that

the twenty-third

in

nastics

were the

life

The G-ymnasium was

Olympiad

(B.

it

was introduced

C.

688.)

and soul of the Greek

the school of

ai-t.

GymFestivals.

Men came

to

gaze on the manly beauties of the athlete, the grace of

his

movements, his exhibition of heroic strength, and

his beautiful physical development.

The

first

account

we have

of a regular

fist fight,

was

between Astidamus and Herodotus in the Palestra of

the city of Sparta, (B. 0. 460,) and
it

occuiTed in this wise.

we

are informed

Herodotus, though a stranger,

saw a great many Spartan maidens, and being

an admirer of beauty as most young

men

as great

are at five-

INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING.

he

and-twentj,

formed

gradually

Chrjsis, the daughter of

Myron

99
opinion

tlie

handsomest gui he had ever seen in his

and loveliness were combined with a

figm-e, befitting (as

ent

knew

fine,

full well that

Now

as

and justifiable

to

our young

no Spartan maiden might

intermarry with a foreigner, he considered

right

Grace

life.

commanding

Herodotus thought) an independ-

Queen of a mighty empire.

traveller

that

the Greek, was the

admire Ohrysis

it

perfectly

but once,

after

admiring her as usual, he chanced to look behind him,

and there encountered the angry scowl of a young

Spartan, apparently a year or two older than himself.
"

Young

him

Ionian," said the Spartan, steadily, looking at

the faca

full in

"I am not an Ionian but a

Dorian, like yourself," replied Herodotus.

Persia," sneered the Spartan, " did

Gymnasium?"

"1

will

"

Dorian of

you ever go

inside

engage with you whenever

much

you

please,"

" If

thou art as good as thy word, young warrior, come

with
at

me

replied Herodotus, very

to the Palestra," said the Spartan.

irritated.

Herodotus

once acquiesced, and though he looked with some

concern at the extraordinary muscular development of

his antagonist,

remembered
not for a

and was himself out of

practice, yet

his former skill in the Palestra,

moment

Gymnasium was

shrink from

the

he

and did

combat.

The

exactly like the one at Halicamassus,

100

INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING.

only on a mucli larger

were practicing

there,

scale.

Dorian stranger wishes to have a

Palestra

;"

and

spot,

said, "

me

with

in the

few moments Herodotus and his antag-

and

stripped

"Shall

encounter.

we

ready

for

the

pugilistic

not?"

fight with the cestus or

"As you

cried the Spartan.

Now

trial

and every one immediately proceeded to the

in a

were

onist

crowd of young men

but the Spartan merely

please," said Herodotus.

the cestus consisted of thongs of leather, covered

with knobs of metal, which the regular athletes were

accustomed to draw over their

fists

and

wrists, for the

The

purpose of making their blows more severe.

who saw

tators,

match was merely got up

to

settle a private quarrel,

interfered to j)revent the use of the

murderous gloves,

and the Spartan reluctantly threw them on one

In the

match

for his

more muscular and equally experienced

He

could get no opportunity of planting a

single

blow upon the

much

as he could

rately

and powerfully dealt by his antagonist

felt

that the

side.

round Herodotus saw that he was no

first

antagonist.

spec-

almost by instinct that the boxing

Spartan,'

do to ward

and indeed

off"

it

was

as

the blows so accu;

while he

superior powers of endurance which his

adversary evidently possessed, would gain the day to a

certainty.

He now

With one word

to

resolved to

die like a Spartan.

Zeus and one thought

to his mother,

INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING.

101

The

he awaited the fury of his antagonist.

fists

but though aimed

chest

and

at his face

At

shoulders.

bewildered and dizzy.

they only

length

upon

fell

his

grew

Herodotns

His legs tottered beneath him,

but he determined to stand

left

Spartan's

broke through his guards like sledge-hammers

fast to

the last moment.

handed blow from the back of the Spartan's

A
fist

just between the eyes of Herodotus, at last brought our

hero senseless to the ground, and he

much

Spartan boxing had been too

AND PEACTICE had

The

more.

Training

triumphed.

who, more

Grreeks,

saw no

for him.

than any of the

ancients

anterior to the

Eomans, taught the training of the body

by gymnastic

exercises, required a

more severe course

who were to be
who were merely amateurs,

of discipline and practice for those

professional than

and indulged
strength.

those

in

it

only for purposes of health and

The former were

called Athletes^

and the

latter Agonistoe.

The

latter often

public

The

difierence of training required

festivals.

for the

amateur and he

Eome A.

is fitting

Gladiatorial feats were

quite obvious.
at

who

contended at the

U.

C, 488, by Marcus

for a contest, is
first

introduced

and

Decimus

Brutus, at the funeral of their father.

When
funerals,

first

introduced they were confined to public

and were afterwards fought

at

the funerals

102

INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING.

of most people of consequence, and even at those of

women.

Hippocrates

is

said to have been the first to

apply the exercises and regimen of the gymnasium to

removal of diseases and for the maintenance of

the

Asclepiades, a Greek physician

health.
to

Rome,

carried this so

far,

that he

is

who

said

emigrated

by Celsus

to

have banished the use of internal medicines from his

practice
to

and

this

ancient

savant carried the practice

such an excellent extent on his

that Pliny asserts that he lived for

and

at last

was killed by a

terrible fall for the

adopted

fall

own

physical system,

upwards of a century,

down

Roman

stairs.

What

Although Boxing was a barbarous custom in those

days,

the

it

has been humanely ameliorated since.

daj^s

classic

wounded

Rome, when

of

the people called out,

''Habet''''

or

and the one who was maimed lowered

token

of

upon the
thumbs

submission.

them up

Hoc

his

was

liahet^^'

arms in

however, depended

who

pressed

down

their

they wished him to be saved, and turned

if

they wanted him killed.

this introduction

we would

be particularly attended
1.

^'-

fate,

His

will of the people,

if

For in

gladiator

to,

In concluding

state that four things are to

viz

Cleansing the system from

all

dead and waste

matter.
2.

Taking away

all

superfluous

fat, etc.,

by

sweating.

103

INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING.
3.

regimen that nourishes

elasticity to the
4.

tlie

bodj, and gives

whole frame.

That daily course of exercise which expands the

mind, and strengthens and hardens the muscles.

"We had

in this connection prepared

some remarks on

the theory and practice of respiration, and on the absolute necessity of keeping "in wind," as the professional

phrase

is,

how by

in all pugilistic

and other manly

sports,

and

pursuing certain methods pointed out by the

But we

physiologists they might be accomplished.

beg leave to submit

to the reader, in lieu thereof,

suggestions on the subject taken from the "

Leader," and transcribed into these pages:

already been

said,

man

some

New York

trains in order that

"As has
may on

he

a given day or days exert for a certain time his muscular

power

to the

utmost in a particular manner

muscular system, then,

athletic sports.
cles,

as the

chiefly

is

The power which

is to

little

discussed

There

is

the

drive the mus-

power of steam drives an engine,

vided by the nerves

implicated in any

is

pro-

much overlooked and but

who write on this topic.

fact

by those

also the circulatory apparatus

which

is

to carry

nourishment to the muscles and nerves by means o^

blood

the digestive organs which supply to the blood

the elements of the food

to

and others whose function

remove dead and waste matter, and

is

to act as auxil-

INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING.

104

In addition to

various ways.

iaries in

all tliese there is

by

the respiratory system, wliicli purifies the .blood

getting rid of the carbonic acid,

oxygen

must no

and

necessary to

violent muscular exertion

The

last

mentioned

to

is

be under-

fact is so obvious, that

once engages the attention of those

No book

selves to training.

and

life,

be in perfect working order

less necessarily

when any
gone.

this is before all

and by assimilating

who

it

at

devote them-

on training that has yet

appeared attempts to give a physiological account of

Let us consider briefly what

respiration.

we mean by

man out of breath, and in breath. The amount of air

that may be in a man's chest at one time or other may

First of

vary considerably.
always

all,

there

which

is

any

effort,

which remains there even

this the

name of

been supposed

there,

expiration

after death.

residual air has been given,

to average in quantity

which by an

we can

expel, but

an ordinary expiration.

This

and

it

effort,

To
has

some one hun-

Next, we have a

dred and twenty cubic inches.

larger quantity,

a certain quan-

is

which we cannot expel by

tity

after

still

an ordinary

which we do not expel in

is

estimated at one hun-

dred and thirty cubic inches, and has been called the

supplementary

air.

These two

qualities, the residual

and the supplementary, remain permanently

chest

when we have done

breathing out

in

the

they form the

105

INTEODUOTION TO TKAINING.
cliief

portion of the air whicli

in the

and from

chest,

name of

received the

is

their

resident

at

any time contained

permanence they have

Then we have the

air.

ordinary inspiration and expiration, which

cubic inches

at twenty-six

we can add

quantity which

violent inspiration.

and

may be

and

This

is

is

set

there

lastly,

down
the

is

to all the foregoing

by

termed the complementary,

The

about one hundred cubic inches.

four

volumes, the residual, the supplementary, the breath,

and the complementary,

amount

Kow

to three

it is

accordmg to

will

hundred

this estimate

a,nd seventy-six cubic inches.

the resident air

^the

ever present residual,

and the almost ever present supplementary, which

is

alone concerned in the purification of the blood in the

supply of oxygen, and the reception of carbonic acid

The

and vapor.

the

smaller

air-tubes.

rious to health

get

down

air

of

ordinary

respiration,

not at once reach the

breath, does

too

and even
far, it

life.

If

it

makes us cough.

gressive intermixture of the fresh air

au'

ever chances to

There

is

a pro-

and the resident

from without, inwards, so that the whole process

The

gradual.

resident

which the blood derives

it

the

or even

presence would be inju-

Its

to

air-cells,

exhales

of this

it

its

air,

its

then, is

oxygen and

carbonic acid and vapor.

would be superfluous
5*

is

the source from

into

which

The advantages

to dwell

upon here

106

INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING,

the action on the blood, instead of being perpetually

continuous and uninterrupted

fluctuating, is

we

are

protected against any sudden invasion of cold, hot, or

impure

air

the

air-cells,

empty and

nately

way keep up an equable

these

of being

also, instead

are kept always

fall,

and

fall,

alter-

in this

pressure on the vessels.

and other reasons we do not breathe

For

bottom

to the

of our lungs at every breath, but retaining always some

two-hundred and

fifty

cubic inches of residuous

gradually renew and change

it

by

breathing,

air,

by

we

inspir-

ing some twenty-five or twenty-six cubic inches of fresh

cold

air.

This

any violent

is

the normal state of a

exercise.

So soon

man

as he begins to run or row, his circulation

by

not taking

as action begins, so soon

is

quickened

the rapid muscular movements, the blood

into his

lungs at a vastly increased

quently there
novice,

is

an increased demand for

when he

for a deeper inspiration,

greatly,

air

atmospheric
cold

air.

is

sent

and conse-

Now

the

begins to run, commits the gi-ave mis-

take of breathing out his resident air

mand

rate,

and he
air,

is

in order to

not able to replace

which

is

com-

he reduces his resident

too

so he gets out of breath,

it

by the

oxygenous and too

and

if

he cannot by

degrees recover a certain proportion of that which he

has

lost there is

nothing for

it

but to stop.

The more

experienced man, on the contrary, endeavors to keep

all

107

INTEODUCTION TO TRAINING.
he has

and

got,

tity

which

action he

add

to

plementary

was

it

it

by intruding on

the comple-

he has replaced the small quan-

commencement of the muscular

the

at

may have

beyond what

to

When

mentary space.

lost,

and when he has raised

at starting,

air also,

he

is

by taking

this

com-

in the

said to have got his " second

wind," and he can then go on comfortably for a long

He

period.

tries

by

practice to attain the art of hold-

ing his breath and adding thereto

not the

strong and deep expiration and inspiration.

is

increase

to

capacity of his

the

and keep

fuller

it

full;

so

that

chest, to

is

fill

the phrase so

heard in racing stables when a horse

"taken a gentle pipe-opener,"

faculty of

His object
it

often

said to have

is

singularly incorrect,

and we should rather try to shut our pipes and keep

them

man

shut, or
is

water.

we

shall

soon arrive at the stage when a

seen gasping for air literally like a fish out of

So

we have spoken more especially with

The muscles concerned in pro-

far

reference to running.
pelling the

body

in this

way do

not interfere with those

of respiration; so that the runner can

care

command

distress for

long periods and distances.

cular actions in
great

by

practice

and

the latter thoroughly, and run without

number of

rowing are altogether

But the musdifferent.

the important muscles of the

arm

A
are

inserted into, or take their origin from the walls of the

108

INTRODUCTION TO TRAINING.

and

cliest,

tlie

witli air, tliat it

we

fill

may

tliat tliese

necessary that

may

act

Ml

with.

power

support a great pressure

our chests with

air

great weight, and retain

it is

should be firmly distended

cliest

it

when we

just as

are going to

during the

lift

"We can-

effort.

not then control our respiratory muscles while rowing

as

we can when running we must

and

this

full,

for the benefit of the

may have
Yet here

minute.
his

chest

full,

to

be done perhaps forty times in a

practice will enable a

so

man

to

keep

resident

as to keep the full

may

fill

air.

may

breathe at every stroke, yet he

out a small quantity only, and

again,

fill

rowing muscles,

without letting out his

Though he must
let

at each stroke

our lungs

this

up

air

ne-

complement of

cessary for aerating his blood without changing a great

quantity at each breath.

By

keeping the chest

full for

a long period every day, either in running or rowing,

is

its

certain that

it

will in time gradually

capacity will be increased.

to the larger

made

It will

demands made upon

carefully

it,

and progressively.

accustom

if this

As

the

it

expand and
itself

demand be
arm of the

blacksmith develops, so will the chest of the runner

and oarsman, and

his lungs will acquire a facility of

keeping a larger quantity of air, both resident and complementary.

He

knack of holding

will in fact acquire

his

wind as

it is

by

practice the

acquired

by many

INTKODUCTION TO TKAESTING.

who

theoretically

know

nothing

These remarks apply with

.

exercises of Wrestling, Sparring,

demand

For a farther elucidation of

PhUa. Ed. 1855,

Ed. 1864,

respiration."

the

athletic

and Boxing, and they

particular attention.*

this subject the general reader is

referred to the foUo-wing works.

penter,

about

full force to

109

p. 238,

and

on.

p. 300,

"Human

Physiology by Dr. Car-

and Dalton's

Human Physiology,

TMIMNG.

HIS most
tion

important branch of physical educa-

deserved attention
the

must needs

of the amateur,

Author of

and

it is

attract well

sincerely

this book, that it will

hoped by

meet the earnest

approbation of the student of the "art of self-defence."

attention to this part of the

strict

volume

will not

only smooth the arduous path of the pupil in his

effort,

his

memory, and

inciting

him

to

exercise

his

mental and physical powers to their utmost extent.

is

own
It

thoroughly believed by the writer that rancor and

slanderous gossip

may

be kept down by a judicious use

of this science, and that

teach a
to

first

but be the means of fixing his attention, aiding

man

utter

ready at

that

it

is

it

anything with

all

be an excellent thing to

will

neither good nor safe for

tongue that he

his

times to maintain with his hands.

to prepare a

man

for training,

ascertain the state of health he

is

it

will

is

him
not

In order

be necessary to

in at the time of com-

Ill

For

mencing.

in training, as in sparring, there is

stamina, physical

and endurance.

conformation

would be absurd on our part

amount of

no

our opinion to guide people of different

specific rule in

training on one

to

It

impose the same

whose physical

ability

was

not on a par with that of a person of robust health and

vigorous temperament, as

we were

we would on

and exercises indiscriminately

efficiency of the physical

We shall not

but leave

would

all,

it

to the

as

any farther on

this point,

judgment of the pupil

r'espectfally suggest that at the time of

judge

if

and

after

yet

receiving from this

competent
disciple of

Esculapius the desired information, he will in

measure be guided thereby.

"We

will

we

commenc-

not competent

for himself, will get the advice of a

physician,

would

regards

development of the training

dilate

ing the physical education, the pupil,

to

If

latter.

these rules

terminate in a perfect failure

doubtless

parties.

to

the

the same regimen

to undertake to prescribe

some

now presume

that the pupilis in perfect health at the time he con-

templates undergoing physical training, and will advise

him, to begin with, to eschew

exercises,

such as

lifting

all

violent or laborious

heavy weights, throwing out

heavy dumb-bells, climbing ladders hand over hand,

etc.,

etc.,

which tend more

than develop strength.

Do

to exhaust

the vitality

everything naturally, and

112

TRAINING.

take

all possible

care not to break

down

tbe system

by

over-exertion eitber in eating, drinking or training, as a

false step

may
Many

one

in

cal machinery.
for weeks,

for a

disarrange the

man who

nay even months, in order

who has been

combat

whole physi-

has toiled hard

to prepare himself

full of courage,

honest in

purpose, with an indomitable will to overcome every

difficulty,

and

his

opponent in particularhas by over-

exertion and anxiety been rendered

contest,

on the day of
Therefore

training.

their reason should

we would

of honest Will

No

gently."
to

them

same

day of

to

perform their

time, in the quaint

Shakespeare,

''use all

to

doubt most of our readers will be pleased

have us go into the minutiae of

of training.

unfit for the

initial

advise our readers that

dictate to

tasks thoroughly, and, at the

language

more

than on the

battle,

As

well might

all

the paraphernalia

we attempt

to teach the

English language leaving out of the lessons the

of the

fication

as

etc.,

without
tial

to
first

we

nouns, pronouns, adverbs,

attempt to teach a pupil

classi-

etc.,

how

to

etc.,

train

entering into the details which are essen-

shall therefore take

upon ourself the

responsi-

bility of dictating to the pupil the clothes that

comprise the outfit for training.

Let the

"

should

Sophomore"

therefore provide himself with two sets of flannels, a

pair of thick, solid

" lace-up"

boots, a woollen over-

113

TEAINING.

a pair of well-fitting pants, a pair of gloves,

shirt,

and a round

short stick,

fully equipped the- amateur,

he

to train

is

we

by the manner

in

we

this,

our modesty and express ourself in

the

shall drop

week

first

I did very

For the

simply confining

little labor,

diet,

person

first

without a fear of being charged with egotism.

myself to abstinence, plain

how

can best explain

which we have under-

To do

gone the same operation.

Having now

jacket.

clotli

and gentle

aperients,

of course taking occasional breathings in the open

air,

say from five to eight miles per diem^ at a quiet and

easy

gait,

neither

straining

nor

exhausting myself;

thus preparing myself for the more

was

to

regular training

For

The next week

follow.

breakfast,

diet,

which was principally

as follows.

one or two lean mutton chops, (according

For dinner,

dinner

that

put myself on

to appetite,) one boiled egg, stale bread,

tea.

work

rigid

let

me commence

and a cup of

with Monday's

a piece of boiled chicken, and one potato, and

that not as large as your head, nor as small as a certain

sanitary commissioner's benevolence, but

with bread at least two days

made by an experienced
raisins, (the

old.

baker,

of sherry wine and water, or

of

or a glass of old

ale.

still

a potato,

had the bread,

mixed with

bread not the baker) and for

glass
tea,

my

a few

beverage a

if preferable

a cup

For supper, a pint of sago

114

TEAINING.

or oatmeal gniel, with a

little

bread or toast

believe in the system advocated

by many

send their subjects to bed supperless, as in

it

would of necessity take the system

become accustomed
beneficial results

starving a

man

Let

to condition.

seasoning condiments of

with

if possible,

my

who

opinion

a longer period to

to this abstemiousness, without

in fact I think

do not

trainers,

all

it

would be

me

any

literally

here remark that

kinds should be dispensed

except in actual cases where the pupil

cannot possibly do without them, as they create thirst

and over-heat the system.

notion, or

On Tuesday

more properly speaking, not cooked

but done according to the desire and

eating

Breakfast

it.

"Wednesday

"no

for dinner a

not cooked as some people have a

roast beef,

little

for

and

supper

as

dinner, a boiled leg

capers," (either with the

and so on through the week.

my

all,

On

before.

of mutton with

cook or the Southdown,)

Simple as you see

description of the several days' diet,

whole variety of

at

taste of the parties

it

this

comprised the

food while- undergoing training,

with perhaps substituting a beefsteak and a cup of

weak
and

coffee

tea.

breakfast,

for

I would

for

recommend a

the

mutton-chop

glass of sherry

wine

in the morning, with a small piece of tea biscuit, or

Boston cracker, just before commencing the morning

exercises, as

it

is

an excellent guard against the

faint-

116

TBAINING.
ness wliicli often arises from

was as follows

(or nearly so

received a sponge
coarse towel

batli,

and then gently exercised

me

and get

off at

an easy

and dried

well,

with

a pair

clubs,)

increasing

my

home

Then I
miles,

my

domicil, I

I was rubbed

pieces of flannel until I

bed

until I

with

was perfectly

was perfectly

cool.

rubbing one way,

will find this severe

again changed
repast.

my

my

till

you

flannels,

i.

training
ran.

state of profuse

coarse
dry,

e.

towels

or

and remained

Then

recipient of a dose of hand-rubbing, the

trainers only

when

would quickly jump

between the blankets, being now in a

in

started

which intervening distance I always

Having arrived at

perspiration.

Kehoe^s

walking speed until

at full

I had arrived within a quarter of a mile of

establishment,

^'-

expand the

speed to a sharp

walk, until I had accompHshed four

turned and started for

of

to

thoroughly awake.

gait,

with, a

night flannels for others,

pound Indian

Clubs," (eight
chest

I arose at six o'clock,

:)

my

my work

after weeks,

rnbbed

exchanged

on an empty

training

For the second and

stomacli.

I was the

hands of the

downwards, (you

get used to

it.)

Then I

and partook of my morning

Breakfast being over, I would rest myself for

an hour or

so,

and then again exercise with the Indian

clubs, gently as before, or instead, pitch quoits, or roll

game of

ten-pins^

and then

start off for the

grand

110

TEAINING.

promenade, whicTi would consist of about

half miles out and back
at

good speed

my

flannels

five

and a

the last half mile being run

then I would undergo at the hands of

same

trainer the

mom, and

delicate attention as in the early

thoroughly cool and changing

after getting

would be ready

my

for

noonday

dinner I had an hour's

siesta,

with

repast,

an appetite that an Alderman might envy.

After

and then having put on a

light pair of lace-up boots took a rapid

walk of about

four miles out and back, interspersed

with

sports

of about

eighty or a

On

topmost speed.
swinging bag
tired

filled

returning

home would

and

dry flannels,

after

stroll

about

which, I would

my

till

clubs.

This

would

constituted

exercise with

my

day's

put

trainer,

supper- time.

After supper I would row gently in a boat

disposed, if not,

my

at

strike at a

with oats and hay until I was well

and in a profuse perspiration

again undergo the bear-like caresses of

on

running

hundred yards

if I felt so

Indian

the

work.

By

thus

giving an idea of one day's work, the pupil can readily

conceive the nature of

and can adapt

it,

my

whole system of

according to his

own

particular

may

be desirable.

it

to his

condition, with such modifications

proper

as

In order to render our work more

valuable to the amateur and general reader,

deemed

training,

own judgment,

to

introduce

we have

here the views

of

;
:

117

TBAINING.

Stonehenge, concurred in by Forest, and other gymnasts

it,

and

trainers of eminence,

on

this subject, leaving

without comment farther, to the judgment of those

interested, as to the

method they should

The

adopt.

following diet will be found the best for all training

purposes
Breakfast.
for this

There

meal

is

no doubt but the very best food

is

oatmeal-porridge, with the addition of a

certain allowance of beef or mutton,

but

many have

never eat

next best beverage

and not too

and giving with

fat

but I believe

a larger allow-

it

not desirable to stint the appetite,

It is

unless very enormous, or unless there

abundance of

bread

a pint of table-beer, homemade,

is

strong,

ance of bread.

little

For them, I believe the

without loathing.

it

and a

the greatest objection to this diet, and

is

it will,

a great superin

most

cases,

be found more advantageous to reduce the weight by

work and

The

sweating, than

best

mode

by

starving.

of dressing the meat

is to broil it

and here I must say a word about the degree of

cookery to which

it

should be subjected.

ally directed that the steak

underdone;
very

little

this I

caught by the

much

am

nutriment

gained

fire.

sure

or chop
is

a fallacy.

is lost after

Now,

by keeping

if

It is gener-

should be quite

In

the outside

nothing

is lost,

broiling,
is

once

there

the steak on the gridiron

is

till

118

TRAINING.

properly done through

more palatable
to

all.

for the food

rendered

is

much

to most,

and certainly more digestible

I have knowti

many who were thoroughly

disgusted by their "red rags," as they Have called their

underdone

and from their

steaks,

dislike to such food

Tea and

were quite unable to digest them.

coffee are

not good for training purposes, though I do not think

them

so

bad

as is generally supposed, if not taken too

strong; cocoa

which,

and not

too greasy,

is

if taken,

so

should not be green.

think, that in those

better to allow

slight dash of black

Dinner.

coffee are

much disliked,

to attempt too great

an

Butter, sauces, and spices should be

alteration in diet.

carefully avoided

them than

as tea;

inclined to

where tea and

cases

habitually taken, and porridge or beer are

it is

good

am

and nothing but

salt

and a very

pepper used as a condiment.

This important meal should

consist of roast

beef or mutton, or occasionally a boiled leg of mutton

may be

allowed as a change

Eoast

wildfowl generally.
pheasants, are very

scarcely palatable.

when comeatable

but

it

salt

and

veal, pork,

or

Hare

is

stuffing,

Nothing

seasoned sauce or currant

'

fowls

good food

accompanied by high seasoned

it is

and

also goose, duck,

but

beef or bacon should be avoided

is

or

without which

better than venison,

should be
jelly.

partridges

too apt to be

As

eaten without
to

vegetables,

119

TRAINING.

may

potatoes

be eaten, but very sparingly

than one or two at a meal

as

an occasional change, and no other

vegetable

is

Bread may be given ad libitum and about

allowable.

a pint to a pint and a half of good sound

If this does not agree, a

beer.

not more

cauliflower or broccoli only

may be

or claret and water,

little

home-made

sherry and water,

allowed with the meal, and

a glass or two of the former wine, or of good sound

When

port after dinner.

any length of

the training

is

continued for

and the previous habits of the

time,

party have accustomed the stomach to

it,

I have found

tbe occasional use of white-fish, sucK as cod or soles, a

Nothing disorders the stomach of

very usefal change.

man more
perdrix
fare

" is

and

let

this

must be constantly borne

bim by

of whicb

it is

all

means

capable.

for its foundation,

stretch
It is

occasional pudding, but

it

is

an egg or two

and

gooseberries boiled, or

means disagreeable
;

"

Toujours

it

but

the

to the utmost limits

should always have bread

will easily
little

make

milk, and

served up with fresh green

any common preserve,

to the palate, or

let it

mind by

even desirable to give an

good cook

this,

in

not very extensive,

very palatable pudding of bread, with a

stomach

enough, to tire any one, even of so good a

The round he can make

trainer.

but

one diet

keeping to

than

is

by no

unwholesome

to the

be only as a change, not as other-

120

TEAINING,

wise usefal.

The grand

of diet are beef and

articles

mutton, with, bread or porridge;

and palate would accept them

would be necessary
plan

if

but as they seldom

the stomach

no change

will,

the best

not to attempt too much.

is

Supper.

Many

trainers object to this

meal

but

from experience, that unless the training

satisfied

so

and

gratefully,

long a duration as to thoroughly accustom

stomach

much

o'clock.

Oatmeal porridge
will

better to allow a light

it,

I do not believe that

in

Indeed,

it

require

him

to bring all his

chance as

tire equally,

found that no absolute

all cases:

and aptness

men

Nothing
variable

component parts of the crew.

should

who

means of keeping up the

will be

be laid down for

of relative strengtk
boat's

ever necessary at night,

For such cases I have found a chop

requires great experience

enable

at eight

with a glass of port wine or even of eg^ and

strength.

rule can

is

constitutions,

a very valuable

sherr}^,

meal

purpose the best

or soaked in the porridge itself

meat

very delicate

unusual support.
at night,

is for this

be the worse for a pint of it, with some

dry toast to eat with

except

of

the

from dinner to the next morn-

to the long fast

ing, it is

and no one

lam
is

and the

trainer

for his task to

out in the same degree

is

so likely to destroy a

state of condition in the

It is far better that all

than that half should shut up early

121

TRAINING.

in the race, wliile tlie others are capable of Msing their

full

Hence, as I have- before remarked, some

strengtL

will require

much more

others.

for

If,

good,

appetite

plainest diet,

it

and

caution, enough,

will
to

and generous

liberal

the habit

instance,

vary

it

very

is

this pre-

sure to be taken,

will ensure its digestion.

it is

If,

with a

delicate,

is

want of digestion, and tendency

great a loss of flesh, then

erable

By

little.

and not too much,

on the other hand, the constitution

appetite,

and the

be needful to allow only the

and the amount of work

want of

diet than

gross,

is

to too

desirable to allow consid-

change from day to day

and as

far

as

is

prudent, to comply with the particular fancies of the

Many

palate.

those

indispensable.

and

stomachs bear port wine well; and in

who have

a tendency to

diarrhoea

it

Others, again, are purged

by

this is a sufficient

In some

all

flour,

brown
is

bread,

good

Whatever bread

reason for avoiding porridge.

remedy
is

when

made from
eaten,

for
it

constipation

leg of a

The

present,

that

troublesome

as the

weather

best part of a sheep for chops

a well-hung rump,

eviL

should be two days old,

two -or three-year-old wether

is

the genuine undressed

and the beef and mutton hung as long

will permit.

often

the bread should be toasted to prevent

diarrhoea, whilst in others,

coarse

is

oatmeal,

or the inside

of a

and

is

the

for steaks,

sirloin.

It is

122

TRAINING.

often the practice to allow the crew to put into the

and take

river-side tavern, during- the hours of practice,

This plan

half a pint or a pint of beer or porter each.

am

sure

bad, the strength ought never to depend

is

on immediate

and

stimulants,

the practice than to keep

it

it

is

up by

far better to shorten

these means.

sure that in training there are very few

quite

more than three

require

pints,

am

who

or at the outside two

quarts of good beer per day, of the strength of five

bushels to the hogshead;

required

is

certainly not

half per man.

and the average quantity

more than two

pints and a

Allowance must of course be made

for

previous habits, and for strength or weakness of constitution.

itself,

erable

In the early days of

practice,

great distress sometimes occurs

blueness

breathing

is

of

face

labored and

for this state is a glass of

from

warm

and

in the race

there

is

The

best

warm brandy and

feet,

legs,

and

bath at 98 degrees."

consid-

and the

congestion,

difficult.

plenty of hard friction on the

if it still persists,

remedy

water and
thighs, or

CORPULEl^CY:
ITS

CURE AND PREYENTIOK

S somewhat connected

witli the various matters

we propose
make some remarks on that uncomfortable
which men find themselves by their own course
treated of in the foregoing pages,

to

state in

of life, to wit, corpulency

for its reduction

upon the proper rhode

also

That many persons

and prevention.

never become corpulent, no matter what they

or drink,
for

is

undoubtedly

true.

them but those whose

a burden, begets in

is

does not render

afflicted

with

it

The
The weight of the

sometimes painful, and always mortifying.

becomes disproportioned.

figure

body

if it

him who

almost a disease) a state extremely uncomforta-

(for it is
ble,

eat

habits of living have pro-

duced that degree of obesity which

life

may

These remarks are not

is

increased to such a degree that walking cannot

be endured without great inconvenience, and sometimes

pains in

the feet and ankles.

The ascending and

124

CORPULENCY.

descending a flight of

stairs is

cannot be performed in

many

The putting on and

ble in

many

very troublesome, and

cases without assistance.

off of one's shoes

instances

becomes impossi-

and even the tying and getting

on of one's cravat must be performed by

Even

others.

the necessary ablution cannot be performed without

assistance

besides there

are

many

niences attending the condition of

which readily suggest themselves

reader,

whether he be married or

of the inconveexcessive
the

to

obesity

intelligent

single.

Let us here remark that the art of reducing excessive

corpulency has been so
all,

little practised, if

practised at

and there has been such a diversity of opinion

in

regard to the proper mode, as to prevent most persons

from making the

trial

and some modes of treatment

prescribed have been so severe

anxious from making the

benefits.

We have

practical one,

made

it

to

and not founded on theory

alone,

most
their

it

is

and we

some of the learned faculty have

a study, and can only account for their

omission on the ground that obesity

garden of

secure

no doubt of our remedy, as

are only surprised that

not

as to deter the

attempt

many

So,

if

assistance to those thus afflicted

we

diseases.

we

is

shall not only

the infinite pleasure and gratification of

we have succeeded

in

the nursing

can be of any

knowing

have
that

our primary object, that of repay-

CORPULENCY.

125

ing our labor, but give satisfaction to those afflicted

Our remedy is simple and

Witt this dreadful calamity.

easy of adoption, and unlike training, as

violent exercise to reduce

Let

regard to dietetics.

corpulency and desire

all

who

those

relief,

needs no

it

but

the weight,

strict

from

are suffering

give our plan a

fair trial,

say a month, and they will soon ascertain for themselves

the efficacy of

There are doubtless countless thou-

it.

sands, who, laboring

under

blush of shame or their

disabilities of obesity, feel the

ire rising at

or uncouth remarks passed

unthinking ; for what

is

the sneering jests

upon them by the cruel or

more apt

to

excite criticism

than the appearance of stout or corpulent individuals ?

Their unwieldy

gait,

and

futile

endeavors

sprightly, will naturally raise a smile

And now

the most decorous.

action

is

presented,

it

is

to appear

on the

faces of

that a proper course of

our sincere wish that

of

all

those of a corpulent habit will avail themselves of

The

first

who

is

thing to be ascertained

about to adopt our system

willing to abide

is

the following injunctions for a time.

pepper, or mustard in the food

bread
wine,
left

no milk or sugar in the

ale,

or porter

us nothing."

" Stop, stop

Wait

tea
!"

it.

whether the person

is

no
;

Yery
butter,

by

little salt,

very

little

no champagne, port

you say

patiently, don't

"
;

you have

be hasty

the

world was not made in a day, neither shall we recommend

126

CORPULENCY.

ye corpulenters (new word) to rush headlong into

sudden

Take everything

change.

months which has been years buried

you ought

oblivion,

talked

you

to

be

On

with your consent.

rising in the

spirits

in fatty

Well, having

thankful.

humor, we

good

into

this

you

if

and buoyancy of

regain that elasticity of frame

in six

and

easy,

proceed,

will

morning take a

sponge bath of luke-warm water, be well rubbed

over with

coarse towel, a broad piece

wrapped round the abdomen

warm; change
other day.)

to

it

compact and

the under garments often,

Keep warm

at night

don't throw the covering off if

We

keep

would here

it

all

of flannel

(say every

during

sleep,

and

can be avoided.

two kinds of

state that there are

treatment for the reduction of obesity independent of

physical exercises, viz
the other
as the

by

most

the great

that caused by

safe, reliable,

merit

sudorifics,

and

natural,

of being the more

and

but

{au

it

has also

permanent one,

causing no suffering whilst undergoing

mental treatment,

and

We would recommend the latter

dieting.

the

experi-

confirming

contraire)

health

and

diet will consist of, for breakfast,

from

continuous progressive

benefit

both

to

appearance.

The

four to five

ounces of lean animal food, with three

ounces of soda

biscuit, or

preferable, crackers

Boston brown bread,

one cup of

tea,

or, if

coffee, water,

or

127

CORPULENCY.

For dinner a nice cut of

sherry and water.

mutton roast or

boiled, or

oftener than three times a week,

digestion

and they only

fish,

to assist

In dining,

with not over one pint of liquid.

don't use soups,

eitlier

no vegetables

roast beef,

or celeiy, in fact don't have any-

thing on the table but just what you are going to eat,

nothing that

you

into

gristle

may

tend to excite the appetite or lead

Cut

temptation.

every particle of

from your meat, and don't

For supper a

sago-gruel (not over

little

fat

or

be overdone.

let it

half a pint)

with three ounces of toast, or three ounces of the breast

of turkey or chicken, with the same amount of stale
bread, half a pint of

the proscribed.

To

any kind of beverage other than

all

who have been in the habit

we say don't leave

those

of indulging freely in drinking liquor,

it

off suddenly,

take

mind you do reduce

easy, reduce

it
it,

liquid drinking, including tea, water,

over three pints per day, and

if

by

fault if
let

eat

him

that

is

he does not stay

exercise his

and drink, and

us.

down

to

will be his

as to

what he

he does not exercise

and becomes again a mass of adipose

no sympathy from

it

that

own

After having got there,

own judgment,
if

your

a steady application

so desirable,

there.

total of

will not reach

etc.,

of these rules any person gets himself

symmetry of form

gradually, but

it

sum

so that the

matter^

it

shall

rightly

he will get

person once reduced to a

128

COEPUIiENCY

proper weight, will find no trouble in preventing a

recurrence of

makes very

Ms

The age of

difficulty.

sixty-five, so corpulent as to

be unable to attend to

ordinary business, have been fully

And

months.

the subject

difference, for persons of the age of

little

this

relieved in three

without the loss of strength

or

physical energy, but on the contrary an increase of

both.

In a
ing,

letter written to

and

an English gentleman,

indorsed

by

Dr.

by Mr. Bant-

for the public

sixty-five years of age,

William Harvey,

scribes the following regimen,

for himself with great benefit

F.

which
;

and

it

C. S.,

and

he pre-

seems he adopted
inconvenience

little

was caused by the change.

For

breakfast, I take four or five ounces of beef, mut-

ton, kidneys, broiled fish, bacon, or cold

kind except pork

sugar,) a little biscuit, or one

For dinner,

meat of any

a large cup of tea (without milk or

five or six

ounce of dry

ounces of any

toast.

fish

except

sal-

mon, any meat except pork, any vegetable except

one ounce of dry

potato,

toast, fruit

out of a pudding,

any kind of poultry or game, and two or three

of good

claret, sherry,

glasses

champagne, port and

or Madeira

beer forbidden.

For

tea,

two or three ounces of

and a cup of tea without milk or

fi'uit,

sugar.

a rusk or two,

129

CORPULENCY.

For supper, three or four ounces of meat or

ilar to dinner,

with a glass or two of

For nightcap,

if required,

fish,

(gin,

or a glass or

two

a tumbler of grog

whiskey, or brandy, without sugar)

sim-

claret.

of claret or sherry.

This
object,

would

prescription

but

we

think

and particularly so

it

undoubtedly

the

effect

unnecessarily severe in any case,

for

One

aged persons.

half of the

by Mr. Banting would bring

quantity recommended

about the reduction

much

sooner, but the necessarily

accompanying

would

in

effects

And

injurious.

short time

by

eating

horse, as soon as

he would

most cases be positively

one could become emaciated in a very

nothing,

but like the Grecian

he gets so as to

live without eating,

die,

gentleman of

this

system forty-three days.

city has

He

been pursuing

is forty -nine

five feet ten inches in height, at the

our

years of age,

commencement of

the course, he measured forty-nine inches around the

waist,

and weighed two

hundred

and

thirty-three

pounds.

His weight then was very uncomfortable

could not

tie his

greatest dif&culty,

great discomfort.

he

shoes or put on his boots but with the

and could not take exercise without

There was a constant tendency to

sleep after meals, even after breakfast,

and

having enjoyed a good night's rest

It

this too after

was

almost

CORPULENCY.

130
impossible for
cliurch,

him

keep awake in the evening,

to

or at the

was oftentimes mortified

at

and concert rooms, and he

lecture

to find himself

jogged bj a

person sitting next to him to prevent his disturbing the

audience by his snoring.

At

this time

he weighs two hundred and fourteen

pounds, measures forty-two inches around the waist,

exercises with pleasure

and

church, his general health

profit,

and does not snore in

improved, and his figure

is

The

getting to be quite symmetrical.

is

regimen

is

still

the case cited

any danger

is

aued by him.

co'

'

certai

to the

'

heal.,,

prescribed

The reduction

rapid enough, and

and not in the

is

in

without

least trouble-

some or inconvenient.

We say, therefore,
matter.

Take

and the thing

it

will

and destroy the

fat,

that there need be no hurry in this

quietly.

be done.

patient^

Be

persevering,

The

object

is

and

regular,

not to starve

but to destroy his superfluous

and strengthen and harden his muscles, increase

his nervous energy, and, in short, to

of him.

THE END.

make

new man

VI -r..

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