Page:How to Get Strong (1899).pdf/266

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HOW TO GET STRONG

he will make sure of his hour out-of-doors in the late afternoon, when the day's work is nearly or quite done. If he must get up earlier, or get to his work earlier, or work faster while he does work, no matter. The prize is well worth any such sacrifice, and even five times it. Emerson well says, "The first wealth is health," and no pains should be spared to secure it. Lose it a while and see. Exercise vigorously that hour afoot, or horseback, a-wheel, or on the water, making sure that during it you utterly ignore your business and usual thoughts. Walk less at first, but soon do your four miles in the hour, and then stick to that, of course having shoes in which it is easy to walk; and before long the good appetite of boyhood will return; food will taste as it often has not done for years, sound sleep will be surer; and new life and zest will be infused into all that you do. Let every man in this country who lives by brain-work, get this daily "constitutional" at all hazards; and it will do more to secure to him future years of health and usefulness than almost anything else he can do.

It will be observed that there is nothing severe or violent in any of these exercises suggested for men—nothing that old or young may not take with like advantage. The whole idea is to point out a plain and simple plan of exercise, which, followed up faithfully, will make sound health almost certain, and which is easily within the reach of all.


DAILY EXERCISE FOR CONSUMPTIVES

And what should these people do? If there is one good lung left, or a goodly portion of two, there is much which they can do. Before breakfast they need to be more careful than others because of their poorer

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