American Football Part 5

Bed. Time not stated.

N.B.--It is added "that the above rules are of course open to alteration according to circ.u.mstances, and the diet varied successfully by the introduction of fowls, either roast or boiled--the latter preferred;"

and "it must never be lost sight of that sharp work, regularity, and cleanliness are the chief if not the only rules to be followed to produce thorough good condition."

McLAREN'S SYSTEM.

A DAY'S TRAINING.

Rise at about 7 A.M. (Gla.s.s of cold water recommended.)

Exercise. The crew meet at 7, walk and run for four or five miles; or, in later practice, quick run of two miles.

Wash and dress.

Breakfast, 9. Meat (broiled); bread (brown) and b.u.t.ter; tea, two cups. "Cocoa made of the nibs boiled for four hours is better than tea for breakfast."

Smoking allowed (conditionally). "Smoking is barred, for, though here also a man's habits are to be taken into account, the subjects of training in match-boats are usually too young to have contracted a custom of smoking so inveterate as to have made tobacco indispensable to the body's internal functions, though it is not unfrequently so in older men. After breakfast is the only time allotted to the pipe."

Luncheon at 1. Beef sandwich with half a pint of beer, or Biscuit and gla.s.s of sherry, or egg in sherry.

Exercise. At 2.30 go out to row, and row over the whole course. "This altogether depends on the state of the crew."

Wash in tepid water.

Dinner at 6 p.m. Meat (roast, broiled, or boiled). "Any kind of wholesome meat thoroughly cooked."

Vegetables--"The green foods permissible contain in their list spinach--the very best of all; sea-kale, asparagus, but without melted b.u.t.ter; turnip-tops, young unhearted greens, but not solid cabbages; broccoli, carrots, parsnips, and cooked celery.

Turnips are also favored, and pease condemned; also cuc.u.mbers, and all salad mixtures. But boiled beet-root is good, and Jerusalem artichokes; and French beans stand next to spinach in virtue."

The course is varied daily, so that no two days together shall see the same articles on the table.

Pudding. ("Light puddings may be eaten.") Bread. Beer, one pint.

Wine, two gla.s.ses of old port or sherry, or three of claret. Biscuits and dried fruits, as cherries, figs, etc., allowed. ("All fresh fruits are avoided.") Jellies. ("Plain jellies are innocuous.") Water. ("As much spring water as they have a mind to.")

Supper, 9. Oatmeal gruel if desired.

Bed at 10. N. B.--On Sundays a brisk walk of three hours or so is taken.

SUMMARY.

Sleep, eight or nine hours. Exercise, about three hours. Diet, very varied.

STONEHENGE'S SYSTEM.

A DAY'S TRAINING.

Rise at 8 A.M. According to season and weather.

Cold bath.

Exercise, 8.30 to 9. Walking or running. "Let all take a gentle run or smart walk."

Breakfast, 9 to 9.30. Oatmeal porridge, with meat (beef or mutton, broiled) and bread.

Tea or coffee, or table beer, one pint.

"Tea is preferred to coffee.

Cocoa is too greasy."

Exercise, 9.30 to 11.30, Billiards, skittles, quoits, or other light exercise.

11.30 to 1.30. Rowing.

1.30 to about 2.30. Running. "According to circ.u.mstances."

Rubbed dry and linen changed.

Dinner, 2.30 to 3 or 3.30 Meat--beef (roast) or mutton (boiled mutton occasionally), roast fowl, partridges, or pheasants (allowed), or venison (nothing better).

"It is generally directed that the steak or chop should be underdone; this, I am sure, is a fallacy."

--Bread (_ad lib_.).--Puddings occasionally, made of bread, eggs, and milk, and served with preserved fruits.--Vegetables--potatoes (one or two only), cauliflowers, and broccoli (only as an occasional change). If training is protracted, fish allowed (cod or soles).--Beer, from a pint to a pint and a half.--Wine, a gla.s.s or two, port or sherry.

After dinner, until 5 or 6. A gentle stroll or book.

Exercise, 6 to 7. Rowing.

Supper, 8. Oatmeal porridge with dry toast or chop, with gla.s.s of port.

Bed at 9 or 10.

SYSTEM OF JACKSON AND G.o.dBOLD.

BREAKFAST.--Stale or whole-meal bread, or toast, a little b.u.t.ter, plenty of marmalade if you like, but not jam. Bacon and eggs, or chops or steaks, with watercress if obtainable. To those who like it, a basin of oatmeal porridge, _properly made_, taken with pure milk about an hour before breakfast, is an excellent thing, and has a very beneficial effect upon the stomach, but it should not be taken every day. It is better to miss it every third day, or to take it regularly for a fortnight and then omit it from the next week's diet, as the too frequent use of it is rather injurious to the skin of some persons.

Tea--not too strong--is better than coffee. Good ripe fruit is a capital adjunct to the breakfast-table, and is an excellent article of food.

DINNER.--Lamb, mutton, beef, fowl (tender and boiled), varied by fish, of which haddock, whiting, and soles are the best, with potatoes (well boiled, and not much of them), and well-cooked vegetables, followed by a small allowance of light farinaceous pudding or stewed fruit, will be a good, wholesome diet. If you want bread, have it stale. Never eat _new_ bread. Avoid all sauces, or made dishes, and adhere to plain food only.

One thing we would particularly impress upon the reader, and that is never to take his exercise immediately before or after meals, nothing is more injurious, or likely to produce indigestion, and its concomitant evils. Some authorities abjure the use of sugar, but taken in moderation it is not injurious. A well-known champion of our acquaintance, when in the pink of condition, was wont to amuse himself by eating the contents of a sugar basin, if one were inadvertently left near him, and without feeling any ill effects from so doing. Our readers need not follow his example, for although it might suit him, it probably would not agree with them. We have said, take sugar in _moderation_. Now, in this last word lies all the lectures one can give on this subject. Be moderate in all things, one might say, but above all things be moderate in the use of all edibles not actually necessary to support the increased exertion which a man in training is called upon to perform. No liquid should be taken except with, or just after meals, but we would not advise stinting the quant.i.ty too much. In summer three or four pints, and in winter two or three pints per diem would be about the quant.i.ty. Never drink just before exercise, and it is better not to drink just before going to bed. In fact, the less one has to digest when retiring for sleep the better, and be sure not to drink tea late at night.

[Ill.u.s.tration: C. O. GILL.

Yale.]

TEA, or SUPPER, should be taken at least two hours before bedtime, and we would allow a small chop, or some light fish, bread, and very little b.u.t.ter, with some ripe fruit. The best meal to take before a race, and which should be taken about two hours before starting-time, is the lean of mutton-chops and a little dry toast. We have said that no liquids should be taken except at meal-times; but we do not intend to state that if a man be very thirsty he may not touch them. If he does so, it must be a very small quant.i.ty. Thirst can often be a.s.suaged by rinsing the mouth out with cold water, and this is by far the better plan if it is efficacious.

A COMMON-SENSE SYSTEM.

One author says: "Rise at six; bathe; take about two ounces (a small cup) of coffee with milk: this is really a stimulating soup. Then light exercise, chiefly devoted to lungs; a little rest; the breakfast of meat, bread, or oatmeal, vegetables, with no coffee; an hour's rest.

Then the heaviest exercise of the day. This is contrary to rule; but I believe the heaviest exercise should be taken before the heaviest meal; a rest before dinner. This meal, if breakfast be taken at seven or eight, should be at one or two, not leaving a longer interval than five hours between the meals. At dinner, again meat, vegetables, bread, perhaps a half-pint of malt liquor, no sweets. Then a longer rest; exercise till five. Supper light--bread, milk, perhaps with an egg. Half an hour later a cup of tea, and bed at nine."

J. B. O'REILLY.

Seven o'clock is a good time for an athlete in training to rise. He ought to get a good dry-rubbing, and then sponge his body with cold water, or have a shower-bath, with a thorough rubbing afterwards. He will then go out to exercise before breakfast, not to run hard, as is commonly taught, but to walk briskly for an hour, while exercising his lungs in deep-breathing. Before this walk, an egg in a cup of tea, or something of the kind, should be taken.

The breakfast need not always consist of a broiled mutton-chop or cutlet; a broiled steak, broiled chicken, or broiled fish, or some of each, may be taken with tea or coffee.