Show BOB FITZSIMMONS VS HOOK HOOD The Lanky Australian rives Gives Expert Opinion on Physical Culture I II I Philadelphia North This is the day and hour hoar of the ex expert pert perL when wb n only that testimony which comes from the original investigator is recognized recognised as a valuable addition to human knowledge I k Mr Robert therefore whose hose w testimony is Ia of both hands may claim as an author the th same profound respect which he be has baa Inspired in his bis bismore more strenuous profession an tl n the peaceful retirement of ot his home he has produced a book on Oft Phy Physical sica Culture and It commands the highest admiration of the publisher Mr Drexel Drezel Biddle BiddIe of this city who is himself an able ex exponents exponents exponents of both subjects and a gentle gentleman gentleman gentleman man not to be lightly It may be said at once onee that from the opening chapter of the book Mr Kr Fits we has baa 11 literature worried It is on r the defeaT dele def s c e J through all an of the pages h g a forty Illustrations and andt t at the let last Is 18 down and out Robert Fitzsimmons is 18 the champion middle and heavyweight writer of the world this work bound in la appropriate red typifying the diamond belt of the lit Ut literary literary ring With the pen he ail aU th the other fighters fi as easily U as s he lie would dispose of Mr Crockett or Mr Row with willi gloves S e e A 8 Refers opening Ms his attack on the main subject the author has bas a preliminary bout bout with poetry in the dedication c To 7 1 one eDe n whose whole beauty 1 through each ching ing IDI t year yr is y et t u unchanging I mugs Kad through o h whose yes eyes I have seen ReD the th e light and d the tile else right qty 3 1017 light when whan all aU else elM was was darkness and Dd uncertainty bad And whose shot abole with a gentle lustre for all U that to is good and t That that ever WEIr lor or r m me la In the paths the of truth truth and Del happiness My X guiding alas Wife wile Those hues may away not DOt scan readily bute but tile She e sentiment dos does honor both to Mr mons ns and tire the lady for whose sake he sJ tha tumultuous asaN Indeed the he pleasant home Ute life of f these two te is I an important topic to the oona ehen written for tbs file book by Tt Biddle H He rejoices ref In their distinguished 4 courtesy and hospitality ho as sa much muth as asIn asSa asIn In Sa the tM authors author prowess s and finds linee much to in the utter absence ab nce from the home of the appurtenances of the prIM prise ring There is not even he says saysa h f a t bag ba on tte tw t premises This would look as the advocate of culture cultura were ere neglecting his own wn advice bAt then hen he has halt a growing grow growing ing jog family and children are easily adaptable to the purposes es of ot exercise e eAt At this point comment must give e eto way to quotation lot for the purpose e of oft tilts this t k review is to tell what Mr Fits Fitz has hu to say His first chapter TJ The Proper Way to Breathe did not severely tax his literary powers It chiefly of or half tones from pho showing him in various atti attitudes tudes Illustrative of ot the lesson With the die brief explanation haven given it is possible pos able sible for t r the student to follow foU the ex exercises eels closely Chapter 3 J Is te e d School Roots Roof and was Wail d by f s It t Itte letter from Miss M Mary Bruce 7 Henderson of or Princeton Ind who for tor a course of exercises exer es suitable for far a ciu ci e of boys and girls The aim sim simple pie yet convincing instructions l given were no fro doubt of excellent service to Miss Hendersons interesting pupils Chapter 3 S tells H How w to Reduce Redu Weight W t and is recommended to men who ate are kept indoors The exercises I consist of various movements from a at prostrate position the patient is t warned eloquently not to give up the work impress It upon your mind however ever that there must mat be no DO weak weakening weakening ening on the tasks that you have laid flown aown for yourself your elf Some cold mornings morning you will get up possibly after a bard hard night feeling teUn languid and Instead of ot taking your fOUr cold bath UI rub down and exercises you may be tempted to say Obi Oh Ill ru just jUH skip it this once and jump into my clothes Such Buell weakness is fatal Persevere I 0 9 4 In 1 his bis address to women the author indulges in some olDe ea caustic fc philosophy I which will be recognised as ae both just and trenchant Muscle Raiding brings beauty to wo woo woman wooi woman i man This brief statement st is sufficient au I think to make e many nta 7 women embark m rk I upon a physical envelopment development course I What win will woman not do to become beautiful They T some of them at II least powder and paint and ud bleach their hair and do all aU kinds of other foolish things In an aft It attempt to improve their appearance For such unhappy creatures he en endorses endorses endorses every healthy sport with em on golf and avers aver that she abe who I thus rationally ration is Ia the tile woman woman who is queen His Hs a to parents I is to train their children gently but steadily by exercise enforcing his point with this terse epigram epigrams Get them up early In n the morning and send them out into the tile tr fresh air ar Even if you live Jive in tM the th city eIty keep them outdoors when the weather w h permits Better to have them dirty and healthy than clean and sickly 00 In his ht instructions To Prospective Athletes Mr Fite takes ec 00 oc occasion casion caston to Inculcate moral advice pure purely purely ly as IUS a 8 means to physical health The Tle Tl e fo fondest t mother would endorse his hie plea for a wholesome life UCe One thing that I want to particularly impress s upon the young athlete Is IB the priceless value of ot a 8 good home and pleasant home surroundings Some buys and young men have an idea that an athlete must be tough This is isaU I all aU wrong Tong and it has been proved time e and nd d again that the athlete whether a runner wrestler boxer or anything ng else can best fit himself for tor manly sports If he lie leads a clean wholesome good life Ufe And this cart can best be found amid pleasant home surroundings It appears appe rS therefore that the ambitious ambi ambitious ambitious youth should first of all pick out outa a pleasant home This accomplished the rest reet depends upon himself The eighteen chapters In Part II U are devoted to practical lessons in the art which made Mr Fitzsimmons famous He lays down in the first place three cardinal rules for the boxer 1 Keep Seep cool 2 t Do not get rattled 3 Y Donot Do Donot Donot not lose your temper The advice is strongly reminiscent of ot that given glen to aspirants for fame by distinguished a 3 philosopher of old when wh n he said First action second action third action Mr Fitzsimmons is to be con congratulated congratulated congratulated for having substituted va varying varying varying phrases for such iteration iterationS S tb s sHe He makes it clear that great strength does not necessarily Imply skill 8 as a 8 boxer and in bringing out this indulges Indu s in some humorous humorous h sidestep sidestepping sidestepping sidestepping ping and feinting that is very affective effective tive Speaking of a huge strong man who put the gloves on with him once he be remarks He was wa as slow on his feet teet as a messenger boy Those huge masses mas es of oC muscle mule were of no more practical practical practical use to him than a hand haRd organ would be to a a shipwrecked sailor a aA A mu man is 18 a 8 as awkward and ungainly as a crocodile would wOld be beIn beIn beIn In a ballroom So pugilism is not at all incompatible ble with a light and airy wit Hit In his serious instructions Mi Mr Ir Fitzsimmons Insists Jn lat that the use ue of heavy weights and are a not only useless u ess but harmful Suppleness Supple and an agility be he believes are more desirable de than mere mare brute muscle mu le power And no doubt hes right At any an rate he be Is capable of ot backing up his hili view in convincing con cen convincing manner manne Bag punching receives a chapter with illustrations Mr Fitzsimmons however does not give giva detailed instructions Instructions instructions If the reviewer protected by anonymity might venture a criticism of the book as a whole it would be this lack of detail Secure in his own knowledge e he often puts off oft the wea kneed and narrow shouldered dered inquirer r with vague generalities I 1 In boxing Mr Ir Fitzsimmons points j out The first thing to learn team is the right way to use your feet and for this feature of the art his instructions I Iare are really complete as these extracts indicate For your first lesson in boxing do donot donot I Inot not think of your hands Jump about i ion on your toes tees Bend your S and nd j straighten them again Spring f from com one foot to the other backward b a tod Ind forward Put the foot forward In a straight line from the body Bend the knee slightly and rest the foot on ou the toe Have Hae the weight of the th body on the first foot with the toe turned a 8 little outward Never stand stiffly Keep K ep shifting about bou t When you step in for a blow take the spring from the right foot lifting the body bolly forward and steadying It with the left leftIn leftIn leftIn In landing a nd swing bring the right leg forward with the blow This will bring the Ute feet to together tor gether gather a second after the blow blo lands Either carry the right foot forward or bring it back again to the first position position position tion uIn In Jumping backward from a a blow take the spring from the left foot us using usIng ing lag the toe When you land have the feet in the same position ready for at attack attack attack tack or 01 defense i 0 Full instruction Uon is also given for the poise and for the technique as it were of the blow Remember says the author never hit with the thumb Use the first two knuckles of the hand Never close the hand until the blow is islanded islanded islanded landed Never Jand land a punch without having the block ready to meet the counter But for condensed wisdom these sentences may be recommended Take your chance hance when you OU see it it and hit from where your hand is Donot Do po Donot not draw your arm back Hit from where your hand Is and you have got him Detailed description Is given ghen of vari various various ous sus blows each of which is commend commended ed as highly disconcerting and painful to the th party of the second part Illus Illustrating Illustrating Illustrating these are some Illustrations from which any person with a lively imagination may picture himself battering his dearest foe into ensanguined helplessness A biography of the author and ac accounts accounts accounts counts of some ome of or his famous battles fill tUl out the It Is te well Yell bound bo nd well printed well illustrated It jus justifies justiles tiles the enthusiasm alike of Mr Biddie Bid Biddie Biddie die and his freckled but agile agUe friend the author |