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FROM THE BRYANT ROOM ARCHIVES
By Myrna Sloam, ©Jan/Feb 2003
The Health Habits of William Cullen Bryant
Note: Born in 1794, noted journalist and poet W.C. Bryant, was also known for
his active and healthy lifestyle. In 1871, at the age of 76, he responded to
an inquiry regarding his health habits. The son of a doctor, Bryant became interested
in homeopathy and in 1841 served as the first President of the Homeopathic Society
of New York Physicians. In 1860, he was one of the founders of the New York
Medical College, where he then served as President and Trustee. Bryant purchased
his Roslyn home in 1843 and upon his death in 1878 he was buried in the Roslyn
Cemetery.
Dear Sir:
I promised, some time since, to give you some account of my habits of life,
so far, at least, as regards diet, exercise and occupation. I am not sure that
it will be of any use to you, although the system which I have for many years
observed seems to answer my purpose very well. I have reached a pretty advanced
period of life, without the usual infirmities of old age, and with my strength,
activity and bodily faculties generally in pretty good preservation. How far
this may be the effect of my way of life, adopted long ago, and steadily adhered
to, is perhaps uncertain.
I rise early, at this time of the year about 5:30; in Summer, half an hour,
or even an hour earlier. Immediately, with very little incumbrance of clothing,
I begin a series of exercises, for the most part designed to expand the chest,
and at the same time call into action all the muscles and articulations of the
body. These are performed with dumb bells, the very lightest, covered with flannel;
with apole, a horizonal bar, and a light chair swung around my head. After a
full hour, and sometimes more, passed in this manner, I bathe from head to foot.
When at my place in the country, [in Roslyn] I sometimes shorten my exercise
in the chamber, and, going out, occupy myself for half an hour or more in some
work which requires brisk exercise. After my bath, if breakfast be not ready,
I sit down to my studies until I am called.
My breakfast is a simple one-hominy and milk, or in place of hominy, brown bread,
or oat meal, or wheaten grits, and, in the season, baked sweet apples. Buckwheat
cakes I do not decline, nor any other article of vegetable food, but animal
food I never take at breakfast. Tea and coffee I never touch at any time. Sometimes
I take a cup of chocolate, which has no narcotic effect and agrees with me very
well. At breakfast I often take fruit, either in its natural state or freshly
stewed.
After breakfast I occupy myself for awhile with my studies, and then, when in
town, I walk down to the office of the Evening Post, nearly three miles distant,
and after about three hours return, always walking, whatever be the weather
or the state of the streets. In the country I am engaged in my literary tasks
till a feeling of weariness drives me out into the open air, and I go upon my
farm or into the garden and prune the trees, or perform some other work about
them which they need and then go back to my books. I do not often drive out,
preferring to walk.
In the country I dine early, and it is only at that meal that I take either
meat or fish, and of these but a moderate quantity, making my dinner mostly
of vegetable. At the meal which is called tea, I take only a little bread and
butter with fruit, if it be on the table. In town, where I dine later, I take
but two meals a day. Fruit makes a considerable part of my diet, and I eat it
at almost any hour of the day without inconvenience. My drink is water, yet
I sometimes, though rarely, take a glass of wine. I never meddle with tobacco,
except to quarrel with its use.
That I may rise early, I, of course, go to bed early; in town, as early as ten;
in the country, somewhat earlier. For many years I have avoided in the evening
every kind of literary occupation which tasks the faculties, such as composition,
even to the writing of letters, for the reason that it excites the nervous system
and prevents sound sleep.
My brother told me, not long since, that he had seen in a Chicago newspaper,
and several other Western journals, a paragraph in which it was said that I
am in the habit of taking quinine as a stimulant; that I have depended upon
the excitement it produced in writing my verses, and that, in consequence of
using it in that way, I had become as deaf as a post. As to my deafness, you
know that to be false, and the rest of the story is equally so. I abominate
all drugs and narcotics, and have always carefully avoided everything which
spurs nature to exertions which it would not otherwise make. Even with my food
I do not take the usual condiments, such as pepper, and the like.
I am sir, truly yours,
W.C. Bryant March 30, 1871
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