MY SCHOOLS OF PHYSICAL CULTURE.
The reader of the second part of this book will see how my professional
career was thrust upon me. It came through no seeking of my own, after
my defeat of Samson. I accepted it partly because the offers seemed
too good to be thrown away, and partly because they enabled me to
gratify a wish to see something of the world. My ambition, however, was
always to form and build up a system for the service of others, rather
than exhibit merely the results of that system in my own person. That
ambition, I hope, is to be realised, for I have founded several schools
of training for men, women, and children of both sexes, and in the
course of time, I intend to establish branches in every important town.
The schools are conducted entirely on my own system of physical
culture. Instruction is given by specially qualified teachers, and
every exercise is lucidly described and clearly demonstrated. The
pupils have every opportunity of developing their bodies to the highest
extent, and from time to time I personally examine them.
The instructors employed in the school have been specially trained
for their work by me, so that the pupils have the benefit of my best
information, and of thus learning the whole of my system exactly. In
addition to the classes for men, women, and children, arrangements are
made for giving private lessons when required.
My brother-in-law, Mr. Warwick Brookes, jun., is the best pupil I have
ever had. For the past six years he has followed my system thoroughly,
and the results have been remarkable. When I first met him he was
exceedingly delicate. He could only walk with the aid of crutches.
Gradually, however, he began to improve, and under my personal
supervision, by the help of my system, his strength has so increased
that to-day he is like a new man.
By means of the schools I hope to do something to substantially aid the
physical development of this and succeeding generations. Letters from
past pupils testify to the great benefits which can be derived from
careful training under my system, and if the training has the further
advantage of individual instruction those benefits should be increased
even more than by studying this book.
It is a pleasant ambition to hope by one’s efforts to leave the world
just a little better here and there than one found it; and that has
always been and is my ambition. My pupils can help me to realise it.
As I have said, I intend opening schools in every large town in the
country; at present schools are open at the following addresses:—
{32, St. James’s Street, S.W.
{115A, Ebury Street, S.W.
LONDON {Walbrook, City, E.C.
{Tottenham Court Road, W.
{Crystal Palace, S.E.
MANCHESTER:—Oxford Street.