CHAPTER X

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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.

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