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HOW TO GET STRONG

Evidently a live, active man; ruddy complexions do not belong to sick people; but to those in sound health, whose rich, good blood talks in the face itself; none but a man of exceeding toughness of body could have ever done or borne what Paul did.


SOCRATES (468-399 B.C.)


As stout as Moody or Santa-Claus; Greece used to have a queer old son; a sculptor's boy, named Socrates. He hung around Athens, talking to every one, not caring much for hard work, and doing about as he liked. He never wore undershirt or shoes; he could live on anything; and as he had but five minæ, or about fifty dollars a year; no doubt if Athens had a free-lunch route, he knew where it was. Yet his army comrade Alcibiades (in Plato's Symposium) likened this same Socrates to an uncouthly sculptured Silenus; and declared that "As he talks, the hearts of all who hear leap up; and their tears are poured out." He could handle his chisel, too; for he carved a group of marble graces "which was preserved on the Acropolis for many generations." Emerson has this to say of him: "Socrates, a man of humble stem, but honest enough; of the commonest history; of a personal homeliness so remarkable as to be a cause of wit in others—the rather that his broad good nature, and exquisite taste for a joke, invited the sally; which was sure to be paid. The players personated him on the stage; the potters copied his ugly face on their stone jugs. He was a cool fellow, adding to his humor a perfect temper; and a knowledge of his man, be he who he might whom he talked with, which laid the companion open to certain defeat in any debate,—and in debate he immoderately delighted. The young men are prodigiously fond of him, and invite him to their feasts; whither he goes for conversation.… In short he was what our country people call 'an old one.' He was monstrously fond of Athens; hated trees; never willingly went beyond the walls; and thought everything in Athens a little better than anything in any other place. He was plain as a Quaker in habit and speech. He had a Franklin-like wisdom. "Plain old uncle as he was, with his great ears; an immense talk-

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