How Things Have Changed

We here at Bloody nib Manor have never been physical culturalists, but as we grow older we realize the importance of keeping in some sort of shape and eating wisely.

Those of a "certain age" may recognize the ad to the left from comic books or the old style mens' magazines such as Argosy and Stag.

For many, many years Charles Atlas was the paradigm of manly strength and form. More than a few adolescent boys and young men sent Mr. Atlas their hard earned money in order to learn to develop into the Atlas type form. And the best thing, for the Atlas student, was the fact that the incident in the ad's cartoon was based on Charles Atlas' real life.

Your faithful correspondent, when first married, weighed 135 pounds at 6'1". His ever lovely bride, well a woman's weight is always a secret, but she was not a stick, but a pocket Venus.. Some thirty some odd years later yours now weighs 155 pounds and Lady Nib has only gained about five pounds. We've been very fortunate in that way, but as we grow older it becomes a chore to keep the fat away and the muscle present.

Charles Atlas, as corny as he have may been by today's standards, seems to have had the answer. Mr. Atlas was concerned with strength and health, not body building. Modern body builders are, in fact, freaks, When photographed for magazine covers or for competitions, usually starve themselves for three or for days before presenting themselves to the public. Mr. Atlas always presented himself as he was. He was a strong, fit man. The ever lovely Lady Nib, when queried on this matter, said that she much preferred the Charles Atlas physique to the modern body builder physique.


But that being said, your faithful correspondent has been reading over some old Charles Atlas material and he came across something that he found of interest.

Before recounting Mr. Atlas' words, let your faithful correspondent let the reader know that Mr. Atlas was concerned about more than just the musculature of his students. He was concerned about the whole person -- something that your modern "health spa" pays little attention to. ... Mr. Atlas wrote this back in the 1930s.

"Do not overlook the values of good music. Like attracts like. Music is pure and clean. Good music inspires and lifts you into higher realms. I strongly recommend that you take what I will call a Musical Bath daily. If you own a musical instrument, let its beneficial harmonies elevate and refresh your mind, body and soul. It should be as much a part of your regular day's routine as working, eating and sleeping. See that you listen to good music. Good music is to the soul what the water bath is to the body. Make it a point to listen to it often. These simple instructions, if faithfully observed and followed, will have a profoundly good influence on your life. Because of their simplicity do not neglect them. After all, the methods I am teaching are a natural and a better way of living, so that you may become healthy, strong and magnetic. I have exploded the idea that to be a strong man you must be a rough neck. Personality is also of great importance. Throughout your course I shall be giving advice on this subject as well as Health and Strength."

And in this modern age where body builders use steroids, and a hip-hop, or rap talker is considered musician, we find that the natural man has been replaced by the chemical and the base.

It's enough to make a person believe in de-evolution.