Letters and Photographs of Pupils

In the following pages will be found a selection from many thousands of letters which have been addressed to me by pupils who have already profited from my system of Physical Culture. Attention is specially directed to the measurements before and after training, showing the actual progress made in muscular development.

Vachwen,
Marlborough Road,
Watford,
March 11th, 1899.

Mr. Sandow.

Dear Sir,

I have just completed a course of lessons at your “School of Physical Culture,” from which I have derived untold benefit. Through the greater part of last year I was so ill that for some time it was feared I might go into consumption. I was medically treated, and at length permitted by my doctor to try what your exercises would do.

I entered your School with weak heart, weak lungs, digestion sadly impaired. After three lessons, with persistent home work, I began very slowly to gain strength and an appetite, and now, at the end of my course, I am quite a new creature—full of vitality and energy.

The upper part of the lung, which was the chief cause of my trouble, is quite healed and healthy. I never know now what it is to feel pain and tightness in the bronchial tubes, from which I constantly suffered in the past. My digestive organs too are quite well.

I have gained in weight	7 lbs.
I have gained round the neck	1 in.
I have gained in the chest (contracted)	3½ ins.
I have gained in the chest (expanded)	4 ins.
I have gained in forearm	2½ ins.
I have gained in upper arm	2½ ins.
I have gained in lung capacity	100 cbc. ins.

I should be quite pleased to be of use to you at any time in recommending to weak ones, who may be timid to commence the work, the immense benefit to be derived from it, by my own personal experience. I should like also to mention the very kind and careful treatment I have received both from your Manager, Mr. Clease, and the Class Instructor. They give the weak ones their particular attention, so that in working one is never over-worked.

I remain,
Yours gratefully,
Mary E. S. Adams.

EBURY STREET SCHOOL.

Copy of Measurement Sheet.

Name:—Miss Adams.

Address:—Marlborough Road, Watford.

Result of Medical Examination:—“Very Bad.”

Nature of Illness:—“The doctors say consumption.”

Remarks:—“This is the weakest case I have ever had to treat.”

	Before Training.	After 6 weeks.	After 3 months.	Increases.
Neck	11	11¾	12	1
Chest Contracted	28	30½	31½	3½
Chest Expanded	30	33	35	5
Upper Arm, Right	8½	10	11	2½
Upper Arm, Left	8	10	10½	2½
Fore Arm, Right	8¼	9½	10¾	2½
Fore Arm, Left	8¼	9½	10¼	2
Waist	22	23	23	1
Thigh, Right	16	17½	18½	2½
Thigh, Left	16	17½	18½	2½
Calf, Right	10¾	11¼	11¾	1
Calf, Left	10¾	11¼	11¾	1
Height	5ft. 6in.	5ft. 6½in.	5ft. 7in.	1in.
Weight	7st. 2lb.	7st. 8lb.	7st. 9lb.	7lb.
Lung Capacity	100	170	200	100
Chest Expansion	2	2½	3½	1½

57, Gloucester Terrace, W.,

March 12th, 1899.

Dear Sir,

I am glad to take this opportunity of saying how very much my health has benefited in every way from your system of Physical Culture. It always gives me great pleasure to recommend the same to my friends.

I am,

Yours faithfully,

Julia F. M. Johnston.

E. Sandow, Esq.

EBURY STREET SCHOOL.

Copy of Measurement Sheet.

Name:—Miss J. F. M. Johnston.

Address:—57, Gloucester Terrace, W.

	Before Training.	After 6 weeks.	After 3 months.	Increases.
Neck	12⅜	13	13¼	⅞
Chest Contracted	29½	31	31½	2
Chest Expanded	32	36½	37	5
Upper Arm, Right	10	12	12½	2½
Upper Arm, Left	10⅛	12	12½	2⅜
Fore Arm, Right	9½	10¼	10½	1
Fore Arm, Left	8¾	10¼	10½	1¾
Waist	24	24	24½	½
Thigh, Right	18½	19½	19¾	1¼
Thigh, Left	18½	19½	19¾	1¼
Calf, Right	12	13	13¼	1¼
Calf, Left	12	13	13¼	1¼
Height	5ft. 4⅜in.	5ft. 4¾in.	—	⅜
Weight	8st. 3lb.	8st. 4lb.	8st. 6lb.	3lb.
Lung Capacity	200	219	222	22
Chest Expansion	2½	5½	5½	3

23, Church Row,
Limehouse, E.,
December 3rd.

Mr. E. Sandow,

Dear Sir,

I write these few lines to convey to you my thanks and gratitude for the boon you have given me and the public at large. I refer to your excellent book on how to gain health, muscle, and strength.

I procured one about two years ago, and have studied and practised the drills incessantly since. The result is far beyond my expectations. I am nineteen years of age and small of stature, being only five feet in height and seven stone in weight, yet, without exaggeration, I can say that my strength and muscular development would do credit to a man six feet high.

I have gained this solely by your system and cannot praise it too highly.

Another great advantage over other systems is the small outlay required, as I have obtained for a few shillings all that is necessary to train with, whereas if I had trained under another system I should have had to have made a much larger outlay for apparatus.

I enclose a list stating what I have gained in strength and muscle since I started training.

It will always be a great pleasure to me to answer any questions concerning your system, likewise interview anyone who might be desirous of seeing me.

I remain,
Yours truly,
Thos. A. Fox.

Name:—T. A. Fox.

Address:—23, Church Row, Limehouse, E.

MEASUREMENTS.

Before Training.	After Training.
Chest	29	inches	32½	inches
Chest (expanded)	30	″	34	″
Biceps	10	″	13	″
Forearm	9½	″	12	″
Thigh	16½	″	20	″
Calf	11	″	13	″
Waist	26	″	26	″

HEAVY WEIGHT-LIFTING.

Before Training.

From ground above head	Right hand	56lb dumb-bell.
	Left hand	46lb dumb-bell.
	Both hands	84lb bar.
Holding at arm’s length straight from shoulder		Right hand	22lb weight.
Left hand	20lb weight.

After two years’ training under your system.

From ground above head	Right hand	100lb dumb-bell.
	Left hand	80lb dumb-bell.
	Both hands	130lb dumb-bell.
Holding at arm’s length straight from shoulder	Right hand	40lb weight.
Holding at arm’s length straight from shoulder	Left hand	30lb weight

Mon Repos,
66a, Herne Hill,
London, S.E.,
March 6th.

Manager Clease,

Dear Sir,

It is just over three years since I started to improve my physical power by means of the Sandow system, and I take this opportunity of forwarding some photographs taken at different periods. In what measure I have succeeded can best be seen by comparison of my original efforts and my present attainments, of which I also forward a list. Although they are as yet nothing to boast about or sufficiently great to be handed down to posterity, they are the result of close application to the system Mr. Sandow originated, and by means of which, in a few years, I hope to attain the culmination of human strength, and, if possible, to rival that of Sandow himself, for I am a firm believer in starting with an almost unattainable ideal, then gradually coming within measurable distance of it, and eventually, perhaps, to reach it. To do this will require the exercise of many mental qualities, determination, perseverance, and endurance. I suppose there are many young men like myself in whom Mr. Sandow has awakened a latent ambition to muscular prowess, and in doing so I state without any hesitation that he alone has done as much good for the country as any man of the present century.

I can only conclude with expressing my deep gratitude to Mr. Sandow for the splendid facilities he has offered to those who wish to be classed as nature’s men (which is indeed the duty of man), and in doing so I am but echoing the sentiments of many of his pupils.

I have the honour to be,
Faithfully yours, John D. Peters.

EBURY STREET SCHOOL.

Copy of Measurement Sheet.

Name:—John Peters.

Address:—66a, Herne Hill, S.E.

	Before Training.	After Course.	Increase.
Neck	16	18½	2½
Chest, contracted	38	40	2
Chest, expanded	44	47	3
Upper Arm, Right	15¾	17½	1¾
Upper Arm, Left	15	17	2
Forearm, Right	13	15	2
Forearm, Left	12¼	14½	2¼
Waist	30	30	—
Thigh, Right	23½	24½	1
Thigh, Left	23¾	24¼	½
Calf, Right	15½	16½	1
Calf, Left	15½	16	½
Height	5ft. 11in.	6ft. ⅜in.	1¼
Weight	13 st.	13st. 6lb	6
Lung Capacity	276	320	44
Chest Expansion	6	7	1

Mr. Peters is a fine weight-lifter, having accomplished the splendid feat of raising 210lb from the floor to arms’ length above the head, using one hand only. This is probably the amateur record. As he is only 23 years old there is yet plenty of time for him to far eclipse even this striking feat.

30, Guildford Street,
Russell Square,
W.C.,
13th March.

Dear Sir,

It affords me much pleasure in stating that since I commenced taking your course of instruction I have greatly increased in strength and physical development—my biceps having increased two inches, and my other muscles proportionately. I am convinced that a course of your instruction would prove beneficial to any one, whether naturally muscular or otherwise. Your system is one of such gradual progression that it cannot fail to strengthen the constitution of a person even in a delicate state of health. I shall have much pleasure in recommending your School of Physical Culture to my friends.

Yours sincerely,
Leslie Hood.

Eugen Sandow, Esq.

EBURY STREET SCHOOL.

Copy of Measurement Sheet.

Name:—L. Hood.2

Address:—30, Guildford St., W.C.

	Before Training.	After 3 months.	Increases.
Neck	15	16	1
Chest Contracted	35½	36	½
Chest Expanded	38⅝	42	3⅜
Upper Arm, Right	13⅞	15¼	1⅜
Upper Arm, Left	13⅞	14¾	⅞
Fore Arm, Right	12	13¼	1¼
Fore Arm, Left	11⅞	13	1⅛
Waist	28½	29½	1
Thigh, Right	22	22¾	¾
Thigh, Left	21¾	22½	¾
Calf, Right	14¾	15	⅜
Calf, Left	14⅛	14½	⅜
Height	5ft. 7¼in.	—	—
Weight	10st. 8lbs.	10st.9lbs.	1
Lung Capacity	281	—	—
Chest Expansion	3⅛	6	2⅞

34, Duke Street,
St. James’s, S.W.,
March 4th, 1899.

Dear Mr. Sandow,

Not often is it given to us in this life to sow our seed and gather in the full fruits of the same. Therefore it is with more than ordinary pleasure that I write this letter to say that with your system of Physical Culture this extremely satisfactory result is to be obtained.

When first I joined your school some four or five months ago I was a very fair average specimen of a young Englishman (and our national thews and sinews are by no means to be despised), but owing, in a great measure, I suppose, to my city life, I had run a little to seed, and more than once had required the aid of doctors and tonics. The advice of the former invariably ended with the same formula, “take more exercise.”

I was quite ready to agree with them, as during my holidays in the country, when I was exercising in one form or another nearly the whole day, I felt quite a different man and as fit as possible.

But work in the city is a little difficult to reconcile with plenty of exercise. Some time previously Mr. Sandow had opened his school for Physical Culture, and having often admired him and his feats from afar, I resolved to go to him.

I am a business man, and from a business point of view I never did a better stroke of business in my life.

I am a mortal being, and speaking from a human point of view I never in my life came to a happier conclusion than when I resolved to become a pupil of the School of Physical Culture. I have increased in girth and weight without scarcely a superfluous ounce of flesh.

My working capabilities and staying powers are all doubled, and what before was an effort has now become a pleasure. Indigestion, torpid lassitudes, rasped nerves, and jaded appetite, are to me now unknown quantities.

With splendid appetite, long peaceful nights, and wondrous powers of vigour and vitality, I can face the world and with a deep sense of gratitude say, this is what Mr. Sandow and his system of Physical Culture have done for me.

Yours sincerely,
Roland Hastings.

P.S.—I may add I am a pupil at the St. James’s Street School.

St. JAMES’S STREET SCHOOL.

Copy of Measurement Sheet.

Name:—Roland Hastings.

Address:—Southsea House, Threadneedle St., E.C.

	Before Training.	After 3 months.	Increases.
Neck	14½	16¾	2¼
Chest Contracted	34½	36	1½
Chest Expanded	36½	43¼	6¾
Upper Arm, Right	11¾	15	3¼
Upper Arm, Left	11⅝⅝	15	3⅜
Fore Arm, Right	11⅞	14	2⅛
Fore Arm, Left	11⅞	14	2⅛
Waist	29¼	30¾	1½
Thigh, Right	20½	22½	2
Thigh,	Left	20½	22½	2
Calf, Right	13½	14¼	¾
Calf,	Left	13⅝	14¼	⅝
Height	5ft. 7½in	5ft. 7½in	—
Weight	10st. 4lbs	11st. 4lbs	1st.
Lung Capacity	255	—	—
Chest Expansion	2	7¼	5¼

18, St. Stephen’s Road,
Bayswater, W.,
March 10th, 1899.

Dear Sir,

Your system has certainly done me a lot of good and freshened me up, although I can hardly claim to have tested it fairly, as I must plead guilty to having done none of the exercises out of the school during the three months’ course that I have just concluded there.

Attending the school obviates three defects in working by yourself:—

(i.) You learn—not merely the exercises—but the way to do them.

(ii.) You get an instructor who knows his work, and keeps you at yours.

(iii.) You are stimulated by seeing others working in the same room.

The only disadvantage I can see in the system is that, if rigidly followed, you would soon be driven to patronise a fresh tailor.

I was warned not to get muscle-bound by taking the course; I now cannot see how this can happen, unless you neglect some of the exercises entirely. I hope, at some future date, you will receive a better account of your system with regard to measurements and developments from

Yours truly,
Arthur Foulkes.

St. JAMES’S STREET SCHOOL.

Copy of Measurement Sheet.

Name:—A. Foulkes.

Address:—18, St. Stephen’s Road, Bayswater.

	Before Training.	After 3 months.	Increases.
Neck	14⅞	17¼	2⅜
Chest Contracted	34½	33½	—
Chest Expanded	38½	42¼	3¾
Upper Arm, Right	12½	14½	2
Upper Arm, Left	11¾	14¼	2½
Fore Arm, Right	11¾	13	1¼
Fore Arm, Left	11¾	13	1¼
Waist	30¼	31½	1¼
Thigh, Right	22½	24	1½
Thigh, Left	22½	24	1½
Calf, Right	14⅜	14¾	⅜
Calf, Left	14¼	14¾	½
Height	6ft.	6ft.	—
Weight	12st. 1½lb.	12st. 7lbs.	5½
Lung Capacity	320	340	20
Chest Expansion	4	8¾	4¾

3, Burlington Road,
Bayswater, W.,
March 10th, 1899.

F. A. Hansard, Esq.
Dear Sir,

With regard to my opinion of Mr. Sandow’s system I cannot speak too highly of it.

I commenced the three months’ course when in poor health, brought about by malarial fever, but after attending Mr. Sandow’s school for two months I felt better than I had ever done previously.

The increase in measurements which you have recorded is the result of two hours’ conscientious work a week only.

It would be fair to mention that when only 6 lessons remained before the completion of the course, my exercises were interrupted owing to a broken collar-bone. With better luck, these increases would possibly have been greater.

I am, Sir,
Yours truly,
C. Foulkes.

St. JAMES’S STREET SCHOOL.

Copy of Measurement Sheet.

Name:—C. Foulkes.

Address:—War Office, Pall Mall.

	Before Training.	After 3 months.	Increases.
Neck	15	16¾	1¾
Chest Contracted	33	35	2
Chest Expanded	38	43	5
Upper Arm, Right	12⅝	14½	1⅞
Upper Arm, Left	12¼	14	1¾
Fore Arm, Right	11½	13½	2
Fore Arm, Left	11	13⅛	2⅛
Waist	30½	31	½
Thigh, Right	21	23	2
Thigh, Left	21	23	2
Calf, Right	14¼	14¾	½
Calf, Left	14¼	14¾	½
Height	5ft. 9½in.	5ft. 9½in.	—
Weight	11st. 1½lbs.	11st. 4lbs.	2½
Lung Capacity	310	373	63
Chest Expansion	5	8	3

York Place,
Manchester,
February, 1899.

Mr. E. Sandow.

Dear Sir,

I have much pleasure in enclosing a copy of my measurements taken at the end of last December. I am a pupil attending your Manchester School, and cannot speak too highly of your system, or the manner in which it is taught by your instructors.

Wishing you every success,
Believe me,
Yours very sincerely,
J. A. Sinclair.

OXFORD STREET SCHOOL (MANCHESTER).

Copy of Measurement Sheet.

Name:—J. A. Sinclair.

Address:—York Place, Manchester.

	Before Training.	After 3 months.	Increases.
Neck	14½	15⅞	1⅜
Chest Contracted3	35½	35	½
Chest Expanded	37	41¼	4¼
Upper Arm, Right	14	16⅜	2⅜
Upper Arm, Left	14	16¼	2¼
Fore Arm, Right	11⅞	14	2⅛
Fore Arm, Left	11⅝	13¾	2⅛
Waist	31	31	—
Thigh, Right	22¼	24¾	2½
Thigh, Left	21¾	24¼	2½
Calf, Right	14	14⅞	⅞
Calf, Left	13¾	14¾	1
Height	5ft. 5¼in.	5ft. 5½in.	⅜
Weight	11st. 6½lbs.	12st. 0lbs.	7½
Lung Capacity	240	275	35
Chest Expansion	1½	6¼	4¾

High Lawn,
Bolton-le-Moors,
March 16th, 1899.

Dear Mr. Sandow,

After six months training as a pupil at your School of Physical Culture (Manchester), I now feel qualified to judge as to the merits of your system.

For the perfect and symmetrical development of the human form I can conceive of nothing which rivals the dumb-bell and rubber exercises as taught and practised in your gymnasia.

For the promotion of lost health, due to bodily neglect; as a cure for insomnia, and many abdominal disorders, it needs no recommendation.

Concerning my personal improvement, little need be said, sufficient to say I never felt better in my life, and recent weight-lifting tests have proved me to be possessed of nearly double my former strength.

Nor has my speed or activity suffered in the least (which so many, erroneously, consider to be the inevitable result of such training). On the contrary, I feel as capable of doing my 10⅖ for the 100 as ever I did.

Believe me,
Yours very truly,
Harold L. Butler.

Casteluan,
Wimbledon Hill, S.W.,
March 8th, 1899.

Dear Sir,

Having been under your system for a little over a year, I should like to add a few words in praise of your system generally. I hardly think that actual figures as to measurements and weight-lifting, give any adequate idea of the general benefits received by anyone who takes up Physical Culture thoroughly and puts his back into it.

If figures are any guide to you, however, I may quote the following, which were all taken at your School in Ebury Street.

My lung capacity has increased from 283 to 417 cubic inches, my chest expansion from 39½ to 42¼, thigh from 20½ to 22⅝, and calf from 13⅞ to 15¼.

In weight-lifting I can raise 125 lbs. from the ground with my right hand above head by means of the body-press, instead of 60 lbs. With two hands I can jerk 165 lbs. instead of 85 lbs., and I can hold out at arm’s length with my right hand 45 lbs. instead of 20 lbs.

Your system has so generally benefited my whole physique, however, that I consider my health has improved to an extent far beyond any actual increase in figures.

One of the grandest benefits of Physical Culture is, to my mind, the increase of will power and general concentration, which can never be measured in any actual way, but which is bound to appear in after life, in short becomes an integral part of his character.

Yours truly,
Claude Barton.

26, Gordon Mansions, W.C.,
March 21st, 1899.

Dear Mr. Sandow,

I am glad to be able to say a few words about your system of Physical Culture. I write feelingly, for I can scarcely express how grateful I am for what it has done for me. A few years back I became unpleasantly conscious that a careless disregard for my health was beginning to unfavourably affect my work before the British public. Notwithstanding the indulgence shown me by audiences in all the musical centres, I could not disguise from myself the unpalatable fact that, as a result of neglecting a cold and getting generally “run down,” my singing voice was becoming seriously impaired. And so it remained until chance led me to your school of Physical Culture, and to renew the active bodily exercise which I had dropped for so long. The result was eminently satisfactory; I was soon once more able to fulfil my public engagements with reasonable satisfaction to myself and, I trust, some pleasure to my audiences. I entirely attribute the return of my powers to the course I went through on your system.

Actors and singers do not need great muscular strength, but they do most emphatically require health, and, of course, health and reasonable development go together. No man is such a slave to his physical condition as the actor or lyric artist. However great his talent, he cannot give expression to it if the machine be out of repair; his physical health is obviously his most valuable asset. For this reason alone I am sure that every member of my profession would be well advised to get into the way of devoting a few minutes every day to your exercises. The lyric artist especially would find his voice improve, his spirits be more exuberant, and his general vitality at a very much higher level. In addition he would in most cases discover in a very short time that his figure and limbs were so much improved that his former expenditure upon lambs-wool tights, padding, &c., would be entirely obviated.

I am,
Yours very faithfully,
Alec Marsh.

Notes

2 This pupil had been working three months before joining this school, hence the increases are not so marked as in the case of a beginner.

3 It will be noted that the size of the Chest when contracted is slightly smaller than before training; this is not unusual, and denotes that more control has been obtained over the muscles of the chest, and consequently its walls can be drawn closer together.

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