In June, 1858, I commenced practising with two fifty-pound dumb-bells, and subsequently added one of a hundred pounds, which I was prompted to get from hearing that one of that weight was used by Mr. James Montgomery, at that time a celebrated gymnast of New York City, and afterwards a successful teacher at the Albany Gymnasium.  Not having given much attention to the development of the extensor muscles of the arms for several months previous, it was a number of weeks before I could put this dumb-bell up at arm’s-length above my head with one hand.  As soon as I succeeded in doing this with comparative ease, I procured another hundred-pound dumb-bell, and in a few months succeeded in exercising with both of the instruments at the same time, raising each alternately above my head.  I then commenced practice with a dumb-bell weighing one hundred and forty-one pounds.  It consisted of two shells connected by a handle, which, being removable, allowed me to introduce shot, from time to time, into the cavities of the shells.  After a few months of practice, I could, with a jerk, raise the instrument from my shoulder to arm’s-length above my head.  My first public exhibition of this feat took place in Philadelphia, in April, 1860.

The spring of 1859 was now drawing nigh, and I began to think of giving a public lecture on Physical Culture, illustrating it with some exhibitions of the strength to which I had attained.  My father approved the venture, but, bethinking himself of my extreme diffidence, significantly asked, when I would be ready to permit a public announcement of my intention.  “Oh, in a few days,” I replied, as if it were as small a matter for me to lecture in public as to lift a thousand pounds in a gymnasium.  Weeks flew by, and still to the galling inquiry, “When?” I could only answer, “Soon, but not just yet.”  February and March had come and gone, and still I was not ready.  Finally, to the oft-renewed interrogatory, I made this reply:  “As soon as I can shoulder a barrel of flour, a feat which I am determined to accomplish before an audience, you may announce my lecture.”

I had then been practising some two months with a loaded barrel, so contrived that it should weigh a little more each succeeding day; and it had now reached a hundred and ninety pounds.  About this time it occurred to me, that, among my many experiments, I had never fairly tried that of a vegetable diet.  I read anew the works of Graham and Alcott; and conceiving that my strength had reached a stagnation-point, I gave up meat, and restricted my animal diet to milk.

A barrel of flour weighs on an average two hundred and sixteen pounds.  I therefore could not succeed in shouldering one until twenty-six pounds had been added to my loaded barrel.  Day after day I shouldered my one hundred and ninety pounds, but could not get an ounce beyond that limit.  My grand theory of the possible development of a man’s strength began to look somewhat insecure.