EXERCISE.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6094, 9 November 1887, Page 2

EXERCISE.

[Bt J. P. Firth.]

"When I promised the energetic secretary of the Dialectic Society to read a paper on *'Atblottcs," I el id not understand that it ■would be so called in your programme; ond I ask your permission to alter the name of my subject to "Exercise," Time will not permit mc to enter into minute details, but I .shall make my examination as wide as possible.

I should like, in the first place, to be quite sure that the meaning I attach tothe term is perfectly understood. By exercise, then I mean bodily exertion for the sake ef health; and in it I conclude all systematized physical exertion which tends to develop the body harmoniously, •o that it may be healthy, strong, and graceful.

Its three distinct alms are health, strength, and beauty of form ; and of these, health is by far the most important. It is for this reason that I prefer to read a paper upon exercise rather than upon athletics, for the latter term is now generally associated with the idea of very violent effort made in competitive contests. This particular form of exercise is most valuable fn its proper place, and I shall refer to it at some length. But my object here is to bring before yon as strongly as I possibly can the primary importance of health; for it ia health rather than strength that is the great requirements of modern men at modern occupations. It is not the power to travel great distances, carry great burdens, lift great weights, or overcome great material obstructions ; it is simply that condition.of body and that amount of vital capacity which shall enable each man in his place to pursue his calling and work on in his working life, with the greatest amount of comfort to himself and usefulness to his fellowmen. How many men, earnest, eager, uncomplaining, are pursuing their avocations with the immineucy of a certain breakdown ever before with pain and weariness, languor and depressiou: when fair health and fall power might have been secured to them, and the labour that is of love, now performed'lncompletely and in pain, might have been performed with completeness and in comfort.

Let it not be inferred from this that I consider health and strength as in any way opposed to each other; on the contrary, they are most intimately allied, and are usually obtained by the same means, and in the same manner. They are connected very closely, but tliey are not th* same, and a man may possess either without the other. For strength may bo due to the great force possessed by one system of the body, such as the muscular; or great force in one part of the body, such as the trimk or the limbs; but health is the uniform and regular performance of all the functions of the body arising from the harmonious action of all its parts—a physical condition implying that all are sound, well-fitted, and well-matched. We do not look far enough into life to see this distinction, or to value it if seen. We fix our eyes longingly upon strength—upon strength now, and do not care for the power to work well and successfully hereafter, which is health. Therefore it is fortunate that the same means which usually give strength, give health also, although the latter may be jeopardized by irregular attempts to gain the former.

Again, it is fortunate that health should spring from the regular and uniform development of the body as a whole, not from the extreme development of any particular part. At the risk of becoming wearisome, let mc again urge the vast importance of health. Emerson says:—" The first wealth is health. Get health. No labour, pains, temperance, poverty, nor exercise that can gain it must be grudged. The best part of health ; i3 a fine disposition. It is more essential than talent even in the works of talent. Nothing will supply the want of sunshine to peaches."

Dr. Sinclair Paterson, in his admirable "Health Studies/ says—"There is an old story about an eastern monarch, who, through having too much to eat and too little to do, fell into a condition of illhealth. The physicians attempted to remove the dieease in vain. But a wise and not over-scrupulous dervish went to the king taking with him a ball and bat. He, told him that some most precious and restorative herbs were skilfully introduced into the handle of the btvt, and that if he took the bat in his hand and drove theball against the wall for two or three hours daily, thepreciousingredients would enter into the pores of his hand and flood his body with health. It happened according to the dervish's prophecy. The king continued to follow the instructions from day to day; his wasted energies returned, and he was enabled to resume his duties with pleasure and success. ... I need not tell you that the story of the valuable and costly elements was not exactly true, and that the wholecuredepended upon theexerelse which the King was induced to take. I I am afraid that of times we neglect very valuable means for recovering or increasing our strength because they are so simple. We are inctlned to think that if some special elements, very difficult of attainment, and very costly, could be introduced into our bodies, then we should be able to gain much more vigour, and to do our work much more successfully. Depend upon it the simplest means are always the best. The method of gaining and regaining health is not far to seek."

Yes, exercise with temperance, is the great health-giver.

To quote Dr. Paterson again:—" Allow mc to insist that exercise is not only of special value in forming rightly, and also in developing the different muscles that we are in the habit of using, bnt it bears also immediately and closely upon the whole well-being of the body. I hope you undbrstand the importance of that statement. Some are disposed to think that muscular effort is simply intended as training for special muscular exploits. We need not depreciate the value of special arrangements whereby men are prepared for the performance of extraordinary feats. But we have to learn this: that it ifl more important to all of us that by attending to the full exercise of our muscular functions we are aiding all the different organs of the body in carrying on their work successfully and well. We thus help the lungs to do their work, we help the heart to do its work, and the stomach to do its work. I believe that in a great many instances experience has proved that you can more readily change for the better, improper action, or feeble action on the part of certain internal by muscular exercise, than by any Sealing directly wi£i the organ itself. I pelleve there is pot a single portion of> tfce\frame that does net receive benefit* dl*ectly or , indirectly from muscular exertion wisely directed^ , " ! " \

As health jeivers, oar English games stand in the first rank; and, if properly played by normally healthy boys or yonng men, football perhaps head* ffie Ustr; but there ie a© other popular game which is so heavily handicapped by strong opposition. This is portly due to the quite unnecessary roughness which co many players introduce into the game, but chiefly to ignorance on the part of "spectators and parents. It is not every , eilddleiaged man, who it has been said, bears the same relation to the schoolboy ac the domestic cow to the wild antelope, that can understand the exultant joy of the panting youngster as he comes a glorious, cropper orer the line with the ball safely touched down dead- Players are not often aware how very terrible an ordinary cropper looks to a man who has, perhaps, done nothing more violent for some years than walk to his office. It must be ad-

• A papsr recently read before the Dialectic Society.

mltted that there i., more danger than is necoiy 5■ I Vi. COUrSC, be modified' but ) •think there should be au P leu,en t J ~\ danger. We require K amea for th ellu £ \ vationof nerve and determination? * ' Dr. Cathcart, am eminent Scotch nhv s-cian, says of football.—' Kvcn if x take the accidents at their worst t h™ compare favourably wUh thos( , other of our outdoor sports. 1,, the hunt " ms-aeld. deaths nro nlmoat proverbial]* common, but does anyone think of etaiL ping foxhunting on that acrount? I n vZ. portion to th« numbers who annually rld ß after hounds, the risk to«ach one is com paratively trilling, and if we turn in th« same way to football, a very small proew Uon indeed are ever seriously injured. When we hear of an accident in the foot ball fl*ld, let us not forget out of how many this comes, and really what a small risk there is to each. But what of th» advantage to the rest? Do we forget that football is sending them out more manly vigorous n»en into the world to fight their battle of life? Andif. a very small minority suffer in the it more than this world with ita .mixture of good and evil has ever brought us - !"

To quote from Herbert Spencer, "the first requisite to succcss-in life is to be a Rood animal, and to be a nation of goad animals is the first condition to nation*! prosperity." ■ .

As au exercise, cricket must certalnh give pl&ee to football; but it stands high in the list, probably second. It l 8 decidedly better- than rowing, because it has the advantage of great variety cf action Rowing is undoubtedly good, but is, j think, greatly overrated, and frequently overdone. If any rowing man hears ttois, he will probably express indignation; but impartial judges invariably agree in condeinning the lack of variety of movement.

The games are splendid training In other ways besides developing the body. They cultivate nerve, decision, and good temper. But the exercise they afford is not in it*U enough; for they are all incomplete &s agents of development; they all tend to improve exactly those parts of tho bodj least in need of improvement—the parts already the strongest and most expert They do not strengthen the weak parts j this is the aim of gymnastic exercise-to develop the body harmoniously, to find out the weak spots and strengthen them. Every chain is just as strong as Its weakest link; and to strengthen the chain, it is the weak link you must look to. Gymnastic exercise should be, not a substitute for the games but a complement to them. I am sometimes asked, " Which do you think the better training —games or gymnastics?" I answer, "Neither—both." There are mauy who cay that they prefer gymnastics to games and vice versa. It would be as sensible to cay they preferred bread to water. Both are necessary; and each has a distinct duty to perform. If one of the two had to be given up, I should say sfcick to the games at all risks; for they supply that best of all exercises, taken separately, running. The real value of lawn tennis is the free exercise it yields to ladies; it gives thorn an excuse for a good run; for social custom has restricted the exercise to men in the most stupidly unreasonable way.

Herbert Spencer saya, on this subject— "We have both a boys' school and a girls' school within view, and the contrastbetween them is remarkable. In the one case, nearly the whole of a large garden is turned into an open, gravelled space, affording ample scope for games, and supplied ■with poles and horizontal bars for gymnastic exercises. Every da/ before breakfast, again towards eleven o'clock, again at midday, again in the afte.rnoop-V and once more after school is over, neighbourhood is awakened by a chorus ofv 7 shouts and laughter ac the boys rush oufl. ' to play, and for as long as they remain both eyes and cars give proof that they are absorbed in that enjoyable activity whico makes the pnlse bound and ensures the liealthful activity of every organ. . . , How unlike is the picture offered by the ' Establishment for Young ladies'! Until the fact was pointed out, we actually did not knowthat we had a girls' school as . close to us ;as the school for boys. The garden, equally large with the other, affords no sign whatever of any provision for juvenile recreation, bat is entirely laid out with prim grasa-plots, gravel walks, Bhrubs and llowers, after the usual suburban style. During live months we have not once had our attention drawn to the premises by a shout or a laugh. Occasionally girls may be observedsauntering along the paths with their lesson-books to their hands, or else walking arm-in-arm. Once, Indeed, we saw one chase another round tho garden, but, with this exception, nothing like vigorous exertion has be*n visible. . . . Why this astonishing; difference? Is it that the constitution of a j girl differs so entirely from that of a bey as not to need these active exercises? left that a girl has none of the promptings-to vociferous play by which boys are iffl-.' j pelled? Or is it that while in boys these '■ promptings are to be regarded as stimuli to a bodily activity, without which there cannot be adequate development, to their sisters NaturehasgiventhemfornopnrjKse whatever, unless it bo for the vexation of schoolmistresses? Perhaps, however, we mistake the aim of those who train the gentler sex. We have a vague euspfclon that to produce a robust physique fa thought undesirable; that, rude health and abundant vigour are considered somewhat plebeian ; that a certain delicacy,* strength not competent to more than ft mile or two's walk, an appetite fastidious and easily satisfied, joined with timidity which commonly accompanies feeblenesa, are held more ladylike. We do not expect that any would distinctly arow this; bat we fancy the governess-mtaa is haunted by an Ideal young lady bearing not a little resemblance to this type, v so It must be admitted that the established system is admirably ceiealated to realize this ideal. Bat to euppoee that such ,is the l«« « the opposite sex is a profound mtot&W. That men are not commonly drawn towards masculine women is doubUew true. That such relative weakness » naks the protection of superior strengai" an element of attacttan we y qulte admit. But the difference tbus responded tooy the feelings of men is the natural P* established difference which will wee* itself without artificial appliances. Ana t when, by artificial appliances, the desF» of this difference Is increased, it beeoesee an element of repulsion rather o***°: attraction.. girls should beal»*« a to run wild to become as rude as top, to grow up ipto romps and hoyden*» exclaims some defender of the propnfiw* This, we : presume, is tho ever preee** dread of schoolmistresses. It appear*** enquiry, that at "establishments Wt young ladies" noisy play lite th»t »• dolged inie a punishable offence ; and?* infer that it is forbidden, lest oolagpUß iabita should be formed. $ho fear iaqP*" groundless, however. ;. If, on arriving at due age, the fe eli, # °! masculine dignity puts such an enei*»™ check upon the eporte of boyhood, vf «* the feeling of feminine modesty, F&WfM strengthening as maturity is appn»«W a » pat are effieientreatraint on tbelike*P°«f pi girlhood? How absurd is the tion that womanly instincts would n«t ) sert themselves but for the vigorous dfi&r pline of schoolmistresses ! For girls, as well as boys, the SP 0, * I**1 ** activities to which the instincts impel a*» essential to bodily welfare. Whoever f&. bids them, forbids the divinely-appoinW» means to physical development." I look upon lawn-tennis as an ofverygreat value;but there are to&I other simpler Traye in which girls nwT» { a great extent remedy the defects to wnie» , Herbert Spencer refers* |

As a help to running (for walking is not nearly suilicient otft-door exercise) light will do wonders. I»}"» d J*J fc dumbells, and free exercses will not only %.. Ereatly increase a girl's health and Btrengtli, but add considerably to her SSfnluess and beauty. I know of only Evmnaedc exercise more B raceful than ?nd£ clubs well swung by boys and X Indian clubs well swung by girls. But though many will admit that this *£tU is all well enough for girls : it « to srjL^r STfeundE often the greatest gain has HIST* unreasonably treated. The lovely bloom and healthy appearance which Ses once in a while, even in a woman rfti&ri is much more easily obtainable by proper exercise, than by the "still occasional use of paint; the immense 1 Vrfor bestowed in making habiliments JSSntly attractive; and the great discomfort that will be submitted to for the 2» of conformity." If the desire for rhairHebert Spencer calls "whispered admiration" would only induce women to adopt the true course to gain health and beauty, it would indeed be a valuable characteristic. There are hundreds of exercises all wiftW the reach of any woman, any one of which will help greatly to increase her health and strength and beauty. Let mc quote a sentence from the work of a man who has devoted many years of his life to the etndy of the human form: "The human body, no more than a boat, ought to be crank. This is, I thins, as applicable to women as to men." I have tried to phow some of the great idvantagee which may be gained from exercise. I have done so in the hope that 1 may help to rouse attention to this most important part of the education of every one of us. It is often argued, that merits which it does not possess are attributed to exercise; that they are strong and healthy men, who have had very little exercise in theiryouth, and who do not take much now. So doubt thie is true; and it is also true that there are men who, without proper mental trainiag have made their mark in the world, but no one argues that theretovemental training is unnecessary. The health and strength of these men are not because of, but in spite of, their neglect of exercise. This is what exercise will $0 for you: It will, change you from a lop-sided, narrow-chested, pigeon-breasted weakling; to an evenly balanced, well set-up, strong end graceful man; or, if you are already of good physique, it will improve your bodily powers as much as a careful mental training improves a naturally clever mind. As with the mind so with the bodyjbeitwellor ill endowed, it equallyre- - quires training to attain its highest possibilities.*;lf you are weak or sickly, exercise will make strong and healthy; if you are strong and healthy, exercise will mike you stronger and healthier. Theidvantages of exercise are not confined to .the improvement of the body; for Wβ j* must remember that the moral condition largely depends upon the phyBlcati Sterne says: "The body and mind are like a jerkin arid its lining. If you rumple the one you rumple the other." To quote Dr. Sinclair Paterson once more:—"May I venture to say that a great many sins become easier, and the temptation to them becomes stronger, when we do not keep the body in a normal condition. Ido not know many conditions

more exposed to temptation, and therefore entitled to practical sympathy and kifv/?, than that of young men who have **,n unlimited supply of nutritious foods and who are so circumstanced that indolence and inactivity are fast growing into habits; and for them one great prevention of evil, and a very valuable one, which I would honestly- and earnestly prescribe is hard work, even to the extent of real bodily fatigue. If that .prescription be followed it will nullify to a remarkable de,gree the inclination to do wrong." The far-reaching effect of exercise is fully recognised by the Prussian Government. In an official publication of their military system, : it is ordered that exercises must be chosen of such a kind as " not only to increase the strength, endurance, and agility of the body, but also to strengthen the will-power, resolution ■elf-confidence and courage." May I be allowed to add one word of warning? "Every man that striveth in the games is temperate in all things. . Yes, temperate in the exercises themselves. Let us never forget that " exercise to be profitable must be moderate, judiciously timed, carefully adapted to circumetances; in short, it is a medicine which, like all others, is potent for good or for eviL" It is exercise of this sort which I earnestly urge upon all, and will do so once more by asking you to see that the necessity for it is only an instance of the universal law, that — By ceaseless action all that is subsists. Constant rotation of the unwearied wheel That nature rldea upon, maintains her wealth, Her beauty, her fertility. She dreads An instants pause, and lives but while she . moves.