The Hawera Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1924. HUMAN FITNESS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 December 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1924. HUMAN FITNESS.

Delivered every evening by 0 o'clock m Hawera Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham ; Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

To those who are following the progress of the tour of the All Black footballers in England and the English crick-eters-in Australia, the thought should occur that these teams have been chosen because of their fitness to uphold the fair name and traditions of tho countries they represent, and people who think a little deeper will a«k the question: How is this fitness gained? It will be remembered, that when the wai broke out and the nation required the services of its men there was a very large proportion who failed to come up to the standard required by the doctors. Many had physical defects which were not of a serious nature, such as short sight or slight deafness, but the saddest fact was that in a great many cases the young men were unfit through dissipation and failure to discipline their lives. Victims to self-indulgence in various directions, they had undermined their constitutions and brought upon themselves troubles of a nature which, defied medical effort to restore their bodies to full health and vigour. The medical examinations revealed a far worse state of affairs than anticipated. But is the position now better than it was ten years ago? "NVe doubt it, and there are many thoughful people who think that the carelessness and laxity of young people in their lives have a decided tendency to lower their physical and mental fitness, and one looks to the future with no little anxiety, lest the race should degenerate and ultimately have to give place to a people who have lived more carefully and paid better attention to. the laws of health. Many young men and young women in modern times regard life as consisting mainly of pleasure, and they often forget that the life of the butterfly is but short, and that if it permits itself to be dazzled by the brightness of a flame it may bring upon itself death or serious disablement. Discipline is often regarded by those who have never submitted to it as something to be avoided. but people who have from their early years learned its value, and practised it, know that by discipline wonderful changes can be effected. An old writer has said that :i iia evil propensity of the human heart is so powerful that it may not be subdued bv discipline.’’ The great athletes and re-presentative teams, in whose performances people take such a keen interest, have not won their honours by mere accident. Consistent training and discipline have been all important factors. So with bodily and mental fitness—discipline is all-important. Flesh and blood must ultimately fall to the onslaughts of disease, hut, if people live properly and obey the laws which Nature demands shall be observed, they can enjoy health of body and mind. Without such health it is vain ■to seek complete happiness, and it is wol! for young people to remember that, while they may regard freedom from rea,-, affording them happiness, it m hapniness of a very transient type and often leaves behind broken bodies

and ruined minds, for which it is most diflicult and frequently impossible to find a complete cure. As Dry den wrote of health : “God never made his work for man to mend,” while Shakespeare reminds us that

All delights are vain; but that most vain - Which, with pain purchas’d, doth inherit pain.