NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13745, 9 May 1908, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

WHAT IS DONE IN SWEDEN. - " Heaj.th is the fetish of the Swedish soul"—thus the writer of a striking paper in the current issue of World's Work. Here arc some of the interesting facts ho has compiled concerning the means adopted by the Swedes to make them what they "are at presentthe healthiest nation in the world. With the Swedes exercise, i:vmna«ti<* exercise, not mere walking, is a religion. The very criminals tinder sentemp must have it,'and. therefore, lull instructions for daily gymnastics are posted even in the condemned cell. Grown folk must have it, and therefore the gymnasiums spring up as thick as mushrooms. The children must have it; therefore, when the State has done all that it can for them physically private associations take them | ■ up. Free skating rinks and toboggan- ; slides - even free toboggans and skates for . the. skntelcss* —are provided less with the end of giving the. children joy than of promoting that fetish of the Swedish soul public health. Associations lor outdoor ■ games take charge of the public playgrounds. organising so-called pedagogic Raines that are not only uproarious fun but develop swiftness, precision and verve. With Government aid, these societies send teachers of games to all the common ' schools, and the children are turned loose in the open air every day for a thorf romp. We use these Swedish games in 1 our gymnasiums and in such of the public ' schools as can command the space. Why not. use them out of doors and make them universal The Swedish Government, itself lakes splendid care, of the muscles of its little citizens. Every school-child in the kingdom is under bonds to learn to swim, unless, as is rarely the case, the school house, is too far from any water. As . for the formal "gymnastics in Swedish , schools, it is a very serious affair; for it . is body-building. The bodies of English boys and girls arc not " built," they just grow. The rugged children' of Sweden arc a convincing recommendation of • the national method. In agility, poise, and | grace, to say nothing of physical stamina, they are far in advance of our school- ' children. When a. Swede has got his body built he does not leave off there. What the club is to an English business man, the gymnasium is to the Swede. He takes exercise suited to his age to .keep in condition ; or if not up to the mark, puts into the nearest gymnasium for repairs. The , movement cure and massage—these, are his substitutes for drugs. Headaches, liver complaints, nerves, dyspepsia are all treated, at least partially, by active or passive gymnastics. ' 1 SIR HENRY NORMAN AND THE ' INDIAN VICEROY ALT . ' . In the recently-published memoirs of ! Field-Marshal Sir Henry W. Norman, some interesting information is to be. [ found concerning an important incident in his career. In one of his novels Lord. 5 Beacfjiitiield says that an opportunity, comes to every man once at least in his, life, and the only question is whether he is pi-enured to seize it. To Sir H. Norman, such an opportunity, rather late in life it is true, did come in 1393, when acting as Governor of Queensland. One day (September 2) lie was busy preparing to deliver a lecture at Brisbane when he re- '' ceived. it telegram from Lord Kimberley " 'offering him the post of Governor-General 5 of Indh, the sole condition being that lie - should relieve Lord Lansdowne before the 1 close ot the year. " A most extraordinary - offer was his own comment. -But he t- ended by refusing it. And why'! Says , his biographer : "In some places it has i been represented that Norman" withdrew ? from his acceptance of that high oflice t because his appointment was accompanied » by conditions which he could not accept. £ Elsewhere it has been stated that lie , changed his mind when he learned the tenour of public criticism in India, and , received a warning note from friends ■whom he respected. Nothing of the kind —as witness the following entries in Nor- ' man's own diary:—'September 2, 1893. I telegraphed to be allowed to defer my " answer to Lord Kimberley till Monday. B September 3. Wrote a telegram accepting 1 the Viceroyalty on condition that I may 3 go Home and receive outfit and passage allowance. September 4. . . . God grant ' that the Viceroyalty may be blessed. I 2 have never asked for it' " The diary then 3 deals with hir preparations, and mentions t on September 17 that he was depressed ;1 about going to India, and again on the a 18th that he was " very much depressed." j Then on September 19: " 1 cannot face the Viceroyship. and after much anxiety and a doubt have telegraphed to Lord Kimberley. i- 1 feel lam not*equal to live years of arduous work, and I shall probably break j .down." Finally on September 19: "A tele- . gram from Lord Kimberley accepting my withdrawal with very great regret, so that is settled, and no doubt "I shall be, abused for vacillation. But I know perfectly well " that I should have been over anxious, and c probably soon have broken down." Insimi/ 1 lar circumstances Sir Henry was then 67 l " —how many men could have withstood v such a dazzling offer. Wise beyond ill J is the man who knows his own limitations e of strength and acts accordingly. Liter l 1 Sir Henry Norman returned to London, d and later still he became Governor of > Chelsea Hospital. It was a fitting dim ax ■_ to the career of one who had spent a long [1 and honourable life as one of the/pillars [j and Pro-Consuls of our Empire, that he should have received the' first Field Marshal's baton conferred by the King.