PHYSICAL TRAINING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 229, 16 January 1877, Page 2

PHYSICAL TRAINING.

(London Standard.) Till within the last few years no people, perhaps, had neglected physical training more than the French, gymnastics and athletic pursuits being almost entirely ignored among all classes by the youth of that nation. The experience, however, of the disastrous war with the Germans called attention to the subject. There was no shutting the eyes to tJie fact that the physique of the Germans, both of officers and men, was far superior to that of the French; and it could not be doubted but that this superiority was to be attributed to the systematic discipline of the muscular apparatus which almost all Germans receive in their gymnasiums, and which is made a special feature in military training. A movement was therefore made in France to popularise gymastic and athletic pursuits, and for this purpose clubs were established in Paris, Rheims, Lyons, and other large towns.

1 L i-ii ■-Lii-i iiiMiii'ii'iriT»rfi>^ and gymansiums erected. Considerable success has attended the movement, though it "will probably take many years before a real love of physical training and manly exercises will take deep root in French soil. Specialattention has been paid to tliis subject by the military authorities, and an interesting record has just been made public of an official inquiry into the results of gymnastic exercises at a military school. The inquiry extended over a period of six months, and the ascertained results were : that the muscular force is increased on the average from 15 to 17 per cent., and occasionally from 25 to 30 per cent., that the capacity of the chest is > increased by one-sixth at the least, and that the weight of the individual is increased from 6 to 7 per cent., and occasionally from 10 to 15 per cent., while the actual bulk of the body is diminished, the profit of weight being confined to the muscular system. These results are very striking, and it is obvious that in a great war the nation which can bring into the field the greater number of men physically well trained and disciplined will have an immense advantage over its adversary. A fas:, however, was noticed in this inquiry, which shows that gymnastic training requires scientific .supervision when applied systematically to large bodies of men. It was to the effect that the increase of musciiliir force was generally confined to the first three months of the course, and that during the last three a serious diminution usually occurred. This fact would seem to .suggest that regular, prolonged, and enforced gymnastic trainingisnot advisable in any army, and much might be advanced in favor of this view. Still, the general advantage of gymnastic exercises, not only to soldiers, but to all classes of the community, is undoubted. Gymnastics —i.e., pure palttntric exercises as distinguished from ''athletics"-—have not yet received as much attention in this country as they deserve. In Germany every town and almost every village has not only a covered gymnasium, but also one in the open air, which are ... ' v less assisted by State aid. Amo^ 8 V>en nasiums are few and far is evident from tiie numbers who frequent those open to the public in our metropo. litau parks that their multiplication would be highly appreciated. While admitting that of late .years a large number of p.ynmaotic appliances have been furnished both at public and private schools, ladies' schools not excepted, that physical training has very propci-ly received much attention in the army, and that gymnastic clubs are showing a yearly increase, there is still room for a much farther development of the art. It would bo well if proper appliances w-jre provided for all children, girls as well as boys, in statu pupillari. though their use should rather be voluntary than compulsory. Gymnasiums, too, as plentifully established as they are in Germany, would undoubtedly help to improve the gc-neral physique of our population.