Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-11-07
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Exercise only can fully UNFOLD the
muscular system in both sexes: It knits
well tho JOINTS, maheS ihela clean aud
small; increases the aoxbility OF every
moveable orr an; coniers astivity ol bo-
dy and cheeriulness of spirits; it 10,
therefore, not merely necessary Tor the |
perfection OF the. corporeal frame, hos
also for its preservation. Without due !
proportion Of il, seven the bones," as
d learned physician has justly remarked,
''become colt aud spun2y; whereas, IN
the duly exercised, they are ~ hard,
tough, and compact ss IVORY" For ie-
ma,cs in particular, daily aud properly
regulated exercise is requisite; aud IN
those VINO do not attcud to this, the bo-
dy, and the mind equally become weak
aid diseased; let us, therefore, endca-
vour to ascertain, first, the quantity at
| exercise which the female constitution
can admit Of with impuuity: aud, sec
ondly, those kinds OF exercise which are
lest ada pted for preserving It III state
of health, in girls aud in young women
under twenty years OF age.
]. OF The quantity Of exercise prOperJor
girls and young women.--Thc proprIcty
of apporIionue the quantity OF exercise
to the strength and habit of the indvidu-
al, is so very obvious, that it appears al
most ridiculous to mention It; yet there
is no rule so frequently overlooh ed, md
so often b,okcn. In schools, in par,ic-
Il ar, young aud delicate girls are forced
to walk the same distance, TO undergo
the same exercise, and dance the same
nu nbcr of hours, as. the other and more
r. blst girls; The consequence at which
is, an impaired state Of health; for as
muscular action cannot 90 on but at the
expense of the living power, too much
of it must produce Injurious exhaustion,
and thence the strong desire OF l0un2ing
arising from a wish to obtain relief from
muscular fatigue. THIS, in addition to
the constrained attitude of sitting very
erect, which equally eAhausis the en.r-
gy oitEe muscles of the back, Is Il very
frequent cause of diseased curvature
Of the spine. II may not be out Of place
to notice here the great error of CON
ceiving that grace consists in a Fnrfcct-
ly erect position of the back, or spinal
chain Ncihing is more at variance
with the natural state of the part, which
is that ofthe graceful curve which artists
dcnominate the line Of teau'y; and il is
in thus state which renders il safe sup
port to the head, by yielding to every
movement, aud preventing that jar to the
brain which any sudden step in walking
or in dancing would cause, where the
bones OF the spine placed perpendicular
upon one another; whereas, from the
natural curvature which it possesses, it
acts like a spring, and thus both grace
and security are attained.
The safest rule for exercising young
girls, is to leave the quantity OF exercise
to their own feelings ofiatgue; and this
can only be effected by allowing them
to run and enjoy the same exercise as
young boys, within a limited space
| They must, however, be encouraged and
even urged to motion; for the nature of
| iema'c education from the earliest peri
cd of life, and tho social habits Of the
sex. even in girhood, incline many girls
IN the garden and the play ground, rath-
or to SIT conversing IN. groups, or to
|
TO take active exercise. TO overcome
this evil, gymnastic, and what are termed
Callsthenic exercises have been intro
duced; but when these arc regarded as
a task by the children, they lose their
beneficial influence as exercise; and The
greatest judgment is requisite to propor-
ton the efforts which they demand, to
the strength Of the individuals. When
such exercises are employed in schools,
the effort must be gradually brough, on,
and not too s.ddcnly discontinued; nor
should they ever be eXcried beyond the
power OF the gIrl. They should also be
daily and regularly performed, for by
tins means the body, beng under Kind
OF training, gradually acquires a power
which II Gsd not naturally possess, and
becomes capable of eXerti"ns winch, ,un-
der other circumstances, would produce
Inflammation, and probably, fatal results.
IL the exercise be taken within FINITE d
space, the kind of ii should be frequent
ly changed, to encourage the coniinu-
ancc OF 1t, by renewing the stimulus Of
cXertlon, and It should be also of thai
description which calls into action cvery
muscle Ol the body. This, however,
Cannot be accomplished if the body be-
cased IN stays; Tor, although the limbs
and arms are free, yet the muscles oi
the back and loins are circumsciibed,
their action, aud state of debility in
these parts is thereby induced; for it is
al undeniabic truth, that muscle which
is not used soon loses its power. The
proof of the influence OF exertion in
ngthening particular sets of muscles
is daily before our eyes in the limbs of