Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-05-20

have had to contend have been neither few
nor small. Gymnastics enjoyed high re-
putation among the ancient Greeks, by whom
they were first reduced to an organized sys-
TEN, and have continued, with occasional
intermissions, to be regarded with various
degrees of Importance, and cultivated both
as useful exercises and for amusement, in
many nations of the world. In the last GEN.
fury they were revived with vigour in Ger
many but their true restoration may be
dated as late as the year 1911, when jain
commencedin Germany his turnplaz, or place
for the performance of gymnastick exer-
cises, for the purposes of strengthening the
frames which the effeminacy of modern
manners had enervated, and to form body
of men able to defend and protect their
country. They have also been introduced,
and are now in successful cultivation, in
other countries. The opinionis fast gaining
ground, we think, that bodily exercises
should be made part of every system of
education, particularly, as late writer sug-
gests, in this country, where the frequent
changes of the weather make it peculiarly
necessary to harden the body against their
influence. As the system of modern gym
nasticks is not yet fully developed, every
new idea on the subject is regarded with in
terest; especially as it regards the safety of
the mode ofpractice. The following remarks,
therefore, from a recent English publica-
ton, communicated to us by friend, may
be of some interest and utility. After long
treatise on the construction and uses of the
various parts of the human frame, the writer
thus concludes -
The whole apparatus of bones and Joints being
thus originally constituted by nature in accurate re-
lation to the muscular powers, we have next to OBJ
that this apparatus is preserved perfect by
ercise. The tendons, the sheaths in which they run
the cross gaments by which they are restrained and
the bnrsee mucosee which are nterposed to diminish
friction, can be seen in perfection only when the
animal machinery has been kept in full activity In
become weak; and even confinement and want of
exercise without disease, will produce imperfections
Exercise unfolds fully the muscular system, produ-
cling the full bold outline of the limbs at the same
time that the joints knit, small and clean. In
the loins, thighs, and legs of dancer we see the
system fully developed; and when we turn
our attention to his puny and disproportoned arms
we acknowledge the cause-thatin the one instance,
exercise has produced perfection, and that in the
other the want Of it has occasioned deformity
Look to the legs of poor Irishman travelling to the
harvest with bare feet; the thickness and roundness
of the calf show that the foot and toes are free to
permit the exercise of the muscles of the leg Look
again to the leg of our English peasant, whose foot
and ankle are tightly laced in shoe with wooden
sole, and you will perceive, from the manner in
which he lifts his legs, that the play of the ankle
foot, and toes lost, much if he went on stills
and t hs .S az. lbs les s.--m ana snapeles"
" And this brings us naturally to subject of some
interest at present; mean the new fashion of ex-
ercfsfng youth IN manner iIiels
dancing, fencing, boxing, rowing and cricket, and
the natural impulse of youth to activity"
By this fashion oftraining to what termed gym
nastcks children at school are to be urged eats of
strength and activity, not restrained by parental a
thorty, nor left to their sense of pleasurable
exertion They are made to climb, to throw their
limbs over bar, to press their foot close to their
hip, their knees close to their stomach to hang by
the feet and knees to struggle against each other
ny placg the SoleS OF their feet In opposition and
to pull with their hands. No doubt if such exer-
cises be persevered in the muscular powers will be
strongly developed. But the first question to be
considered is the safety of this practice-we have
seen professor of gymasticks, by such training ac-
quire great strength and prominence of muscles !;
but by this unnatural increase of muscular power.
through the exercises he recommended he became
ruptured on both sides. The same accident has hap
pened to boys too suddenly put on these efforts"
1T is very necessary to observe, that when the
muscular power is thus, may may say, preternat-
urally increased, whether in the instance of race
horse an operadancer, pupil of the Calisthenei
school, it is not merely necessary oput them on their
exercises gradually in elch successive lesson, but
each days exertion must be preceded by wearlsome
preparation. In the great schools like that at Stock
holm, the master makes the boys walk in a circle;
then run, at first gently; and so he gradually brings
them into heat and the textures of their frame are
composed to that state of elasticity and equal resist
ance, as well as to vital energy, which is necessary
Tor the safe display of the greater eats of strength
and activity: This caution in the public exercises
is the very demonstration of the dangers of the sys
tenn The boys will not be always under this severe
control, and yet it is important to their safety"
FOR THE LANCASTER GAZETTE.