Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-12-07

for universal and permanent use 3; wheth
: er it is as beneficial as any other to the
body, the mind, the morals and character
of the student, and equally favorable in its
influence upon the community.
There are a few obvious objections tc
this system of exercise which have more
than mere plausibility to recommend
them.
|. IL IS dangerous. Probably too much
stress has been laid upon this objection
still it has some force. Sprains, disloca-
tons, fractures, ruptured blood vessels,
and death, have all been entered upon the
records ofgymnasiums in our own coun-
try.' True, no kind Of exercise is ex-
empt from the possibility ofaccident; but
in some the liability is great, in others in
considerable; and certainly those which
are least perilous are to be preferred for a
system Of exercise, if they are equally ben
efcial.
2. II IS unnatural. Many ofthe muscu-
lar movements required are such as are
rarely demanded by human circumstances.
Besides, the violent action which certain
muscles are required to perform makes
disproportionate demand upon the ener-
gles OF the system, and destroys that equi-
Iibrium which is necessary TO the perfect
performance Of all its functions.
3. 1t IS unphtl0sophicaL 1t is i'll adapt
ed to interest the mind. Ap individual
cannot be permanently interested in any
actlre exercise, unless that exercise pro-
duce changes in The state of other objects.
| The child will build cob-houses and push
them down, by the hour together; - but
will it push against the wall for an hour
No. Why not' Because no risible cf
trets are witnessed, and the projection of
manifest Effects IS q mu;n element of IN
terea !" muscular mOrementS Give the
boy knife and stick, and he will amuse
himself with ohlttling for a long time !;
but how much amusement would he find
in rubbing the stick with the back Of his
knife2 In the former case there is the
production Of visible effects, not upon his
own body merely, but in altering the con-
dEtIoR Of another Object. In the latter
i there are none. But perhaps il may be
said, men should put away childish things
Grant it: but this principle belongs TO
the mental constitution, and governs the
man as well as the child. Let any one
try the experiment Let him take an
axe and cleave the air for half an hour, or
chop wood with the handle, or swing his
scythe where there is nothing to cut but
vacuity, and he will gladly fly for relief
to some kind of exercise where every
stroke produces risible effects. Then his
mind will have something to amuse it
1t will be furnished with appropriate food.
That kind Of exercise is best, other things
being equal, which most effectuaIlv with
draws the attention of the student from
himself, and pleasantly, not intensely, alb
serbs it in other objects. How shall this
be efected2 Shall we call upon the
mind to force out its attention by arbitrary
vo!ition, to fLsten it upon some object
which awakens no inter, st, aud hold ii
there by main strength? Or shall we
surround the mind by objects fitted to
awake en- its interest and allure it's auen-
tion-objects whose intrinsic qualities are
a magnet with sufficient attraction to draw
it out and delight ito
! Gymnastic exercises produce few visi,
bic effects, and therefore cannot permanent
IN interest the mind. When the mind is
not pleasantly occupied, the bod " soon te'
comes tattgucd and 10th are jaded rather
than refreshed by the exercise. 1t is the
, testimony of experience that exercise, ir
order, essentially to benefit, must furnish
the mind either with a great variety o
different objects for its amusement, or else
with Conti1 ual changes in the state Of the
, same objects. The consciousness of eff
ftcting these changes By ones own effort
adds greatly to the interest which they cx
cite.
y The main exercises of the gymnasium
Il merel y move the limbs and change TIT
: posture Of the body; as bending forward
# and backward, swinging the arms an
Y legs, hanging and swinging by the hand
5 and feet, whirIing over poles, climbing
n ropes and ladders, Jumping, swinging
). dumb-bells, &c. The novelty ofsuch ex
e ercise is soon worn away. The move
e ments become spiritless, and not onl
n cease to interest but excite aversion. Blu
perhaps it will be said, an interest may b
e excited in them by other considerations
T. ambition may be appealed to, and a glo'
n OF interest kept up by the effort to exec
4 others True, and that is an argumer
1 against such appeals. Intense emotion
!, are excited, and that state of mind is pre-
I duced, which, more than any thing eIs'
q counteracts all the good effects Of the eA
II ercise. Besides, such appeals excite
er. bodily efforts oftoo violent character.