The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-08-12
1tli5tcllrncous.
HOW TO WALK.

1t is well TO know how to do everything
wcll.-Walking is one art which We have to
learn rs well as other things a contcmpo-
raIy gives the following rules:
, Whenever we rise to walk, the whole body,
the trunk, head and cXtrcmitics-shoultl
he thrown into universal, but general tent
son; all lassitude, bending, carelcsSncSs, fall
ing of the head, dangling of the lambs, bend
ing OF the trunk, and loose, Irregular gazing
should be avoided; this general vi .or brings
all the muscles up to that State which in
stanty fits them for action. The same rule
/ is practiscd by the whole animal kingdom
whenever any extraordinary effort is required.
At the moment of any allray, every combat
ant arouscs the whole system, prepares the
body for the encounter by giving force, tone
and energy to the entire body.
1t is positive injury to the body to cxcr-
cise wh,niti is toncless, lax, flexible and care
less Then the muscles arc not fed with a
sufficient amount of blood and nervous fluid;
the nervous and circulatory systems are then
very passive, and violent or any exercise is
then tax upon unstrung muscles which is
injurious. During the act of moving the boz
dy, the muscles which constitute its motive
cngincry arc excited to action by all the blood
and nervous force, and when they are feeble,
the muscular actions are also feeble; and con-
vcrScly, when they arc vigorous the motions
will be easy, ready, forciblc and beneficial.
We here find an explanation of the oppo-
site views of different individuals respecting
the advantages arising from walking. If
an invalid, a student. or any one walks with
n careless Indifferent, lettering, awkward.
lifeless, sauntcring manner, he will expert
! cncc an evil rather than good; but if there is
little spirit, dignity, individuality, soyer-
eighty in the gait, tn air, the person will be
invigoratod, and much better for the walk.
y second rule of great value in walking is,
that the body (if not the SPIRIT must be per
fectly erect. The whole body must be easily
poised upon its own gravity, as the beam of
the scales isupon its pivot Then the vari-
Gus muscles acting upon the body, levers of
the limbs and chest, will he freed from the
labor of holding the body up, for that then
will be done by the happily balanced skclc-
ton, and then, the muscles, will be ready to
move the various joints as the will of the in
dividual may dictate. Ordinarily, the walk
crs throw Their bodies so far from the centre
of gravity, as to compel the muscles to not
only bend the joints in the exercise, but, in
addition, actually sustain the whole weight
of the body. The erect position in walking
is all important; not only is it valuable to the
corporal system, but it bcgets an erect hab-
it in the mind and the heart. No person can
walk with dignifed, honorable and execu-
tive micn without feeling a mental and moral
elevation.
AS an aid to this position, the eye should
not strike the ground for many rods in the dis
lance; the sight should run horizontally: this
will prevent the head from dropping, the
Trunk from bending, and the joints from be-
ing lax and weak. rs, a,rl