The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-03-11
PHYSICAL EXERCISE.

the country gives n picture, by no means
ilattcring, Of the physical dcgcneracy of our
coun,rymen. The evil complained of pre-
walls principally i'll the cities which arc al.
ways and everywhere nurseries of i'll health,
i'll which the men pass their tmo in dnry
work shops and close counting rooms, and
tho women scarce every place their feet on
the pavement, and when they do, wear sucl,
thin shoes that colds aud consumption arc
the general result. The consequence is a
runy, pale-f'cod, dyspcrtc race, as unlike
us possible to tho hale and vigorous
men of the colonial era, and of the rural dis.
trlcts i'll our own time. We sec but feeble
and inirrIncnt Indications in any of our
great cities OF people having the most re.
, mote connections with those magnificent
races described hv Taci,us and others, AS
universally lary. Of stature, pert city formed
and eNccIIins eve" the Romans in dignity
and beauty. Think oftlc ancient G.rmans,
the ancient Er'ons (and many of the pres
cnt oncS.) the Romans and tho Greeks, I'M
der the simple influences of exercise and
plenty o!open air. 1--WE will defy and one"
says cotcmporary, ''to study this wilhou,
becoming lost in wonder at the perfect
science Of life and its rational enjoyment
which then prevailed, and without expert.
cnclnS the deepest regret that we of the
present day should 50 wastclulIy sacrifice
such means f Happiness. The lofty IDEAL
OF Greek art, which WAS the same thing AS
Greek life and Greek intellect, an ideal which,
humanity has never since attained, is all
reducihle to the simple problem Of an
Intelligent race, developed by mir, bath
'nS and exercise. The Apollo, the Venus,
the Jove-n short, the whole mythology
OF infinite beauty, and of idea. which
bcwildcr the soul with a'mira,iun-arc
all but the result OF constant familiarity
with the human form perfected in its
'vcry phases. The thirty thousand gods and
g"ddcsscs Of classic mythology were every
one reflected ideals Of humanity, and this
would never lIavc been the case had not
humanity first attained what may he called
an absolute Of positive con,lilion.'
we arc, therefore, pleased to see medical
and other journals urging, with great carn-
eS'neSS' the important subject Of physical cx-
rrclSe. Ii they can p"rvail upon our coun-
t'ymen to t'kc their advice on this point, to
eat plain food, and give themselves time
cnought to eat it if they can induce .Amcri-
can la,lics TO take outdoor exercise, and
initiate the English ladies in wearing thick
shoes i'll bad weather, and becoming great
Pedestrians in fine weather, they may posi-
bly, save the American people from becom-
i"S nation OF dwarts or from entire cxtinc
tion.-Richn,ond Dispatch.
Co"rteSy.-Courtcsy is distinguished
feature of civilized and intelligent society.
1t Is the most beautiful illustration ofthe re-
lining power which Il higher DEVELOPMENT
always excrts upon our race. By courtesy
we meaii that behavior of man towards
man Which ono would ask for himself Il
Is but part OF the mode of carrying out of
tlS Christian precept, which lies at the base
OF harmony and order among men: :"Do un-
TO others ;.s You would that others should |
10 unto YOU" That this prcccpt is divine, as
Is all moral truth, is proved bv our common |
Of its fitness and beauty. DO
what we may in life, the wheels of society
can never run smoothly and well, where the
sl"rlt OF courtesy does H.: acluate the deeds
and thoughts cf man iii his intercourse with
man. Necessary as it is in civilized soc;ctv
courtesy has tSpowcr among the lowest and
most savage. That which leads us to do rs
we would be done by, especially in the more
refined and refining intercourse Of our lives,
Is the conc.ialng angel which, whatever
may be our condition, or whoever we NAV
be, will powerfully help to guard us agains.
every enmityor assault.-Eechanye.
Tie Eu"wcr's Crecd.-Onc of our ox
changes gives the following first rate advice
under the hcading of"rhc Farmers Crccd":
We believe in small farms and thorough
The soil loves to cat as well
us It's owners, and therefore to Le nur,ured.
we believe in large crops, which leave the
land better than they found it-makine
both the farm and farmer rich at once.
we believe in going to the bottom of ,l,irns
and therefore in deep ploughing, and enough
OF 't-all the better if with subsoil Iough.
We believe that the best fertility Of any soil
is the spirit CT industry, enterprise and
without this, lime and
bones and green manure, mari or
plaster, will be little use. We believe in
clean kitchen, neat wife in it, a spinning
piano, clean cupboard, dairy and con.
science. We firmly dsbcleye in farpors