The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-09-29

Sir CHARLES LYELL was undoubtedly right, in
the man, when he expressed the opinion that not
"l'hstanding the extraordinary material progress
our country has exhibited within the last fifty
years, The people of the United States have degene-
ra'eu physically. That we neither possess the
luoe health Or muscular proportions of the races
iioin Wt''ch We originally sprung, is undoubtedly
.rue DuI "edo not wholly agree with Sir CHARLES
l" "s' uIs deficiency in stamina to imperfect
acchmauon. The influence exerted by our climate
upon the health of Europeans and their descend
ANS, mas probably been deeterious in some re-
spec'S out scarcely to the extent that has been at
triou'eo 10 1t. The intense mental activity every
where observable among orr neonle. their nnceas-
ing application to business. tho Observation-Disclosures
of gross and ill-cooked mc5 tho ,o.o;o,, &c ,ho
laoofi,g GLASSES ior distilled liquors; the nervous
eAei'''o'iits eneenaeFed by want of proper inter-
walls OF relaxation, and the systematic neooct Of
all those sports and pastmes Which fond 70 inv;oo-
rate the physical frame and to promote condition
OF high health-thesc, even moro tbo,, o,;,,o.o oro
the causes that have modified our ,,6,,s;o,,e and
made US, instead Of robust, = sallo,r d,,,no,t;o
and angular people. An old writer ton, -, ~ e
we wish TO form Just estimate &c .,' 10 'A''' -
any particular people, it is neceseorr
the sports and paStmes prevalent amoro thon, 10
cause their natural dispositions are hest soo,, ~ to
games ana diversions in which they tolo 49,. A.
light. 1t would be difficult matter -. ~
ascertain what the natural dsnos;t;o "e.e'' ~
cans are, from their amusements Co. 1An'''i
none that can properly be so called 7. Ivy nav
trade engrosses the attention of tbo o.
the exclusion of all else, and even IN a. ~
tricts' 'nere are none of those old fashioned INIT
manly sports, which are common to tba neona ' ~
other countries. 1t would be wropr nol plp-' VI
say that Americans do not enjoy tbem.o,,a. ~.
their own fashion; but if they do # !. %l'.-
restless, nervous, spasmodic sort Of ro,. -
pears to strangers singularly deficient :; 'i''.'
and geniality. CoLERIDGE once Sail - II 'l'iess
acung' tnat 1T was like reading shakspearc NV
flashes of lghtning;' and the highest rnopS -
Americans enjoyment is of similarly ri;s l1
trahsitory character. 1t is true that wo ~.
three recognised holidays in the cow. 'u'
year, whereas, even in Protestant Enolona e',n
STILL greater extent in Germany, there ono "
number OF red letter days that are very
served Independent of these, moreover. there ors
OPPORTUNITIES taken for engaging in the national
81 spol's ana pashmeS, If we look, for instance at
Tue atnleuc games that are still popuar in v.rios
p"r's OF England, it is surprising how numerous
ey are ana for how many centuries they have been
Kept up. In the rural districts, the manly games
Oh Archery, and Quarter staff, and Cudgel NAV
ana wrestling; the Morris dance; the sports at
Barley-break, and Harvest home; the ever recnr.
ring Cricket matches between rival clubs: the
Christmas waits, and the Twelfth Night revels-
all these comprise but a part of the diversions
which occupy the leisure hours of the peasantry
and yeomanry. Nor are the field sports of the
Stag, rand hare, and Fox hunts; the
steeple chases, and lifelong tramps with dog and
run, across the moors or over spacious estates,