Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1858-07-01
Lemont, Co., I'll.

OuTDooR EXERCISE AND RECREATION.
Some few weeks since, the London
Times published an article on the relative
degrees of health and longevity of the
people Of Great Britain and the United
States, in which the superiority of the
former country in both respects was
broadly asserted. The writer attributed
the dwindling Of the American race, as
he pleased to term it, to the endemical
diseases of yellow and other fevers with
which portions of our country are unhap-
PLY afflicted, and to the improperly in
the manner of living. To the latter more
than to the former cause is owing, we
think, the results mentioned. The errors
in this respect commence with the child.
Instead of giving such an education as
will produce full physical development
by constan, outdoor exercise, it is coufned
in close nursery and subjected to mode
of treatment precisely opposite TO the prop
er one. The frame is at the outset made
week and puny; and habits are engen.
dered and diseases contracted which cling
to it during the time when verging to-
wards what should be a maturity Of
strength and beauty, which it never reach
es. And thus in the very morning Of
life, when the sensations have the untir-
ing activity which novelty begets, the
mind is, through lack of vigor and de.
velopment of the body, filled with languor
detection and despair, and diverted from
its most noble and devoted aspirations.
There is but one method of establish
ing and preserving the good health ant
physical development of a people, ant
that is. proper degree of healthy exer
else and recreation, both before and aftel
the period of Intellectual maturity. In
fants should be upon all suitable occasions
carried into the gardens and other opeI
spaces of country, where they can breatl
fresh air, and as soon as they are able t
walk, and at later period. should be al
lowed to walk. romp, and indulge in vari
Gus delightful amusements which the i'm
pulses of ingenious youth dictate. Th'
unhealthy restI aints in dress which fool
ish fashion has imposed should be abol
ished, ia ordsr that the lungs and less del
icate organizations of the system shoul'
have full play TO perform their functions
and expand TO their greatest natural de
velopment With the advance of tn
more vigorous and aspiring efforts of in
tellect, athletic games and employment O
more manly and corresponding charac
ter should be freely INDUCED in, hayin
in view the increased physical strengt
r and more mature judgment. These ez
| ercises should take place daily, and q
/ much as possible in the open air, an
walking a, different periods of the da
|, should constitute one Of their most impol
, tan, features. And, finally. when the d.
lightful visions of youth, give place to th
! cold, cautious and calculating ideas Of h
4 experienced, this bodily exercise shou
q be daily continued, and with the hou
4 set apart for il should be also allotts
. hours for intellectual and other recret
& tions. which shall unbend the mind fro
= the cares and vicisstudes of business al
: household duties, and give it correspo
d !, ing vlyacious and healthy exercise wi
!, the body.