Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-02-19
From the Scientific Americas.
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN AMERICA.

Qtut VOWtt hmOukt ut nhtiOubf hsbcttiuk w OThiu
force and nervous skill our equality with the
older races from which we spraug, and doing cred.
1t to the Teuton and Celtic tribes (who were our
originstors(, in point Of intellectual power and
vigorous thought. This statement, is one which we
believe will be Acknowledged ny the most prejo.
diced commentator on our social system. But
while we proudly indite such a fact. We are also
compelled to acknowledge that we have deteriorat'
ed in physical development. The causes OF this
deterioration have been a consequence Of our inde'
pendence for to prove that we are capable Of do
ing what in the revolutionary days We said we
could achieve, it was requisite that for q time we
should forget our personal materially. and think
only how best 10 use tho "dweller in the temple,
regardless tf the temple itself. Having now,
however, proved the position that our forefathers
assumed and being able to keep it with the exer.
else Of an ordinary amount Of brain force,
it is necessary that we should look to the walls Of
the temple in order to preserve it in that sound and
we Their proof state that its Grand Designer intend
ed il to be.
Nearly every lecture this season has had some
thing bearing on this question and there Is in the
press q mighty surging, that indicates truly the
W v VI uEHuuCbN unt ~ SVuuo huu uoh
muscle, bone and sinew into the American child.
On every hand we sec 1t exciting good mems atten
ton and even from the pulp, we have heard. SO
to speak, muscular christianity, preached. Pure
health 10 q normal man 10 more the natural bal.
anoe Of thought, feeling, and bodily vigor than the
mere absence Of disease and with us this
balance has been somewhat impaired, and
would We keep that power to go.a,head 90 We
wish-wouid wo show that our thoughts are good
or great. our principles noble or sublime-we must
keep in healthy action and perfect tune the instru,
ment through which they reveal themselves to the
outer world. This is the body (the frame.work)
that contains our individuallity--'the house ICE
live in.
That pleasant philosopher, DR.. o. W. Holmes,
says in q recent number Ct the Atlantic Monthly.
- the strong hate the weak. It is all right.
The arrangement has reference to the race, not
the individual. Infrmity must be kicked out, or
the stock run down.. Harsh as this may appear,
il is true for We cannot afford. our bodies being
necessary agents to effect the object OF our wills
that they be cvnstitutionally weak, and ~incapsci.
tated for the labor they have to do. and that the
will commands. or the thought inspires them to
~ Auoio " o UVuiy ibohHity v well rs u
mental one and as exoesses of any kind induces
the one 80 does the want Of air. exercise and equal.
izing action produce the other.
There is another grand cause Of bodily in6rmity
in this country, and that is, the vast am punt Of
guack medicines which are annually swallowed by
persons. for purposes homes, and dishonest, aud
which. il they do not in6ict punishment on the
Of them. yet surely stamp upon the of.
.spriug-our future greatnsss-the mark Of a fathers
folly or a mothers weakness.
We have no fear, however, that there will no. be a
sufficient number to look On the melancholy side
Of the question ; therefore let US prefer. as pioneers
to show the road to health and national physique.
This physical education must begin with the
young and to their improved condition, the result
Of training, must We look for an athletic 4 merican
people.
The first grand necessity Of life is fresh air {:
and we can assure many persons who act as if
they thought the contrary, that fresh air will not
ordinarily kill babies. in fact. the youngest child
should have as much fresh air as possible, should
DO loosely clad, and allowed to crawl about a
great deal. The educat;ona! system should include
the gymnasium, and regard the art of calisthenics
| no U NCiy puih VI mn w
and even girls should be encouraged in vigorous
sports-fying the kite. bowling the hoop, or sim
liar games. We sometimes count, in one day,
half-a.dozen or more target companies passing our
Office, to shoot for prizes at some suburban lager
bier garden and we have thought how much bet.
Ter il would be, and how much more good it would
do the country. were those young men to try their
skill at ~leaIing, vaulting and throwing the ham
mer, or anything that called forth muscle, rather
than shooting at a painted board. And it would
be more patriotic. too for the use of the gun is
quickly acquired, should it ever be wanted for war
the muscle and strength to use that gun are not
to be had quickly, but tho results of constant activ.
ity and exercise.
Our habits are, also, altogether to sedentary,
and the ladies' are too much within doors, and
know too little of rustic roads and the pleasure of
country walks. Lie, them, therefore, try and walk
. little m,re as much from the cities as possible
and as little into them. Oh if the ladies would
but make walking a fashion. what a blessing !,
would be. Again, We want more ventilation in
our schools, churches, and houses. and the sanitary
condition Of our cities 10 capable of great improve
ment. Better drainage, more water facilities. and
a system VI Ncutithtiou w TIE hummer portions oil
our own city. would. We are sure. reduce the NOR
ality two per cent in one year and the good thu,
they would do, by improved general health. i, in
calculable.
We think that We are right when we ,ay ,ba,
man should not only be intellectually the supsrio,
over the brute creation. but that as an animal. h,
should be the frat; and this IL only to be obtained
by exercise. fresh air and cleanliness. We wish
sincerely to see the American a splendid spscimer
of physical development. and this 10 to be impress
ed on the American mind more strongly than 4
has ever yet been. In some measure we lool 4,
the public schools to start the movement. h,
a~aording the pupils every facility for the e1srcis,
Of their bodies as we'll as minds. The instructor,
Of the young must learn the laws of hygiene a,
o we'll a. logic, and teach gymnastics in conjunction
with tho Latin or French grammar. If thew wi,
cut do this, it will be a grand step towards pi,io,
0 the children better ability 10 think and s,,a. a,