Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1859-03-24
From the Elevator.
GYMNASTICS.

Il LUG utVcIOpHenG OF tue human system
, in its physical department has. been almos
entirely overlooked in preparations fol
school studies and operations until the pres
ent period. The mind is the greatiobject o.
improvement, and in the consideration of the
minds development, the memory comes in
for the largest share, frequently almost te
the entire exclusion of the other faculties.
So thoroughly do we run upon one idea in
the process of school management, as in ey-
Ierything else, that we do mischief to the
very cause in which we are concerned. To
improve the mind properly, all it's faculties
ought to be educated, and so with the man
or the woman. Not the mind only, but all
the man or the woman-physical, mental,
moral-all should be in development-all
should be trained and educated.
The supposition is hardly ever entertain
ed, that the education of any one depart
ment of the human system to the exclusion
of others is damage to the whole-and yet
a moments consideration would afford con-
vlncing proof of the fact. It is impossible
to train the mental powers to any degree of
perfection in connection with a diseased
frame, or with vitiated morals. For the
training of the physical man, it is necessary
that ample provision should be made, espe-
cially in cities where the opportunity for ex-
ercise is limited It is as necessary that
some sort of gymnasia should be provided
for the school as that books should be placed
in the hands of the pupils "Of many
(schooD books there is no end" And such
books as many of them are! It is wonder
ful that the age should tolerate them. Their
anthors and publishers may make money by.
their sale, but the world and the schools
were much better without them. It would
be we'll if some of the philanthropical book
makers of the day-those whose only desire
is that the cause of education should be ad-
vanced, especially by their efforts at book
making and money making-would turn
their attention to some simple and cheap
system of gymnastics, by means of which a.
musement and exercise may be combined,
and the physical forms Of the young disci-
sf @ sa ah4s6 shd i@a5 Psfsp
morals-all may be benefited by the nten-
tion. :az ri ei7 s.,Es ta -s' s2 Gyms a'i'
A visit to the Floating School short
time since, revealed to our view the best
system of gymnastics we have ever SEEN
It consists in the exercise the boys..rare o.
bliged to undergo in performing the nauti-:
cal evolutions included in their course of
study. The limbs and the body were exer-
cised in manner that must develop every
part in full power. It was impressed upon
our minds at the time that mast and its
tackling would be most admirable append,
age to the playground. The motion of the
limbs and the action of the body at the same
time produced by the climbing and other
movements, must result in great advantages
to the system. f--I..f...JJ..
A simple method that may be pursued in
the preparation of a gymnasia, and one with
in the reach ofevery school and family, con-
sists in springing board some ten or twelve
feet in leng 9Th, and three feet wide, placed
in the ground and on level with it, so that
the parties exercising may run over it and
spring forward in the effort to reach, the.
most distant point within the capability Of
the operator. In connection with the
springing board, the weights for the arms
are Of great advantage. These may be ar
ranged in upright boxes. with the pullies
and ropes, with handles, so that the opera
tor may raise the weights, throwing his arms
forward and backward and holding them out
as long as possible Games Of amusement
may be made of both springing board and
ights. The farthest jump is the princi-
pal effort of the springing board, and hold
ing the arms extended the longest time, that
of the weights. 4.--.q..5.g d
That the sports of the school yard have
diminished almost in equal proportion with
the manufacture of books, there can be lit
tie doubt. Time was when more space than
now was allowed to the play ground, and the
groups at ball and top, and racing were in
operation, obtaining at the same time amuse-
ment and exercise. If a boy runs now, or
a girl is seen jumping, the one is vile
character, and the other tom-boy. The
result is, that the physical development is
becoming more and more imperfect-th
stature is becoming lower and the frame
weaker than in former days. -, ;: .,...
The body must have exercise in order to
expand and extend its powers, and to pro-
vide for this exercise, especially in large
cities. is the duty of parents, teachers. and
school directors. Let the subject be proper
|ly considered and acted upon, and the school
room will lose its deformities, and study Its
oppressive character. Unite the play
ground with the study-room, and let the
discipline of the school extend over both,
and the result will be profitable to the entire
human structure in its physical, mental and
moral developments. q t-.9l'. % RI I@-.-
~-A garrulous barber, being called te
. shave Archelaus, asked him, ''How shall
shave you."' "In silence" was the reply