The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-11-12
The Importance OF Athletic Exercise
in the Education of Youth.


Tie importance of cutivating and enco,lr-
aging athletic exercises and out door recrca-
tons. and of making them constituent elc-
mcnts of youthful education. has only b en-
generally recognised within the last few yea RS.
The apathy which formerly existed among
the American people in regard to out door
sports and pas!mes was more remarkable.
when contrasted with the rcSlstleSs energy
and unirng activity which characterised
them in every pursuit Of social life, lfthcre
is any truth in The hypothesis started short
time ago. that the American race are rapidly
dcgcnerating and becomn. inferior to their
progcnitors in physical power and consilu-
onal Stamina there cannot he a doubt but
that it may be safely attributed to this neg
lcct of healthy bodily training new era,
however, has dawncd, and the necessity of
physical education is now universally recog-
nlSed by the public as well as by the press.
The rapid extension. throughout the entire
length and breadth Of the United States. of
base ball, cricket, rowing and Watching clubs.
cyinces The inil ortance now attached TO the
cultivation Of physical exercises We find
them forming an essential constituent Of pdu-
cation in our most celebrated colleges and
the press, that powerful agent OF progress,
adds the weight Of its influence in advocating
their beneficial influence From one Of the
most talented of our literary serials. the
Atlantic Monthly" we extract the follow
Ing apostle marks on out door rccreations:
The revival Of the Ola Country games of
cricket and base ball affords some of The best
examples Of u growing desire for athletic
SpDIts. They have many things tc recou,-
mend them, and, as We conceive, no ohjrcli-
enable f,alurcs.
Oar rivers, lakes, and bays spread around
us a yaS and inviting field for tn" cultivation
OF summer or winter sports. Boating and
sailing are adapted, from their gcntleneSs Of
motion, even to the most delicate nrsaniza-
tons. Rowing is equally snited to the Young
and strong Boat clubs are qlite popular in
our colleges ard we hope they will GRE long
become 81 in our art denies and minor schools
Few exercises bring more muscles into play
than the steady stlGie Of the oar. Few are
more ,NllIaratins end pleasant to those WHO
have tried thea. Give US the strong pull
through an open bay b'fore all boating on
placid lakes or riv,ls. The long, well timed
stroke becomes mere mechanical effort, lcay-
ln% 'hc mad ut liberty to enjoy The sense OF
freedom, the tome salt. brpezc and the ,nlvcn-
ing scenes Of The sea.
when the hoats are heached. and the
wharf. logs, with successive layers CONCEALED
from every tide, into huge splndles of ice. the
>n"e e''', ~, "',e's i'' CLASSY surface 10 inc
skater. That skating has actually become
'a>n'o"a''' "n,"hS 'he se'''tr SEX we regard
an we S,'o''s'", '''Ica''oh o. an awakening
'r''"''ai 'aH'e '"r exercise But 'he'e IS need
" .""'''',' "" ~, persons SKATE WIN TO"
,,'''ts o'','''H i''o q''oH movements "' "e
''''' y, '"e I''%'s'''S eN"i,'''"'s u 'i'S pas
';'.,, ~ , '''' - Az '''4 "N'''' !" "'''"h'
'" 'I ~ ''u,' "'''N''"' '''"'t- ,''h,h li'
.,,,'i 'to'' '''nI'' ~ increase PnI'a'iy "e
"'';'''"' '''"' anu l''ol''c very Sensible per-
~ '''> '''l''''''i we tn'et walk
'.',; '"N'" ''.'."' "'"'' "''a' e"'e''''5'
"'' O. . 49,. u''s,' " ",'''H ''"''.
.,.tI '''' '''''7 W .','' ''"'o'f"S; we "'" one
~ ,s ;',''v VI "SH "':'h' '"e r'ath
" "''o' ~ :'''""' =! p ',h' Anon "' expense
.,',.'r ~ '' ",N''H ""u 'N'''f
w., TO- ','U"" '''">'''' "i ''c
.'', i',',' "N '''t "'''' "'" 'n'
s,o,l,, ,l'',,,,;,, sI, '''I'' o"PP"' az"
L,.o'.,,;N,, "il rt','N 1"''''NtH III
.,ro ,,,,,,r,' ;,>,,, '''''' , ",i' ~"
',.l ,,.;,i r..,. y, ",''i Wv ''''''' 'a'
hv n'','. -,'" r. ar '"'' oan W na"
IN rn,i' , P,"e ""1 VI '""'? anu "et'!'s
,"o''O" VIZ "'u,Iu''i n'ac'''"c'y' winch
~ ~, 'I. r rp'.' p I
o,hnr ,,,,oi,os 'I,o,,iJ Wv 49,. ms ivy az
h,m,s W.. ",''"'u ~ a""v'' "a. st'>o'a"'e
w.Ir.s h'r',a ''r' oS' p'",eS' against '"''s
r,,in.., ,i'', "''"",iS; a"s CIV Vt, ,ne
n b.,l a;