Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-03-29
MUSCULAR DISCIPLINE.

The two kings, to one or both of whom the
world has to be loyal are Muscle and Mind.
The trouble, heretofore, has been in regarding
them as hostile kings. The championship of
the former eliminates in pugilism; of the lat
ter, in dyspepsia. The human race scatters
itself between the two extremes, no two per-
sons finding the same place, accidents deter
mining their relative distances and characters
1t is not new idea, to make the encourage
ment of one or the other the subject of public
discussion; but it would be rare indeed to find
such models of manly vigor and power as
are every way worthy to assume the cham
pionship of both. Yet that, we take it, is the
design and purpose of all agitation and discus
sion upon the subject
Commendable as the work now appears to
be, we doubt if any arbitrary rules upon the
subject would be of any use to it. Thousands
of constitutional difficulties stand in the way.
What would be the purest charity for one
girl, might be sheer cruelty for another.
Some can well afford to be waited in foam
along the waves of the sea on which they
Happen III DC IduUCIcu, ANU CIOWHCu ny
the gold-filleted seasons; others in the same
sphere of life, and fated to follow the same
labor or the same leisure, will need to be
driven or tempted to whatever results they
ought to exemplify in their lives. Our friends
who are discussing the subject of Physical
Education, will accomplish much by simply
directing attention to the importance of bal
ancing their faculties in the processes of their
early development. But they will fail of their
highest usefulness if they do not aim to sug-
gest plans of improvement which may be
serviceable to the weak without injustice to
the strong. Nature means to dispense her
blessings eqnally, and would do so if our an
cestors, from Adam down, had not been per-
sistently violating her constitution. In dealing
with the weaknesses of humanity, we must
take it as we find it, not as we would wish to
to have it.
For reasons like these we should be disposed
to object to many of the reforms proposed by
the special advocates of physical education.
We think children are sent to school too young.
They are confined too many hours day.
They are restrained from many physical exer-
cises which they would seek spontaneously if
our oppressive rules could be revised or modi-
fled. In all these respects, and, doubtless,
many others, there Is immediate occasion for
reform. But the machinery for the special de-
velopment of muscular power is not a part of
the school system, though it may be, in de-
gree, complimental to it. That branch of
be, consecrated to home. Nor could we con
sent to wholly abolish prizes for mental excel
lence, because some weak bodies are injured
by ambition. We could point to many a dull
scholar, with nerves of wrought iron, who re-
ceived his first idea of worthy emulation from
the promise of a kind word, a cheap picture, or
brass ring. 1t is easy for any parent, leach
er, or physician, to regulate unhealthy ambi-
ton as they would any other disease. But ar
bitrary rules, made under panic for reform,
would defeat their own purpose.
Let us not be understood as throwing imped-
iments in the way of educational reform
Heaven knows there is need enough of it.
There can be no better agency in such work
than public discussions There can be no
worthier subject of thought and reform than
that which concerns the interest and the well
fare of Christian society. Dyspeptic scholars,
however wise they may be, set bad example
in communities where every individual is left
entirely free to achieve his own redemption OF
ruin.