Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-01-20

a
them. yet surely stamp upon the Off
spring-- our future greatness - the
mark Of fathers folly or Q mothers
weakness.
We have no fear. however. that
there will be a sufficient number TO
look on the melancholy side Of the
question: therefore let us prefer. as pi-
onecrs, TO show the road TO health AMI
natural physique. This physical edu-
cation must begin with the young: and
to their improved condition. the result
Of training. must we look for an athlct-
ic American people.
The first grand necessity Of life is
fresh air: and we can assure many per
sons who act as II they thought the
reverse, that fresh air will not ordi.
narily kill babies. in fact. the youngest
child should have as much fresh air as
possible. should lie loosely clad. and
allowed to crawl about a great DEAL.
The educational system should include
the gymnasium, and regard the art OF
calisthenics as very fundamental part
Of learning Boys. and even girls.
should he encouraged in vigorous
sports-hying the kite. blowing the
hoop. or similar games. We some
times count, in ono day, half-a-dozcn
or more target companies passing our
office, TO shoot for prizes at some sub
urban lager bier garden; and we have
thought how much better il would be.
and how much more good it would do
the country. were those young men to-
try their skill at leaping, yaulting,
throwing the hammer, or anything
that called forth muscle. rather than
shooting at 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 are the
results of constant activity and exer-
Use.
Our habits arc, also. altogether too
sedentary, and the ladies, we say it
respectfully, are too much within
loors, and know too little OF rustic
roads and the pleasure of country
walks. Let them. the. .cfore. try and
walk little more: as much from the
cities as possible, and as little into
them. oh. If the ladies would but
make walking fashion, what bless
ing it would be. Again, we want
more ventilation in our schools.
churches and houses, and the sanitary
condition of our cities is capable of
great improvement. Better drainage,
more water facilities, and a system Of
ventilation in the humber portions of
our own city, would, we are sure, re-
luce the morality two per cent in one
year; and the good that they would do.
by improved general health, is incal-
culable.
We think that we are right when
we say that man should not only be
intellectually the superior over the
brute creation. but that as an animal,
he should be the first; and this is only
to be obtained by exercise, fresh air,
and cleanliness. We wish sincerely
to see the American a splendid speci-
men Of ply sical development. and this
is to be impressed on the American
mind more strongly than it has ever
yet been. In some measure we look
to the public schools to start the move
ment, by affording the pupils every
facility for the exercise Of their bodies
as well as the minds. The instructors
Of the young must learn the laws of
hygiene as well as logic. and teach
gymnastics in conjunction with the
Latin or French Grammer. Ii they
will but do this. it will be grand step
towards giving the children better
ability to think and study, by being
the posscssor of healthy bodies, and it
will much aid physical development in
America.