Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-08-09
THE GAZETTE.
Com MuNiCATED.
THE HuMBUG OF GYMNASIuMS.

THE HuMBuG OF GYMNASiuMS.
The following extract on the sulect of
cymnasums we take from Halls JoHindi 81
fIeaiM for May:
1t is reported that arrangements are III pro-
Crcss for establishing gymnaslumS for SUI
dents and members Of young mems associa
lions. Are our embryo dOctors anu ia" :
vels, clergymen, going to make Tom Flyers,
and BIZ pooes, and Yankee SuliiVahS Vi
themselves? Does The ability Ola JurlSt De
mend on tie amount of beet he carries. Is a
,l,ysi,:an's skill to be determined by the
hardness of his musciey ls clergyman
efficiency measured by the agility OF his mon
kew capers, by his dexterity OF hanging on a
beam bv his hind leg, and swinging up to
touch his nose against the big toe OIL ms
'tother foot"
\ mans intellectually does not depend on
the amount OF brute force which he posses
"a. Ii does not require giants strength
+, ,yrita . sermon. or make a book, or clear
thief or feel = pulse. Of an assembly OF
@r.nch yorunS on IA certain occasion, Ham
ipfdr being present, WAS found by an accu-
rate node of measurement to have the least
,lusculvr strength of the whole company, OF
which hewas the greatest and oldest. Small
;ren, fragile men, men OF little muscular
yicor may have good bodily health, ana
among such are found vast excess In mum
Der Of tie opposite class. and IN all ages anu
countries. who are the brightest OF the world
brightest stars. As very general rule, II
holds 4ood--the bigger the man, the bigger
iaDl he is.
Whoever heard of giant who was re-
roarkabIe for ANYTHING beyond the size OF his
body; while the smalneSs Of his head and
tna little that is IN it, is Il notable thing
Both BODY and brain need vital force; the
the mird is great in proportion rs that vital
:orce is expended in the brain: but II 1t Is us
rd up IN developing the muscles, the BRAIN
mast suffer lfone expects to make his Nv
inc by the exercise Of muscular strength,
lcg him as a boy and youth, develop that
strength by steady labor and Il regular and
temperate life If it is his wish TO make mo-
nry by lcdgerdemain, by monkey caeers, by
rope walking, by miraculous poses and as
tonishing fcats oflutty and ground tumbiing,
Their the gymnasium is very proper place
Tor him. and it is well that the energies OF
the system should be expended in the direc-
zion Of the muscles but if he aims at a pro-
tcssonal life, one which is to be followed as
Il means Of living, he must exercise the men
:al, not the muscular powers; to the BRAIN
ana not to the beef must the energies OF the
system be sent in order that, by their cxer-
else, the brain may be developed and the
mind worked with power.
TO sedentary persons, violent, sudden, and
hrtul exercise is always injurious, and such
are the gymnastic performances. Soldiers
die early. To-day they are doing nothing
Tomorrow the forced march, the terrible
nattle summon up to the very dregs, the EN-
l.iovment of dormant energies. The disa-
bitities and deaths of Il campaign, are many
lines greater by disease than by the bullet,
for shocks and great alterations, always cause
death.
The exercise of student should be rcgu-
lar, gentle, deliberate-always stopping short
u felt fatigue. One hours joyous walk with
o cheerful friend in the street, or field, or
Woodland, will never fai! to do Il greater and
more unmixed good than double the time,
in the most scientifically conducted gynluas-
'um in the world. There are individual ca
ses where the gymnasium is of the most I'M
deniable benefit, but the masses would be
the better for haying nothing to do with
them A million times better receipt than
the gymnasium for Sedentary persons Is:
Eat moderately and regularly Of plain,
nculiahing tocd, we'll prepared.
SOanG two or three hours every day In the
open air, regardless Of the weather, IN mod
crate, un;iring acuveness.