Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-05-03
aQOrtestrr ]allg Spp,
CFrom Halls Journal of Health
GYMNASIUMS.

1t is reported that arrangements are in pro-
gress for establishing gymmaSiums for students
and members Of young mems associations
Are our embryo doctors, and lawyers, and
clergymen, going 10 make Tom HyerS, and
Bill PooleS, and Yankee Sullivans of them.
selves! Does the ability OF jurist depend on
the amount of beef he carries Is a physic-
lan'S skill to be determined by the hardness of
his muscles Is clergyman'S efficiency
measured by the agility Of his monkey capers,
by his deXterity in hanging on to a bean: by
his hind leg, and swinging up to touch his nose
against the big toe of "tether foot 2"
A mans intellectually does not depend on
the amount of brute force which he possesses.
1t does not require giants strength TO write
sermon, or make book, or "cear" thief,
or feel 4 pulse. OF an assembly of French
saUanS, on a certain occasion, Humboldt being
present was found, by an accurate mode Of
measurement, to have the least muscular
strength of the whole company, of which lie
was the greatest and the oldest Small men,
fragile meu, men of little muscular vigor, may
have good bodily health, and among such are
found vast excess in numbers of the opposite
ass and in all ages and countries who are
the brightest of all the worlds bright stars
AS a very general rule, it holds good--the
bigger fool he is
Whoever saw giant who was remarkable
for anything beyond the size of his body !;
while the smallness of his head and the little
that is in it is a notable thing. Both body and
brain need vital force the mind is great in
proportion as that vital force is expended in
the brain, but if is used up in developing the
muscles, the brain must suffer. If one expects
to make his living by the exercise Of muscular
strength, let him, as a boy and youth devel-
op that strength by steady labor and a regular
and temperate life if it is his wish to make
money by legerdemain, by money capers, by
rope walking, by miraculous poses and aston
ishing teats of ground and lofty tumbling, then
the gymnasium is very proper place for
him. and it is well that the energies of the sys-
ten should be expended in the direction of the
MUSCLE but it he aims at professional life,
one which is to be followed as a means of liv-
ing, he must exercise the mental, not the mus
cular powers; to the brain, and not to the
beet, must the energies of the system be sent,
in order that, by their exercise, the brain may
be developed and the mind work with power.
10 Sedentary persons, violent, sudden, and
fitful exercise is always injurious, and such are
gymnastic performances. Soldiers die early
To-day they are doing nothing-to morrow
the forced march, the terrible battle summon
up to the very dregs the employment of dor
mant energies. The disabilities and death of
campaign are many times greater by disease
than by the bullet, for shocks, great alterations
always cause disease.
The exercise of the student should be regu-
lar gentle, deliberate-always stopping short
OF felt fatigue. One hours joyous walk with
cheerful friend in street, or field, or wood
land, will never fail to do greater and more
unmixed good, than double the time in the
most scientifically conducted gymnasium in
the world. There are individual cases where
the gymnasium is of the most undeniable ben.
eft, but the masses would be the better Tor
having nothing to do with them. A million
times better recipe than the gymnasium for
sedentary persons is Eat moderately and
regularly of plain, nourishng food, well pre-
pared. Spend two or three hours every day
in the open air, regardless of the weather, in
moderate, untring activities.