The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-05-25
THE BEST pHYs1cAI EXERCISE.

xd6 .o6Sx n1p4CAL'
After all the inventions, erectionss and
temporary eulogizing Of the :gymnasium-
after the costly experiment. for atime, of
horseback riding nine. pin rolling, and other
games after the novelty Of military drilling,
too exacting on the time and purse of the
student, too starched and mechanical in the
style of carriage itgives, and Too demoral-
izing in its assocaliohs-after all devices,
the wise man comes back to the simple
thing of walking. In the old beaten track
tile man ofperfect health and physical devel.
opment pale and hearty holds onsthe even,
tenor Of lis way. till, staff in hand, lie steps
into his grave. The history Of this branch
Of education is most instructive. The en-
piricals Greeks, especially he dreamy among
their philosophers, first inroduced gynnas.
tics. Theaend sought bySthese exercises
was mot one practical with ls. Then smen
were TO fight hand to hand, and the gym
naslics Of the Greeks seemed to be adapted
to train men to this mode Of combat. Dio.
dorus, however, the Roman Historian, in,
the Augustan age writes from Egypt; They.
think that fiomt slaily gymnastics in the
'pal~stra youth will gain not sound vigor,
but only temporary strength, and that at,
greatrisk Of injury 1t was not, then, from
Egypt that Pythagoras;and Plato brought
gymnastics; and when they had introduced
them into their schools, the practical 'fol-*s
lowers Of Aristotle SO preferred the, roi,nd.
about-town ramble fotephysioal, culture that
they received the name Of .Pefipatics,' while
the teItra conservative stoics'S were $Jsa,i,fied
With promenadipg and lounging upon tlleir
por,icos. Il, -
1t is refreshing almost invigorati1g5 in
itself to the robust peripa,eticsof our day,
painting and swelIing with the thrill Of his
morning and evening walk, running through,
severy fibre Of its frame, justto think of the
men that have preceded, him in. this line
which hehas marked ont, Tor himself lie
isA the companion Of Abral,am, rambling
over the hills, Of Palestine. Of Je-us walk
ing two milessout Of Jsrusam every night,
and back in the morning, Of Paul, mind.
ing himself to go afoot;' andsbe is the fel-
low partaker with long line Of men. in
secular life, most mastery in their. power
of mild in every age and land, because the
framework of mind's,migbty enginery has
been kept in itsstrenght by tue renovation
efswalking. :
|FssIt.is ihstTGctive to the educator, when
travelling in Europe, to observe the ,siud epis
in, the German universities spending their
Summer vacations in trampsanopg The Alps
With .tbsf kHspsacks on their; backs, ,heir.
stout shoes nsIheir feel, and sttong .stayes
Their. hands; gaining .thus,a vigor and
health sebichsis keplupsdpring III seysEa;
ttasks,of their sessiionsbf stolysby evening
lpforssnsas ohs llis ts,hsdy : walkss around @ M
most 81 stheeilIs sEafop issi,, @ all
experience shows that, w6iis other resorts
may be,valuabie as:temposary restoratises,
hee location Of An institution of learning
where long and pleasant walks Are, not only
Ipeai6le, out necessary, withahs ad&iienof
lia covered promenade for inclemeptsweather
is the best provision for PHYSICAL education:
Pres Samson.