The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-11-24
physical Development.

1t ia somewhat astonishing that physical Gull
ture is not more attended to IN our city. @Ihe
sedentary occupations Of large propornon OF
our merchants, book-keepers and clerks, have
resulted, to an alarming extent, in weakened
constitutions and impaired health. The mer-
chant who goes from his breakfast table to his
counter, and measures out and weighs off arti-
Giles now and then, or sits around his stove or
Tolls in the shade until the bell summons him
to dinner, where he satisfies his false appetite
perhaps, with all the delicacies and high sea-
soned food within his reach, or bolts down hall
masticated, indigestible articles into nus aston
ished stomach, which has been Whaling ioi
years for little rest thinks, no doup'' 'na' 'ne
few stretchings of his arms OF iess WHICH ne
experiences during the day oonseiIu'e eAerclse'
the full bene6t of which he imagines he en-,
joys. 500 at-L ~ ~
Our boo,x-keepers hurry down town in the
mornine. sit for hours cramped up TO desk,
surprising their food is properly digesting I'M
der the many unnatural positions their bodies
incline to, and never find out what they have
needed until the human frame can endure TO
more, and falls prey to dyspepsia, liver COM
plant, imbecility, and sometimes consumption.
What the body needs and must haze is exercise.
Some people take up pair of dumb bells, and
after few lazy swingings and pufiings imag-
inc they have accomplished what is necessary.
Others take long walk Gas they callit) round
the promenades, Sundays, and feel refreshed
and invigorated; but they make that last them
a week. Such exercises are no doubt benef-
cial, but only prolong the appearance of dis
ease. A healthy condition of the whole sys-
tenn can only be obtained and sustained by regu-
lar, systematic exercise. Certain parts of the
day should be set aside for such a purpose,
and no more infringed upon than other mat
tiers which go to sustain life, such as eating and
sleeping. The lack of applying ourselves to
exercises other than what our general business
calls for, shows itself every day in more than
thousand ways, and the physical condition OF
future generations must depend in great
measure upon our thus applying ourselves
Instead of improving on these matters, we are
every year losing. What are few boat and
base ball clubs in comparison to the population
of our city? There should be ten times the
number. The Portland Turnverein, started in
this city few years since, has, by the untiring
exertions of Messrs. Howe, Shaw, Dennis and
others, attained position where it can now be
increase of membership called for better ac-
commodations, and about year since the asso-
citation moved to the new hall it now occupies
in Morton Block. This hall is admirably fitted
up and well arranged for gymnastic exercises.
Poles, bars, pangymnastikon, horse, ladders,
trapeze, and, in fact, everything necessary for
frst-class gymnasium may there be found
Three evenings in the week are devoted to ex-
ercise, under experienced teachers, and the
small sum of three dollars a year is all that is
demanded from each member. The good that
this institution has accomplished can be seen
in the large number who have faithfully follow
ed up the exercises there commenced. Yet
the number of members is very small in COM
parison to the population. Men who have doc
tored themselves for years for different all
ments, daily pass by, hardly knowing that such
an institution is in existence; when, by apply
ing themselves diligently and systematically to
the regular exercise there, they would soon
throw physic to the dogs" and cause the stag
nant blood to shoot through every portion of
the system, Kidding the body of all unclean and
unhealthy matter. They would find the health
and bodily elasticity of childhood again return
ed. t4}ffN
May the time soon como when deep interest
in such matters may be felt by our citizens,
and the healthy glow of the cheek, and the
hardened muscles attest the fact that the Port
land Turnverein has indeed improved the phys
ical condition of our people.
Boat rowing, quoting, walking and in fact
all kind of exercises which tend to develope
the human frame, ought to receive more en-
couragement from our citizens; and it is hoped
hat both old and young will interest them
selves in these matters more than in times
past and establish by judicious exercise what
medicines would fail to do. MUSCLE.