Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-11-05
Physical Culture.

As THE season for outdoor sports is
about closing, the present cannot be
thought an inopportune time for few re-
Elections upon the subject OF physical Cul-
ture, induced by the TRADE in which GER
tain melancholy dyspeptics see fit to in
dulge their spleen, whenever opportunity
offers against any movement which tends
to make physical culture honorable, or
which strives 10 loosen the coils of brutal
ity and evil association, too long suffered
to encompass IL.
We remember having heard It suggest
ed, some weeks since, that in future "in-
tellectual regattas" be held. Without at
tempting to explain the solecism, we
would readily concur in any such plan,
but cannot see the necessity for any con-
ilict between ethics and aquatics. Limited
as are our opportunities for recreation, let
us have them as far removed from the in
tcllectual as possible. The impression has
too long prevailed that physical vigor is,
in some mysterious manner, connected
with the morals and rules Of '"prize ring:"
that the tendency of athletic sports is not
only to brutaliZe, but to draw the atten-
ton from the more serious affairs of life,
| Can we not, with better reason, maintain
that neglect of physical laws sows the
seeds of such disease-to ripen in future
| generations-that the enervated body finds
| it impossible to support or carry out any
designs which the more active mind may
have prepared for itY Those who argue
that the same labor might, to greater ad-
vantage, be applied to useful productions
seem to forget that most of our diversions
necessarily partake of the nature of labor
Our physical powers, as well rs the intel
lectual faculties, are the gifts of Provi.
| a ftl1 gf ie
necessary to hcalthful state of the other
! When either is allowed to usurp or tres
pass upon the domain of the other, the
result is confusion and disorder Man full
fills his chief end and duty when he GU
tivates to the highest perfection all of his
faculties, and fosters no one TO the eXClu-
sion of the full exercise of another.
Many selfstyled moralists, seeing the
evils which too often ensue from an undue
attention TO the bodily energies, to the neg
lect Of higher mental attributes, seek every
opportunity to decry physical culture.
Were mOiety of the time used in this
endeavor employed in the effort TO regu-
late the alleged abuse, we should soon see
many athletic sports dignitied and en-
nobled, whose exercise society now frowns
| upon. Did these same moralists bestow
upon their own bodies portion of that
solicitous care which makes the glory OF
man his strength, II larger, stronger and
healthier soul would not descend TO those
cavils, every repetition of which only
serves to increase our faith in Juvenal's
"meRs Sdnd "a maxim, the force of which
age has not diminished in the estimation
of those who seek to find "good in every.
thing" and who do not think that the
diamond loses luster from the rare purity
and beauty of the setting. If it is the
duty of man to neglect no means for the
preservation of his body by aiming at the
highest physical culture, and if we have
thus far left those means in the hands OF
creatures who debase all athletic exercises
do not LET us longer carp at those who
would elevate and refine them.
1t is objected that " such associations eX
pose the young to temptation" We re
ply that il is from the struggle between
temptation offered and the nObler impulse
to resist that true morality results. Is ht
of the fine physique, clear eye and pure
blood, more prone to yield to such tempta
ton than his pallid, neryeless brother
Rather is he not better prepared to resis
itY Without stronger evidence we car
not admit the truth of the random asser
ton that in our colleges "good gymnastl
are poor students" for we believe tha
physical strife for success in one particular
is not incompatible with excellence in til,
cultivation of the intellectual or mora
faculties. The same energy with whicl
the youth labors to increase his physica
stamina, fulfilling at the same time hi
daily duties, will not be found enervate,
when the more serious affairs of life de
mand its exercise Cincinnati Ctr0Riele.
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