Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-10
TALKS ABOUT HEALTH.
BY do LEWIS, NJ D.

| have studied the subject of exercise
for twenty years. have invented sys-
tenn of gymnastics, which has been intro
duced into nearly all the schools of Amer
lea, into most of the English gymnasia,
and was introduced into the schools of
Berlin a few years ago, with public cere-
monies.
have been the recipient of honorable
testimonials from American Colleges,
many important educational bodies, and
from many sources in England and Ger
many.
Please excuse this parade. Ny object
in making these statements, is to give
Just emphasis to an opinion which | wish
now to express. 1t is this-that Walk
ing, when properly managed, is the best
of all exercises. None of the artificial
exercises can be compared with it,
Every important muscle works actively
in walking. Notice an active walker.
See how every part works-legs, hips,
arms, shoulders-the man works all over.
Brisk walking gives even the upper part
of the body fine play. Then walking
costs nothing. You are not obliged to
join class, and employ teacher
Again, walking takes you into the open
air and sunshine, while in gymnaatics
you are in the dusty atmosphere of
hall; and it is not a small advantage that
in walking you enjoy succession OF
changing scenes, ggestions of new
thought. And walking with friend.
the conversation may be interesting and
instructive. All this may be found in
active walking.
But if the ankles were shackled, so
that the feet could be moved but few'
| inches, the great value of the exercise
would be at an end.
1 asked you to note the arms and
shoulders of an active walker. How
they swing, and wriggle and wiggle--
how thoroughly alive even the upper
half of the body is! The physiology of
that part of the body 10 walking is this:
the shoulder ia sort of center for the
muscles of the chest. They start from
the shoulder, and spread out in every
direction like a fan. These muscles,
which run in every direction over the
chest, around, about, up, down, crosswise.
and interlocking with each other 10 a
wonderful net-these muscles which de
termine whether the chest shall be full,
strong and active, or thin, weak, and in
active-these muscles, about the chest,
which determine whether the vital organs
within the chest shall be large, active,
and strong, or small, slow and weak
these muscles which may contribute more
than any others in the body, to the
strength and activity of life-these mus
cles, say, depend for their activity, for
their development and strength upon
free and vigorous motion of the shout
ders. Brisk walking. with swinging Of
the arms, gives the required movements
of the shoulders. Now we understand
how it is that active walking contributes
so much to the fullness and strength of
the chest, and the organs within the
| chest.
Please put your finger down there
and look out of this front window with
me. 1t is bright day, and the ladies
are out in full force.
Now let us notice how they walk
Why, they don't swing their arms at all !!
Their arms must be laced down upon
their sides! No, they are holding their
arms still, and see, they have tucked their
hands into those large fur rollers which
they carry on their stomachs. their
arms look, for all the world, like the
wings of christmas turkey, all tied down
and ready to put in the oven.
It must be hard TO walk that way
1t is very hard indeed, and you see
they have to walk very slowly, and wig
gle their hips.
What funny motion that wiggle is.
l should think fastidious people might
call it vulgar and immodest.
Oh, well, that depends upon the fash
ion. that wiggle waggle is all the go,
now.
| should think it would lame them
across the back.
1t does; there is not lady in twenty,
who is not lame across the small of the
back. Let a man wear shawl and
hold it together in front with his hands,
and he will not walk far before has back
will ache. 1t is hard strain upon the
spine, to walk without swinging the
arms.
American ladies have muscular legs
and hips; but look at their arms, (candle.
dips No 81 their angular shoulders, and
their fiat, thin chests.
A large part of this ugliness and weak
ness comes of carrying their. hands in
muffs, or folded IN front, or under shawls,
in brief, from not swinging their arms 10
walking. All. when those beautiful fur
mittens anil gloves, which are now be
coming fashionable, shall be generally in
troduced, and our girls are able to walk
off in that brisk. bright way, which we
all so much admire, not only will their
cheeks take on warmer hue, but their
arms, shoulders and chests, will become
plumper, and finer; but better fitted to
perform the duties, and enter into the
pastimes and pleasures of life.
A favorite English amusement just
now is to examine the ears of the people