The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-05-05
TALES ABOUT HEALTH.
BY DIo LEWIS, NJ. D.

I have studied the subject of exer-
else for twenty years. l have invent
ed system Of gymnastics, which has
been introduced into nearly all the
schools in America, into most of the
English gymnasia, and was introduced
into the schools Of Berlin a few years
years ago, with public ceremonies
| have been the recipient Of honor
able testimonials from American COL
leges, many important educational
bodies, and from many sources in
England and Germany.
Please excuse this parade. My OBJ
iect in making these statements is to
give d just emphasis to an opinion
which l wish now to express. 1t is
this-that audIkiny. when property man,
oged, is the best of all exercises.
None Of the artificial exercises can
be compared with it Every impor-
tunt muscle works actively in walk
ing. Notice an active walker. See
how every part works legs, hips,
arms, shoulders-the man works all
over. Brisk walking gives even the
upper half of the body fine play.
Then walking costs nothing. You
are not obliged to join a class and
employ teacher. Again, walking
takes you into the open ar and sun
shine, while in gymnastics you are
in the dusty atmosphere Of hall
and it is not small advantage that
in walk you enjoy a succession Of
changing neutrality-suspicious. of new
thought. And walking with friend,
the conversation may be interesting
and instructive. All this may be
found in natural and 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.
: | asked you to note the arms and
shoulders Of an active walker. How
they swing, and wrigsle and wiggle
how thoroughly alive even the
upper half of the body is The ply
siology of that part Of the body in
walking is this: the shoulder is 4
sort Of center for the. muscles Of
the chest. They start from the
shoulder, and spread out in every d.
rection like a fan. Thnse muscles,
which run in every direction over
the chest, around, about, up, down,
crosswise, and interocling with each
other in a wonderful net these mus
cles. which determine whether the
chest shall be fs!l, strong and active,
or thin, weak and inuctive-these
about the chest, which de-
termne whether the vital organs
within the chest shall be large, active
and strong, or small, low and weak
these muscles which may contribute
more than others in the body, to the
strength and activity of life these
l say. depend for their activ-
ty, for their Development and
strength upon free and vigorous
motion of the shoulders. Brisk walk
in, with Il swinging of the arms, gives
the required movements of the shoul-
dcrs. Now We understand how it is
that active walking contributes so
much to tie fuIlness 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 a bright day, and the
ladies are out in force.
Now let US notice how they walk.
Why, they don't swing their arms at
all Their arms must be laced down
upon tLeir sides! No; they are hotd-
ing 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 Christ
mas turkey, all tied down, and ready
to be put in the oven. 1t must be
hard work to walk in that way!
1t is very hard indeed, and you see
they have to walk very slow, and
wigyie their hips.
What Il funny motion that wiggle
is. [ should think fastidous people
might call it gar and immodest.
Oh, well, that depends upon the
fashion. That wigyle.waggle is al
the 20 now.
1 should think it would lame them
across the back.
It does; there is not a lady in twen-
ty who is not lame across the small
Of the back. Let man wear u shawl
and hold it together in front with his
hands, and he will not walk far be-
fore his back will ache. 1t is Il hard
strain upon the spine TO walk without
swinging the arms.
American ladies have muscular
legs and hips; but look at their arms,
(cand dips No. s., their angular
shoulders, and their fiat, thin chests.
A large part of this ugliness comes
of carrying their hands in muffs, or
folded in fro,t, Or under shawls-in
brief, from not swinging their arms
in walking. All, when those beauti-
full fur mittens and gloves, which are
now becoming fashionable, shall be-
generally introduced, and our girls
arc able to walk off in that brisk,
bright way, which we all 50 admire
mol only will their checks take OH
warmer hue, but their arms, shoulders
and chests will not will become
plumper and finer but better fitted
TO perform the duties, and enter into
the pastimes and pleasures Of lite.-