The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-04-04
THE LAWS OF HEALTH
coed Reasons for Attention 10 Dici
und Exercise.

II Exercise.
When we read in the chronicle s
of the past the many feats recorded
concerning physical force, OF a lady
who Rnew neither weakness or IN
teue--an lion strength OF endn-
rance and muscular %powcr--it
9 unds like the echo Of a distant age
from which we are widely separ-
atcd. Can We t~eEieve that Gym
burga, the beautiful wife OF tie no.
bic Duke Earnest of Austria, could
crack nuts with her fingers, and
drive a nail into the wall with her
hand, as far as others with ham
mer? "Juste %ciol," the lovely girl Of
the period exclaims, ''who could de-
sire such iron hands?" My fair
friend, did you ever hear OF Brin-
hilda, u noble Saxon maiden, who
bound her offending lover with her
girdle, and fastened him to a beam
in the ceiling? She bad strength
of muscles which enabled her to
compete with the stalwart warriors
of her day, and could defend her
self without their assistance. The
puny arms of the damsel OF the
present days could hardly accom-
such feats! The breakfast OF coed
Queen Bess and her lower maidens
the huge rounds of beef and
tankards of ale, which they con-
sumod, seen incredible in our dys-
poptic days. Tea and toast and u
dropped egg are all sufficient now.
What would our delicate ladies and
gentlemen give for that vigorous
life, which would enable them to
spring from their beds at 5 O'Clock.
full Of energetic activity, digest and
enjoy plain, substantial food, and
follow every occupation of the
day with the zest of robust health?
Such enjoyment would be priceless!
We neeI muscles that arc strong
and ready to do our will, that can
run and not be weary, walk and not
faint, as duty or pleasure calls us,
not only without fatigue, but with
the sensation of cheerful energy.
We need strong arms and backs
that will not break under the bur
den of business and household cares;
a frame that is not used up and OK
haustod by the round of daily du-
ties. We want faces that will light
up with every noble thought, and
arc not wlinkled by care and faded
with anguish, but will flash and
glow with the rich affection of the
heart. We need well developed
muscles that shall make the human
body really d divine image, and
not require the aid of drugs and
nostrums, and to be patched up
and weighed down with clumsy
coutrivances for concealing its in
firnities. Bodies hat are erect
and firm, energetic and active, that
can move in conscious strength,
grace and beouty, such 7 the Jones
that wo need, prompt to act and to
feel, truly our own!
Nature gave us such bodies, and
we have changed them into the vile
bodies we now inhabit. The mus
cular system isperfcct and boauti-
full in structure, but we prostitute it,
weaken and enervate it by the want
of exercise. The rat teeth + SC
constructed that unless he gnaws
constantly they grow so long that
he staryes to death. Well would it
be for MS if we were similarly con
structed. Our muscles require ex-
ercise as much as the rats teeth.
and want of it become inert, suIine.
nabby. The brain is affected, the
nerves also,.sand the whole body
groans in spirit and in flesh,
Watch an infant, how it kicks, and
cries, and works, not arms and legs
alone, but every part of its little
body is kept in motion, thus it is
strengthened, and its muscular sys.
temdevelopod. No grown person
could possibly initiate the ceaselosF
action of u child six or seven years
old--he would be como exhausts 4
before three hours had passed
Why cannot we learn q lesson FROM
our children. How many ladies
VINO read this, walk out every day
If all things are propitious, good
weather, good walking, fair winds
etc, why they may do n little shop.
ping, pay a few visits, and come
home fused up"-cannot go out
again for several days. II there il
much housework to be done, there
is some exercise taken, but it lacks
the tonic of the fresh air, which il
absolutely essential to our well
being. The lrrltabillty and undue
excitement of tho nervous system
which are the bete NOR of 81 many
of our women, are wholly owing tt
the want of air and exercise. The
Swedish Movement cure" recog.
Miss the latter as the motive o
much of the suffering we all endure
and endeavors imperfect to supply
its place
Why will not our women ant
and young girls take daily exelcis,
as a duty--s duty not only to them.
selves, but to their friends and the
community in which they dwell
In our cities, the ladies walk ou'
much oftener than in towns anc
villages. There is something at.
tractive in the crowds one NEE s, il
the gayly bedecked shop windows
etc. These incentives are wanting
in the country; the trodden snow
;. path is not inviting, the wintry ali
is chilling, and stern duty alon,
uroeS one to 90 out and commun,