Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-01-30
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For the Yorkville Enquirer.
GYMNASTICS A NECESSITY IN SCHOOLS.

GYMNASTICS A NECESSITY IN SCHOOLS.
Mems sana II, corpore sano.
The great truth Of this proverb of the an
clients, that sound soul dwells in sound
body, will be true forever; for the free devel-
opment of mind and soul will be more easily
completed when the being enjoys bodily health.
The Greeks of old were the first who prac-
ticed, after certain laws, calesthenics and
gymnastics. To them the idea was unknown
that man was composed Of two unevenly en-
titled halves, and that it ought to be his duty
only to improve his spiritual abilities. 10
this ancient people Of Helas belongs the theo-
ry that they acknowledged soul and body as
two even essential parts Of the human organ
ism, and in this way they cultivated both in
the right proportion. Bodily health, beauty
of form, steady, easy step, vigour of motion,
energy of limbs, endurance in fatigue and
6ght and presence of mind, were not less
treated than the development of the mind,
acuteness of judgment, and the practice Of the
nine muses.. This was sufficient to raise,
from generation to generation, their youth
sound in body and soul; and thus enabled,
they fought bravely for the freedom Of their
country. Under such influences they raised
MEN in the true sense of the word, and no
people on earth has achieved, by such SYSTEM:
such great deeds as the old Greeks; and her
great men are still admired in all branches of
education. In our present time there is an
other nation which follows the same princi-
Piles of the Greeks, and that is the German
nation. There are schools in every town and
village; every institution Of learning has
gymnasium on its premises, and every child
is compelled by law to 60 to schoc! from its
sixth to its fourteenth year.
The fearful consequences of the neglect of
popular education are furnished by the late
war between the German and French nations.
Were not the latter equal to-even stronger
than the former? Had they not military
prestige, war glory, confidence, all on their
side? And did they not boast of their SOL
dierly elan; And yet they won not single
battle, and were routed in every one of the
many contests that took place. Army after
army were taken prisoners, for the first time
in the history of wars, and fortresses subdued
and surrendered that were considered impreg.
nable. And if we ask what caused all these
unheard.of and astonishing disasters, only one
answer can be given, namely, that it was oil
on account of the better education and train
ing of the German people. Neglect of edu'
cation, and ignorance Of the French did it all;
and confidently we may say, "German educa-
tion has conquered the French"
The value of gymnastics as methodical
system, based upon anatomical laws, depends
upon the we'll known law of nature-that
human beings, in order to remain healthy,
need steady exercises. A writer of old says
"Flowing water remains clean, but standing
water will be spoiled" So exercise preserves
health to the body, while inactivity is the
source Of sickness and destruction. The ex-
pansion of the chest, which is promoted by
gymnastic exercises, prevents disease of the
lungs and the heart. The fundamental ne
cessity of all life is the restoration of new Or
ganic substances, and so the energy Of life will
be powerfully increased. Only by thorough
ly training the body, as the Prussian system
teaches, will men be masters Of their bodies.
Thus I have shown to every one the man.
ner by which he may attain independence,
courage, strength and activity in the fulness
of their sense, enabling him to do the most i'm
portant services for himself, his fellow-men
and his country. N.