The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-11-29

notice. In thirty.two years, three hundred
and thirty four scholars from various ma
tons, were educated at this establishment,
and not one of them died there. In some
few existing establishments, this example
was initiated; but the age was still too
effeminate to allow gymnastics place IN
education.
DR.. jain established his first turnplatz,
the German name for gymnasium, near
Berlin, in 1911, and when tho peace of
Paris was concluded, the gymnasia, which
had been closed during the war, were re-
opened and made use of to inspire the
youths with an ardor for liberty. When
the prosecutions against liberals were re-
newed on the continent, in 1924, with
greater violence, Mr.. Volker, being com
PEELED to seek an asylum in England, es-
tablished the first gymnasium in London.
At the same time, Capt. elias, Swiss,
established a gymnasium at Chelsea, in
the royal military asylum, and soon after
published a work on gymnastics.
In our own country, physical exercises
have long received considerable attention
from certain classes, but they are still far
from being held in the high estimation
which their importance demands and de-
serves. In every school throughout the
land, whether public or private, for males
or females, gymnastics should be taught
hro,, Of nd
ought, we think, to be divided into two
courses. The first should include walking
and pedestrian excursions; elementary ex-
ercises of various sorts; quick, and long
continued running; leaping, in heighth,
length and depth; leaping with pole, in
length and height; vaulting, balancing,
exercises on bars, climbing, throwing,
dragging, pushing, lifting, carrying, wrest-
ling, jumping, exercises with dumb bells,
various gymnastc games, skating, dancing,
and swimming, which we include in the
first course because it can be easily taught
to children. Some of these exercises, of
course, are not suitable for very young
children, and they should be distributed in
regular graduation, which caution and
experience will teach. Gymnastics, pro-
perly so called, may be begun by boy
from six to eight years old. The second
course consist of repetltions of some of
the former exercises of vaulting, both on
the wooden and living horse, either stand
ing or running in circle; boxing, driving,
riding on horse back, and fencing with the
broad sword and small-sword. Fencing
with the small-sword is one of the noblest
of gymnastic exercises. Boxing, riding,
and the various exercises on the living
horse should not be commenced much be-
fore the sixteenth year. AS to calisthe-
mics, or exercises for the female sex, they
should be founded chiefly on balancing,
which exercises the frame in a great variety
of ways, affording the means of graceful
motion, and being sufficiently strengthen
ing for females. Those exercises which en-
large the hand, and make the muscles of the
arm rigid, are not suitable for them. The
chest may be developed in many ways
without exercising the arms too much, an
objection to which the exercises with
dumb bells are liable. We cannot more
appropriately close this article than by
quoting the words of an eminent physiolo-
gist, respecting the proper place for exer.
else. He says
I'VE need an abundant supply of oxygen
to sustain the increased demand for nutri-
ton and discharge of waste which is caus-
ed by muscular action. Exercise abroad
in the open air gives more health and vigor,
both to body and mind, than in the house.
Some have prepared gymnastic apparatus
in their garrets, or in their cellars, in order
that they and their families may exercise
without the trouble and exp ense of going
out of doors. Some gentlemen in cities
they fail of obtaining the full measure of
good that action in open air would give
them. Even those mechanics whose en-
pigments give them sufficiency of muscu-
lar exercise, especially those who work in
close shops, would do we'll to add walk
abroad to their indoor labors, for they
would gain in vigor of body and freshness
of spirit and effective power more than
sufficient to compensate for the loss Of
time devoted to their renovation.
Whatever may be the weather or the
season, the demand of the system for ex-
ercse abroad is the same, for We have the
same wants, and need the invigorating
effects of muscular action both winter and
summer, in fair weather and in foul. Nor
is there any sufficng objection to it, for
very few days of the winter are 80 cold
that we cannot keep ourselves comfortable
by rapid walking, or other exertion; and,
indeed, the colder the weather the more
dense is the air, and the greater quantity
of oxygen is received into the lungs to sus-
tain the internal fire. Very few days are
SO stormy as to prevent this exercise abroad,
and, on such days, it may be taken under
cover of the house.
This law for the health of the frame,
and the necessity of exercise abroad. is
one and the same for both male and female,
for the rich and the poor. All can have a
fuller development of strength and health
and life by taking it abroad; and all must
suffer the depreciation of life if they neg
lect it. There are none so favored in life
as not to need it, none so high as not to be
benefited by it, and very few so feeble as
not to be able, in some degree or other, to
obtain it.
THE PLANTAIN.