The Democratic advocate., 1880-11-06

An1sioht bAohpisos
Among the dangers that beset our highly
civilized life there is, perhaps, no one more
insidious than the tendency to physical
iDaction. There is, 10 the human consti.
tuition, natural craving for muscular ex-
ereise, alternated by similar craving for
repose. Like the appetite for food, these
desires, when simple and unspoilsd by in
dulgence and luxury, are the best presev-
ers Of health and promoters of strength
and ability. The infant alternates between
passive slumber and perpetual motion, and
we wisely restrain neither the one nor The
other, knowing that nature thus provides
for its own needs. The first wants Of prim-
tive life are such as to encourage this
craving for exercise to the utmost. The
savage must hunt and FISH if he would eat;
he must erect his rude hut If be would be
sheltered and prepare skin for his gar
ment, if he would bo clothed. Thus he
grows robust and healthy by the harmony
between his outward condition and the
laws of his body. But civilization, while
vastly increasing our wants and stimula-
ting our desires, takes from us much Of
the immediate need Of physical oxertion,
and offers SO many excellent substitutes
that we are tempted to hold our own ac-
tivity in very low esteem, and gradually
withdraw it from use. Then, too, there
are 50 many other things to claim our at
tention, so many other faculties to deyelop,
the intellect TO train, the judgmeus to ex.
ercise, the character to establish. that We
can be fully occupied with important aud
valuable labor without the actual need Of
bringing into play a single muscle.
Cravings that are held in habitunl check
gradually diminish in force, and thus We
fnd, to very large degree, that, as ciyi.
lization advances, the desire for physical
activity decreases. Not only is this seen
10 the business Of life, but also 10 lis amuse.
ments. Even the boys soon lay aside the
energetic sports Of the school yard and the
college campus, while young girls scarcely
indulge in anything more violent than a
gentle promenade or a tranquil game Of
croquet. Naturally, as we retreat from
exercise, we also retreat from open air and
sunshine. Our dwelling houses and even
our othcesand storesare now made so pleas.
ant and attractive there is but little TENN
tation to leave them and everything Is 40
arranged that the claims Of business and
pleasure may both be satisfied inside their
walls. For long time after summer tray
el was inaugurated, and summer resorts
were frcquented, the tents and houses were
constructed in the simplest manner, and
their occupants, using them only for the
purpose Of shelter, spent their vacation out
Of doors, and reaped the benefit in a plen-
tiful supply Of vitality. BY degrees, how.
ever, these summer houses have been made
more and more luxurious hotels with ey-
cry appliance Of city convenience have
sprung up at every available point, and
it has been a noticeable feature of many
summer resorts, during the past season,
that the piazzas, with their hammocks and
easy chairs, have been filed with people,
while the rocks, beaches, meadows and
hills have been comparatively deserted.
Now, the evils resulting from this phys
ieal inaction cannot be seen all at once.
II Is well known that through the whole
human system strergth aud development
come only by exercise. Every unused
muscle shrinks in size and loses lis force,
aud the man or woman who lives chiefly 4
life of passive repose will gradually lose
the power as well as the desire for activity,
This, however, is by no means the whole
OF the evil involved. The connection be.
tween the mind and the body is very init.
mate, and the mental faculties cannot OBJ.
tain their full power, nor the character It's
highest excellence, unless the body be kent
in healthful condition by salutary exercise.
Sunlight, pure air, and regular physical
exertion is necessary, in order to think
clearly, to decide wisely, to reason acutoly,
to plan with discretion, and to execute with
yigor. Strength Of will depends largely
upon strength Of muscle, and he who Is
weak and aabby in the latter viii in all
probability, be feeble and irresolute in the
former.
Thus physical exercise in some system.
attic manner is duty we owe not merely
TO our bodies but to our whole nature. Il
will vitalize the blood, quicken the ener.
gies, give firmness to the nerves, and law
a foundation upon which we may build a
wholesome and successful life. Especial.
ly should care be taken not to discourage
the young in their natural fondness for
physical exercise. Many boys and girls
have relinquished sports eminently fitted
to invigorate and strengthen them, and
which they thoroughly enjoyed, because Of
sighting remarks Of their elders and from
fear of being thought childish. We can.
not estimate the evil consequences that
may follow when we persuade young girl
that good, hard play is unladylike, or q
boy that it is uumanly. On the contrary.
such sports should receive our most tho.
rough respect and most eordial sympathy.
Not to shorten, but to prolong the time
during which they may be suffered to pro-
mote health and happiness should be our
aim; and when the taste for them declines.
our effort should be to replace them by
more congenial exercise, but never TO sink
into physical inaction ourselves or to coun.
tenance it in any one over whom we may
exert an infuence.-Pkila Ledger.