Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-06
LEGS,

and cold water, and newspapers, its value
is not fully appreciated, until it is dis
abled, or lost Yet one leg, in itself, has
but half a chance TO demonstrate either its
utility or beauty for pair OF legs pos
s.sses. in large degree, both these quail
tiles. unless, unfortunately they are bowed,
and il must b. adm tied that "bow-legs,'
even. are better than none. Legs have
h,rh rank as useful members OF the hu-
man frame, and there are in them possl-
bilities OF a sort of utility that are I'M
known and unenjoyed by multitudes OF
people. Usually man knows that he can
walk from his house TO his shop. or ofhce
or place of business, with his legs, and he
knows nothing more and cares nothing
more about them He is ignorant OF the
important fac, that he may cheat the
doctor and even death itself for a long
period BY proper, sensible, scientific use
of bis legsl Walking is something more
than putting one leg before the other, and
and then the other before the one, and so
| getting over certain portion of space.
1t may be made most important factor
in the preservation of health. Certainly
so with men or women whose vocations do
not afford them sufficient physical exer-
else. Then there is something in
knowing how to walk. One should
not fire himself off like loco
tive and 60 steaming along at a furious
rate, unless, indeed, he has a superabun-
dance of vital energy and must work it of
before he can get quieted down into busi-
! ness frame OF mind and body. Those who
have too little vitality and who desire to
increase it will find that they can do so by
walking certain distances each day, quiet
| ly, quickening their pace as may seem
necessary to put the blood in circulation,
or slowing up" when likely to become too
much excited and too nervous. A good
frame OF mind is a requisite in such in
| stances. One should be cheerful and even
| Jolly when he eats, to get the best results
from his food, and he should be in cor
responding condition when he walks. A
like-minded companion is useful and
pleasant adjunct. What young man does
not know that walking with his girl is
one of the pleasantest and healthiest meth
ods of physical exercise? But one cannot
always secure so charming a companion,
| and so we must learn to trust to our own
| resources, and these are mental and moral
as well as physical
All people think they know how to
walk, and most people are greatly mis-
taken in this. A good walker is rarely
found. Usually the veteran soldier
is the best walker. He acquired in
the service a swinging stride that got him
over the ground rapidly and displayed
grace and true manly force also. The ex-
ercise he had on the march hardened his
muscles and gave him the physical strength
and vigor he needed in his campaigning.
| The solder with the good legs is the SO
dier who did good shooting and who stood
| FIRE And the veteran OF the Union army
who passes along our streets now is the
man of all others who excites admiration
and commands respect By his daily walk. ."
We ought to make one exception, in favor
| of the graduate OF West Point, whose walk
illustrates the consummate flower OF the
poetry of pedestrianism.
Most assuredly, walking, of the right
sort, is one of the very best methods OF
acquiring the best kind of physical exer-
else. There is always something to see,
wherever one may 60, to interest the eye
and the mind, while the legs are doing
their good work, so that one may get his
legs well to going and then give himself
up TO the contemplation Of the sights and
studies that surround him For the in
tellect and the heart must aid the legs to
secure the best results Men who use their
heads in earning their daily bread are the
men OF all others who should use their legs
also-wisely, judiciously, freely. We know
a most distinguished journalist who makes
! a pedestrian tour of his town--which is
not a small one-every day before he COM
mences his diurnal task; and we believe
that it is this tour that gives vigor and
point to his paragraphs.
Then we should consider the aesthetic
qualities of legsl A good leg is "a thing
of beauty and a JOY forever" SO long as
it lasts. About the best work of the
scul ptor, ancient and modern, is shown in
the legs wrought out OF marble or bronze
There is artistic elegance in true leg,
and it is a member of the human frame to
which We may point with pride And
leg may be cultivated and improved, by
physical exercise and training. The cali
may be developed and rounded and the
member itself Strengthened and made i'm
posing as well as graceful Then the tailor
who understands his high vocation and
can make trousers as they ought to he
Il