The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-06-30
VALUE OF yl1Al FORCE.
An Active and Endurus Easrv rha.
Ala, Ia the proionr,.,on az I,ts

An Active and Indurius Energy That
Aids ia the rrolOnsatiOa Of Life.
There seems to be an active and en-.
turing energy in man that Is not pure
physical strength, and yet aids in the in
definite prolongation q life. 1t Is not
he mysterious vital principle, though
!losely related 10 It. Il is not firmness
y muscle nor supplcness Of limb, though
these nTe useful attributes Of tho body.
Neither Is It the will, though this may
'onetimes help to keep the vital spark
!or time within the mortal frame. II
g sometimes called nervous force, be-
cause Il is rlore observable in persons Of
aeryouS constitution. Whatever il may
be It is quite as valuable as mere
strength, and by judicious management
Il tmay be made to keep the possessor in
health and to extend his life far beyond
the allotted term Of mans usefulness.
Young men reared in the country are
large, muscular and healthy. Beside
!hem, young men reared in the city
seem pale and sickly. But this differ
snce d appearance need lead no one to
suppose that the city youth hos not equal
or greater powers Of endurance than
these who have grownup among green
helds end breafhfdihe pure fanimtain
ltr- Wien the war OF the rebellion
oroke out II called the young men Of the
country alike from farms, counters and
:ounting.rooms. The city regiments
and country regiments encamped side
by side, enjoying ut first the same de.
gree Of health. 1t often happened that
the last died like sheep, because they
wero unable to endure the llardships and
simple complaints incidental to camp
life, while their neighbors from the city
grew strong and lived to do duty after
ward on score Of battleields.
! History furnishes examples Of the in.
auGnce exerted by the will united with
nervous energy, Louis XE, ia a striking
instance. RiclleIiou Is more familiar
illustration Of the principle. The lives
Of Voltaire, Queen Elizabeth, Bcacons-
field, Gladstone and some literary men
of our own times prove concluSively the
value Of vital force rs compared with
mere physical strength. The first is like
a Fabian army, tightinga little and all
the time retrcating adroitly; the last like
strong fortiflcatiOn, which having been
mmounted by the enemy, all is lost
1t follows, then, that the length Of llu.
man life depends, first, on the amount
Of this vital force and second, ON the
care with which it Is hushande1. 1t is
probable that it is oftener found in per.
sons Of medium stature and Of no great
physical strength, though it may co.exist
with the amplest physical development,
Let any one run over in his mind list
Of all the old men lie has ever known.
How many Of them wore six feet in
height: How many Of them were men
of superior muscle when they were
young; A small proportion, we presume
to say. Why is it that young men six
feet tall, or who are athletes, seldom pass
much beyond middle age? First, be.
cause their physical and nervous forces
are not usually in proportion, and sec.
ond, because, presllming on the super
abundance of their strength, they ex.
huust themselves in oyerexertion and in.
temperate indulgence.
1t mny be stated as an incontroverti-
BILE principle that any amount of exer.
ciSe more than is necessary to keep the
digestion perfect has a tendency to shorten
life. The digestion is the fuel under
! the engine, the oil which lubricates the
points Of friction in the machinery OF the
body. We cannot imagine person
motally i'll while the digestion is good.
While it is perfect the health is perfect.
When it happens that any part of the
body is diseased the stomach is invaria.
bly, in a morbid condition. Therefore
systematic and unnecessary exercise in
gymnasiums is likely to prove injurious.
Professional athletes are rarely long
lived. Abnormal development Of par
| tiCular muscles is attended or soon fol.
lowed by weakness or deterioration.
The fatigue that follows excessive excr.
tiOn is sheer waste Of vitality, which
may not be mt once felt, but whose loss is
/ perceptible later in life. Exercise must
DC regulated by sound discretion. Tie
bad results of confinement and sedentary
habits must be counteracted, but beyond
the point Of cultivating healthy appe.
titeno one should ever go. The digcs.
ton may be kept good in less trouble.
some ways than by writhing and wrig.
Cling on the trapcze and cross bars. Food
should be according to personal habits
and the strength Of the digestive or.
Gans. If persons diet is course and
heavy it may sometimes be necessary to
work in a gymnasium, like blacksmith
or like a horse on n trcadmill, to enable
the system to dispose Of it. Tho better
way would have been to be temperate at
table. Even the digestive pill of tho
gourmet is n more sensible remedy for
/ overfeeding than the barbaroS methods
OF modern athletes and acrobats. Boston
Budget.