The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-16
PHYSICAL TRAINING.
Usefpl Hints on the development OF Grow
ing Children.


ing Children.
The pulley and weights is almost as
familiara play-thing in English homes
as the American swing, and far more
useful for development OF the muscles.
1t moreover possesses the advantage
of being capable of use within doors
when cold and storms prevent children
taking exercise out OF doors. The fine
physique of British children calls for
frequent comment, and this is due to
the constant care of their mothers, not
only in the use of the pulley, but by
systematic rubbing and massage treat
ment of the growing children at night
before they are put to bed. Our Amer
lean girls need physical home training
even more than their brothers. The
unequal shoulders and other defects too
common in figures of women in this
country show the need of such train
ing, indicating, as they do, weakness
and want of development in muscles
which should be in active use. and
which can only be developed as the
trainer develops the muscles of the
professional oarsman. There is no
danger that our girls will become
hoydens which would compare with
that danger to their health which
arises from an insufficient development
of the various muscles of the body in
childhood, producing puny woman
hood and weak physique and nerves.
It is good thing to note the interest
taken in this country in active field
games like lawn tennis and the revival
of many of the Old-time games. such
as battledore and shuttlecOck, grace
hoops and other games which train the
eye to be accurate and the arm steady.
Mothers can not be too careful in
watching their girls. Boys gain by
their more active outdoor life a de-
velOpment of all their muscles, but
girls are not nearly so sure to get the
benefit of such outdoor life.
Their shoulders more frequently be-
come unequal from careless positions
at the school desk or at play, and in
many cases in this insidiOus way the
foundation of serious spinal disease
is laid. English mothers of quite mod
crate means find time to watch the de-
velopment of their growing children.
This is the advantage of the nightly
rubbing of the child and the daily bath,
which is far less frequent in this coun-
try than it should be. At such times
the mother can easily note any irregu-
larity in the figure or projecting shout
der caused by weakness of the mus
cles that hold the shoulder bones in
place, or she can note the STOPPING
tendency which is caused by insufficient
development of the muscles of the
chest. Then comes the beauty of gym
nastic training at home with the simple
pulley and weights. By this means
nearly all the muscles of the body may
be trained. Spinal disease is too fire.
quent and too terrible a scOurge to
wOmanhood for any precautionary
means to be neglected. A mother
care may save her child life of acute
suffering and develop her into the
glory of perfect physical womanhood.
There is nothing better to strengthen
weak muscles than a daily cold bath
followed by brisk rubbing taken before
breakfast. 1t is hardly to be hoped
that the average mother will recognize
the value of such means of health; this
) is impossible until people have become
wiser, but the best medical experience
sanctions it in spite of the old wife's
tale about the danger and shock of
frequent bathing in cold water.-N. 7.
Tribune.