The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-06-20
THE PHYSICAL MAN.



THE PHYSICAL MAN.
ker1sctfon to which the Human Machfnp
cry May Ne Brought ny DriIl.
Exhibitions Of remarkable skill and
endurance on the stage or in the circus
ring, however useless the feat per-
formed, mayhhave certain value 10
the thoughtful ~ demonstrations Of
the perfection to which the machinery
Of man may be brought BY constant
driM and exercise The gymnasts. ac-
robats, dancers and jugglers do things
that seem almost impossible, simply
because they have for years trained
their eyes and muscles to perform a
limited number Of operations, have
practiced necessarily, and made their
movements almostautumatic. II men
can do these things, that simply serve
to- amuse other people, they can, by
similar perseverance and practice per-
feet themselves in useful occupations.
Leaving out Of consideration the arts
(wherein, however, technical skill is
almost ~ much 10 be desired as natural
taste or taientJ, there is scarcely q
mechanical occupation that could not
be elevated and improved by such de-
voted practice as the professional aero
bat gives to his feats Of agility. A
juggler practices certain movements
of the hand almost incessantly for
years before he becomes so
hirhty clr;1lad - - ~ lt a.
deceive spectators by his sieight-of-
hand performances A mechanic
equally devoted to the business of get
ting his hand trained to do his will
would become remarkable work.
man in much less time. Tho fact
is that too little attention has hereto
fore been given to the possible
ties of hand training for use
full work. The stage and the
circus ring have for years shown
us that there is scarcely any limit to
be put to what man may. accomplish
through the training OF his muscles,
Crowds have wondered at and APP
plauded performers. with no greater
intelligence than the average spec
tator, and have never thought of APP
plying the lesson to themselves and
making better use of it than that of
posing for the amusement of the pub
lie. The gymnast, the acrobat, the
juggler are men who have learned how
to use their muscles, who have trained
their eyes to quick seeing, their judg-
ment to prompt decision. who have
taught themselves to keep control OF
their wits in an emergency, and who
have above all praetieed certain move
ments SO diligently that they can per-
form them without effort, almost I'M
consciously. They have not assumed
that education is to be applied only to
the mind, but Frequently to the neg
lect OF the latter) have applied educa-
tional methods to the muscles OF their
body which other people neglect. One
may easily imagine a skilled juggler
who would wonder quite as much at a
school-boy's ready answers to ques-
tions in arithmetic as the sehool-boy
would wonder at his feats of balance
ing or4sleight of hand. The wonder
ment in each case is dependent upon
the ignorance of the one and the
skill Of the other in fields
that are open to both. Until
recent years it has been assumed that
the muscles need little training that
can not=be acquired IN the ordinary
course Of life without special instruc-
ton or effort. The results achieved
by specialists should, however, correct
this view. The Germans have carried
this thought to logical conclusion by
providing more generally than other.
people for the training of hands and
eyes in the kindergarten and for carry
ing on similar exercises in their turn
ers' schools. The object is not to make
gymnasts or acrobats of the pupils any
more than the teaching of drawing in
the public schools is intended to make
artists OF all who receive such instrne-
tion. The purpose is to give healthful
and useful exercise, to train the mus
cles, and lay thee foundation for the
development of skill OF hand in any
undertaking. This is not done at the
expense OF mental education, but. as
experience shows, by promoting the
physical health, it quickens and
strengthens the mental faculties, at
the same time giving them needed re-
lief from too much strain. All the
tendencies of modern educational
thought are toward broader and
more liberal education in the direction,
not Of multiplying mental studies, but
of extending school training to hands
and eyes as well as to memory. Bal
timore Sun.