The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-05-17
THE PHYSICAL MAN.
Perfection 10 Which the Human Machin'
cry May 10 Brought By DriIi.

cry May I'D brought By Drill.
Exhibitions OF remarkable skill and
endurance on the stage or in the circus
ring, however useless the feat per-
formed may have certain value TO
the perfection 10 which the machinery
Of man may be brought by constant
drill and exercise. The gymnasts, nc
robats, dancers and jugglers do things
that seem almost impossible, simply
because they have for years trained
their eyes and muscles 10 perform n
limited number Of operations. have
practiccd necessarily. and made their
movements almost automatic. II men
can do these things, that simply serve
, 10 amuso other people, they can, by
similar perseverance and practice per-
feet themselves in useful occupations
Leaving out Of consideration the arts
(whcrcln. however, technical skill is
almost rs much TO be desired as natural
taste or talenO, there Is scarcely n
mechanical occupation that could not
be elevated and improved by such de-
voted practice as the professional aero
bat gives TO his fcats Of agility. A
jugglcr practices certain movements
Of the hand almost necessarily for
years before no becomes so
highly skilled rs to bo able to
deceive spectators by his sleight-of-
hand performances. A mechanic
equally devoted TO the business OF get
ting his hand trained TO do his will
would become n remarkable work.
man in much less time. The fact
Is that too little attention has hereto
fore been given TO tho possibili-
ties OF hand training for use-
ful 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 Mt and ap-
plaudcd performers with no greater
intelligence than the average spec
tator, and have never thought of mp
plying the lesson to themselves and
making n better use OF IL than that OF
posing for the amusement OF the pub
lie. Tho gymnast, the acrobat, tho
juggler are men who have learned how
TO use their muscles, who have traiEed
their eyes TO quick seeing, their iudg-
mcut To prompt decision, who have
taught themselves to kccp control of
their wits in nm emergency, and who
have above all practiced certain move
monts so diligently that they can per-
form them without effort, almost un-
consciously. They havc not assumed
that education is To be applied only TO
the mind, but Frequently to the neg
lcct OF the latter) have applied educa-
tional methods to the muscles OF their
body which other people neglect. Ono
may easily imagine Il skilled juggler
who would wonder quite as much ut u
school-boy's ready answers to ques-
tious i'm arithmetic rs the school-boy
would wonder at his fcats Of halauc-
ing or slcight of hand The wonder
mont in each case is dependent upon
tho ignorance of the one and the
skill of the other in fields
that are opcn to both, Until
recent years IL has been assumed that
the muscles need little training that
can not be acquired in the ordinary
course Of life without special instruc-
tion or effort. The results achieved
10y specialists should, however correct
this view. The Germans have carried
this thought To u 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
crs' schools. Tho object is not to make
gymnasts or acrobats Of the pupils any
moro than the teaching of drawing in
the public schools is intended 20 make
artists OF all who receive such instruc-
tion. The purpose is 10 give hcalthful
and useful exercise, 20 train the mus
clos. and lay the foundation for tho
development of skill OF hand In any
undertaking This Is not done at tho
expense Of mental education, but rs
experience shows, 10y promoting tho
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 arc toward n broader and
moro liberal education in the direction.
not OF multiplying mental studies, but
of extending school training TO hands
and eyes as well as 20 memory. Bal
timore sun.