Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-07-02
THE PHYSICAL MAN.

Exhibitions Oh fenlafkdDle skill anu
endurance on the stage or in the circus
ring, however useless the feat per.
formed, my have a certain value to
the thoughtful as demonstrations OF
the perfection to which the machinery
of man may be brought by constant
drill aud exercise The gymnasts, ac-
robats. dancers and jugglcrs do things
that seem almost impossible, simply
because they have for years trained
their ewes and muscles To perform
limited number OF operations, have
practiced necessarily, aud made their
movements almost automatic. II men
can do these things. that simply serve
10 amuse other people, they can. by
similar perseverance, and practice per-
feet Themselves in useful occupations.
Leaving out OF consideration the arts
(whcrein however, technical skin Is
almost rs much to be desired a. natural
taste or talent), there is scarcely "a
mechanical occupation that could not
be- elevated and improved by such de-
voted practice rs the professional aero
Int gives TO his fcatS OF agility. a
juggler practices certain movements
OF the hand almost necessarily for
years before he becomes 80
highly skilled as to be able TO
deceive spectators by his sleight-of-
hand performances. A mechanic
equally devoted To the business OF get.
ting his band trained to do his will
Al.
man in much less time. The fact
j. that too little attention has hereto
fore been given Ia the POSSIBLE
ties 81 hand training for use-
ful work. The stage and tht
circus ring have for yenr- shown
us that there is scarcely any limi, ID
he put TO what man may accomplish
through the i'sug OF his muscles.
Crowds have wondered ut and APP
plHuded performers with no greater
intelligence than the average spec
i,,ior. and have never thought of ap.
plying the lesson Ia themselves and
making a better use OF it than that al
posing for the amusement al the pub
lie The gymnasi. the acrobat. the
iuggicr are men who have learned how
20 use their muscles, who have trained
their eyes To quick seeing, their indg.
ment 10 prompt decision, who have
taught themselves To keep control al
their wits In an emergency, and wht
have above all pructiccd certain move
ments so diligently that they can per
form than without effort, almost I'm
consciously. They have not assume,
that education is to he applied only t,
the mind. but Frequently to the neg
lect OF the latterl have applied educa
tional methods To the muscles of theil
body which other people neglect One
may easily imagine skilled juggle
who would wonder quite rs much nj I
school-boy's ready answers to ques
tions in arithmetic as the school bo,
would wonder at his feats OF halanC
ing or sleight Of hand. The wonder
ment in each ease Is dependent upoi
the Ignorance OF the one and tn
skill Of the other in field
that are open to both. Unit
recent years il has boon assumed thu
the muscles need little training tina
can not be acquired in the ordiuar
course OF lille without special instrup
tion or effort The results achieve
by specialists should, however correc
this view. The Germans have carrie
this thought to logical conclusion b
providing more generally than othe
people for the training Of hands an
eyes in the kindergarten and for carry
ing on similar exercises in their turr
ers schools The object is not to max
gymnasts OF acrohats OF the pupils nm
more than the teaching Of drawing
the public schools is intended to max
artists OF all who receive such iustrus
iioa. The purpose is tn give healthfu
aud useful exercise. to train the mu,
clcs. and lay the foundation Tor IN
development OF skill OF hand in an
undertaking, This il not done at TIA
expense of mental education. but n
experience shows, by promoting tn
physical health. II quickens AN
Strengthens the mental faculties. n
the same time giving them needed re
lief from too much strain. An tn
tendencies Of modern educationr
thought are toward broader an
more liberal education In the direction
not ct multiplying mental studies. bu
Of extending school training to hand
and eyes ~ Well a. 10 memory. - Bal
timore sun.