The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-04-05

'SAseH ~" (NGl use their physical
49, CZIpower within
reasonable limits, both as to the kind
and the amount.
The current sports and games of the
various seasons succeed each other so as
to supply the needed variety, and most of
muscles. Some of these amusements
are not precisely adapted to the seasons
when they prevail; some of them re-
uuire too much and some of item too
little physical exertion.
Playing marbles does not afford much
exertion, and it is an especially peurlle
game. 1t does not appear to be as uni
versal as it was fifty years ago, partlcu-
larly among larger boys, but its season
now, as then, is about the worst that
could be chosen in the whole year. In
latitude ~ and Whereabouts marble-play-
ing begins as early as March and even
sooner, when the mud is at its deepest.
Every year see a squad of boys roll
ing in the hole"-if that is what it is
called in modern times-when the mud
is so soft that marble will hardly roll.
One might suppose that such condi-
ton would be enough to rob the game
of it's attraction, but it does not. This
close contact with the damp and oozy
earth in chill atmosphere can not be
beneficial to boys throat and lungs,
for there is not activity enough in the
game to promote healthy glow. But
it amuses the young fellows and there
is some movement in it. If it could
only be played in some more convenient
season OF the year it would be we'll
enough.
ANY kind of exercise that does not af-
ford stimulus for the mind as we'll as
the body is not the thing for boys. They
must be interested in the occupation,
whatever it may be. There must be
"fun" in it or it will not be of any great
service. 1t may be difficult for full
grown man, or even a boy of sixteen, to
fathom the attraction of rolling mar
bles in the mud on chilly day, but
there is fun in it or the boys would not
resort to it.
There is the stimulus which comes of
winning, though the little globes have
no real value except as playthings. But
this is largely the stimulus of baseball,
rowing, sailing, football, and indeed
all sports and games. Most of these
amusements would become mere
drudgery without this stimulus. With
the gambler it becomes a passion, for
the root of all evil" is at the bottom of
it. In sailing, rowing and in some
games prize may be the inducement;
but this is only superadded stimulus,
for the excitement of beating" is
ordinarily sufficient to make the game
or sport interesting.
There are men, and possibly there
may be boys, who can take exercise
without any other stimulus than that of
desire to promote the physical we'll
being of the body; but they may be re-
garded as rare exceptions to the general
rule. Simple walking is one of the best
forms of exercise to be had; but to walk
without going anywhere in particular is
dreary occupation to most people.
The lover of nature can enjoy it if he
happens to be where nature is on ex-
hibition; but in city, or in the famil-
lar scenes of a large town, walking for
the sake of walking alone is rather dry
and monotonous. The walker, under
these conditions, lacks the stimulus for
the mind, which is as essential as that
for the body.
If the young man engaged in seden-
tary occupation has two or three miles
to get over to reach his place of business
he had better walk than expend five or
ten cents to ride. Many business men
get most of their physical exercise in
this manner, and it is quite as good as
the gyrations of the gymnasium.
WALKING is THE BEST EXERCISE.
A few years ago had occasion to con-
suit an eminent physician in Chicago
After some particular directions, he
came down to this all-important sub
ject of daily exercise. l thought l
could silence him very quick in this
direction, and 1 told him that had a
workshop in my house; that l made
bookcases, secretaries, bread-trays and
all sorts of furniture; that had turn
ing-lathe and large stock of tools, and
did great deal of work of this sort.
Greatly to my astonishment he told
me that was not what l needed. 1 must
take my exercise in the open air.
How much did I walk? Not much |;
not more than mile day, if as much
as that.
Then he assured me that walking was
the best exercise in the world for me.
While felt very sure that the work
shop had been of very great benefit to
ms, l could feel tho force OF his open
air argument.
1 pleaded that I could not walk for
the mere sake of walking, for 1 was as
much of boy as had ever been; but
he told me must manage that for my
self, and find something to occupy the
mind in my ramblings. The horse cars
lost money on me after that.
In the summer 1 went to Paris and,
lodging in the Latin Quarter, l spent
most of my time wandering through the
streets OF the Oldest parts in the city.