The Russellville Democrat., 1892-06-23
PHYSICAL TRAINING.

.t0
 Dr. Westerfeld's essay was as fol lows:
 PHYSICAL TRAINING.
 It will at first thought appear inconsistent for me. presenting the physique that aos 0 appear before you and presume to instruct you upon the subject of Physical Training
 I do not intend to dwell at any length upon the modes bat shall try to impress Npu with its importance and leave you free to consult your own Judgment and the authors that have made the matter study. The importance of t IS un- disputcd.--ihe manner of doing it is the siebata- ble grOuHd-tnd if can impress you with the advisahiiity of q move m this direction l shall Ike well rewarded and your time spent in listen ing shall nol be in vain.
 Taappreciate a good thing is to miss it; 1 therefore am able to sec the vital mistake of my earlier days, but yon of the R. E. Ho2lns type do not appreciate it,
 take il that the educators of our common school system are supposed to teach certain pro- scrlbed branches. and this Is correct. for lndi- vidual tastes arc so different that great confusion would arise to nnhridlc the matter. IL is your province however. to learn or advance the pupil from his present standard far as possible. and the means that y0u Use for this purpose constitute the difference between teach- CTS, one of you ts considered good teacher an other an inferior teacher. etc. These adjectiyes will tx applied to the teacher, 0r rather he will merit them from two principal sources:-his own aptne.S to teach, and the class that he teaches. So vou see the importance oi bringing
 
 Uf the teachers am moi to deal With the standarl of the teachers bui tIe pupils, and have have matters to deal witt beside your book. If q child could learn as rapidly under one condi- tion another. you, strictly speaking, as teach CTS would not care whether yon stood before a eiass of lunchbacks, dwarfs, or 2 class physie- ailv perfect. The question of when Is child youth or man in perfect health eannot be an swered under any eileumstances positively, but we have rules hy which We can be galdgd % that We approximate Without physical igor sou may expect 2 mind difficult to impress and treaeherous in rctaining that that t has learn- ed. We hear too often . man say. -Dh. MSca to know that when left schooi.r ft is 70 genef- al an expression that it IS not considered lack of intelligence. but am safe m saying that II Is lack Of mental development which Wouid not have been 50 had there been Ii proper hySical development to have furnished proper nutri- ment- This little defect Is not noticed or cousid- cred serious. but it is a signb0ard pointing in q dangerous direction. We have grayer results however Ia fight, a more Hnalign form Of ar- rested development. IL is characterized by a mind that takes to fiction. and considers proxy facts as stale and unlnteresting: they take great delight in such works as Loves Labor Non,4 .srwo Hearts that Beat Together etc.
 Now fl you expect to improve the character of y0ur pupils, you must do it according te phySto- logical principles. and not from q pathological standpoint with drugs Cleanliness and proper clothing are a first consideration. Then you ask yourself. What shall do and how shall I do lff lou must have every organ perform it's function. So far as students are concerned d most important organ is the lungs. Through this you not only receive oxygen but throw of volumes of poison, and when they are not thrown of properly they may be retained not in sufficient quantity to produce Instant deatb- but a kind of stupor that makes you incapable of mental work. Another consideration is that the lungs are in close relation t0 the liver, that great storehouse of our economy. its great ave naes are ulstructed when tlse lung s at rest. but tley are greatly freed when the lung is expand ed. There are portions oi lung in i large num Der of individuals that has never been inflated by air, and may never be, unless from disease of the now used portion yOu forced If necessity to call 1t into play. This should not be so; God never made yoa with too much lung. aud tine means that are at hand to expand the lungs and develop the thuratic space should he yigcf- ously applied Exercise will cause q rapidiIy of breathing, will cause the heart to work fast CT, and when pushed rapidly to fatigue will produsr distention of the heart. but by gradu- ally increased and ss systematically pract3eed ex- ercise the point at which xou will be iatigued or exhausted is almost limities=.
 have simply mentioned the lungs because | consider thai they are the most important organ we have, fl lt De proper 70 place one organ as superior Go another m importance. It should mol be y0ur province Co develop one aet of mus cics or organs iO the neglect of another, but to develop tine entire economy, By walking we develop Che low limbs- with dumb bells we de- yelop the arms and muscles of the shoulder, etc. By gymnastics We have more Tar-rcstching remedy. IaitSthenlcS are useful in their way, but as q flesh or muscle producer or developer
 
 teach boy or giri to stand erect upon his feet with hi~ spine straight and shoulders hcld back, not dropping together We are all familiar with the popr astmnatie holding his hands up to a wall nr door above his head as n support 50 that he ciln have firm attachment fuI his peeto- raj muscle 70 assist him m his enforced in-pira- tioa.--Aud this teaches some 0f the adyan- tages ol an erect position with firm shoulders, or shgnlders held in position by good muscle.
 The Idea among certain class ls tiiAt manual lalor is aii thai is required to give all the phys icAl development necessary. That is good as far as it goes bat in that you bring into play one set oi muscular structure to tbe neglect of aH- Ofher-as with fife hlaeksmith.-ana beside yoa are 70 deal with yolths fn school. and not tlose performing manual labor, and t is your duty Co send them rum these walls well equipped tO follow any calling that his inclination orcosm- try may demand
 bur people are in a rush. They demand at your hands q cramminS prpcess-teach, they a really healthy child with proper diet and cN- ereise will learn as much with two haurs drili day m the study rpom ae onr piglntes gel uut of the to 5 h0ars they now have.
 Ihe fil4t thing ios commences tO do in his earliest infancy is iO move about, and the bigger he gets thc morF and faster ite moves. ahd he takes np the hrst lew years ai school nicely. and his parents consider hlm fur aloFc an average, bat lairr on when he ir lt Ycals or ahoat of age, he begins to be considered duil, a0e1 not pro lgiess rapidly as the teacher thinks he shDald. 1 explain this in this manner: llu- ring inc ltoys earlier days he got by natural n- met and inclination Just the exercise he neen- ci- but nlct on iif Necits more systematic eNer~ co bring ont his powcrs al en- dgrance and cause him c. throw nM his caetc aud waste matter insfead ng retaining it ln his fluids md thereby producing henambesl con- ditiOn af hts cerebral iorees.
 Now promised 4n tie beginnihg noi tu at- tempt Co advise you, bui an guiHg O make a suggestion tilAt believe in 2D years would rey0uslonize eur present standard; Adopt ln cgefy high school Go tine state 8 military ae- parimcnt ana q Ggmnaslem Cor yoUf b0ys, iias ing in youf gymnasium eeerythine that can i,e of use in testing tne strength of q muscle In your military drih y0a teach .dfsc4pliue and system, and saiir officer ean see aisd note every deviation from Hatnral position and correct it. and many otAef tsiH&. that could p1t he here ln eselY town like Russeli- yilie. Atkins nf Dover can De lDlind man tiIat weafd feudrf yau valuable nid where tue teach CT hlinself x incomprtcNt
 Tue girls furnish problem mofe difficult, lait they have llie same demands foF 4 good phys- ique and eIsdafance as fbe iso4, ' am very fA- sniilar with the woman wlss=s. oHly development rGnsisfs of baucie of nerses with an ache ln eaeh uAe pf thcln. When kiEiSl Was on earth and visited faIail3 where tile brother ilaA been dead tlitee days hr rolled away fhe stone af his 4cpulclfer aud tuid his sister ta nni0sast him and lft 4in EtA~-aud n0w, this say. nn- loose the poor girl and let her Eo: hnd ltr not wiih letters. and when =le is gf0Mn if she sgangs t0 lan them ei her to so elAf s then ip n ffsa-