The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-09-27
UNWISE EXERCISE.
How Physical Training May Some.
times Re OyerdOne.

times he OveruOne.
While inactivity and the lack of eX-
ercise are generally admitted to be
causes of disease and the pro-
moters of all sorts of unfavorable con-
ditions, the idea that exercise may be
overdone and that activity may bring
about the very state of affairs that 1t Is
destined to prevent seems not TO have
entered into the thoughts Of those who
are most energetic in promulgating the
exercise theory.
Moderation in exercise appears to be
one of the most difficult Of all lessons
to learn. Once get the idea into the
head of an individual that indigestion
and kindred ills can be cured or relieved
by some special form of activity, or, in
deed, by any aud all forms, and no
amount of eloquence can persuade him
that there is no limit to the benefit re-
ceived, and q point where good ends
aud serious evil begins.
One needs no better lesson IMAM
glauce through the record Of noted
athletes. Few of them live to old age,
aud most OF them break up altogether
before middle life. If tables could he
prepared showing the average long
eyity OF those who have made athletes
their study, they might serve as warn-
ing to those ambitious and adventurous
members of the community who
amuse themselves with exercising
machines, heavy dumbsbells swinging
from bars and the general trapeze per-
formance of the average gymnas-
ium.
While nothing desiring to underrate
the importance of general physical
training, it is necessary to emphasize
the fact that in many cases It does
much more harm than good. The ex-
srcise of all the muscles, which Is
made necessary by ordinary forms OF
labor, is much more beneficial than
the sort of practice that develops only
20 certain set Of muscles or calls into
play limited portion of the body.
The most healthy conditions are un-
|questionably those that give occupa-
ton to the entire system. When one
performs physical labor in which the
mind is interested the conditions OF
health are perfectly met. Children
who are hrougt up to work and receive
instruction at the same time grow into
more perfect symmetry than when the
mental is neglected for bodily train
ing alone.
In educational institution where
Fyymnastic and calistheuis exercises are
u part of the regular course, great care
is necessary in the apportionment OF
time devoted to such branches. The
student is ambitious, and does not re-
alize how easily the muscles may be
over strained, or how possible 1t IL FOL
The growing frame to be warped and
misshapen by too vigorous exercise ol
some undue strain.
Humanitarians would raise hue
and cry if children were put at any
sort of work that taxed them as sew
erely as do many of the gymnastic ex'
ercises they take, and communities
would be sclndalized If youngsters
were put at carrying such weights as
they raise on health-lifts and and ex'
ercising machines. They are on theil
metal and strain every nerve TO raise
| lust a few ounces more. 1t is almost
incredible the amount of strength one
NAV put forth and its results and the
youth in aslonishment and delight al
his achievement tries again and vel
again, taxing and over taxing his
strength, until all at once, he hnd'
himself wearied and gives up the
effort. 1t does not seem at all relevant
when in few days later he feels 6
pain in his back, or finds some sore
ness of the muscles of the chest. He
declares to his physician that be hal
done nothing out of the ordinary line
and when at last some compicatet
and possibly fatal disease sets in, 1t il
attributed to over study or any othel
cause than the true one.
Teachers and parents cannot be too
careful in the supervision of the play
hours of their children. Judicious Sc
lectious of means of exercise Is as neces
sary as an intelligent choice of the
books to which they are to give thei
attenti0n.-N. S. Stowell, in N. Y
Ledger.