Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-08-23
PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR OUR
YOUTH.
RyrDiTH MAXWELL.

|
have had TO learn from sad experience
how to preserve their health. What
struggle they have had with their pam
pered appetItes, against custom and al
their preconceived notions of living!
Alas that We never think of givinJ
this subject any attention until diseas
and suffering force it upon us. L
there any thing else that we SO mucl
neglect as our health, or that we seel
for with such diligence when lost
There are few indeed that give any
thought to the laws that govern healtt
unless compelled to do so by the criel
of outraged nature. 1t seems strange
bnt even persons otherwise well eiu
Gated are often as indifferent to the
causes of disease and the means of pre-
venting and curing them, as the mos
ignorant.
How very sad it is to see young
person just budding into manhood OF
womanhood at the very time when they
need to husband all their forces physi
cal, mental and moral to meet the in
creasing responsibilities of life to have
all these weakened by diseased con.
stitutionl We see evidence of this
every day, which might doubtless have
been avoided by correct living, palmer
and more wholesome food, and, fol
girls, healthful dressing with more
exercise.
The means for the preservation OF
health are within the reach of all. But
many err from the misdirected and in.
temperate use of that which was in.
tended for their good. lake for IN.
stance the food which we eat. II
| - of l.,
system. That is the object of eating.
| think if We could get this fact clearly
before us we would have less trouble
about the quality and quantity of fool
we should eat. Because then we would
aim to provide such food as our stom-
achs could properly digest and assimi.
late. We can only speak in o general
way about what is best to eat, for
each person must learn what he can
digest. Another person may digest
perfectly what would be IN in possl-
bility for my stomach to digest
that We err, it may be that
even AMI in childhood stomach or
bowel troubles which last through life
are sometimes contracted. SO it j.
necessary that parents should teach
their children not only by pr ncept
but by example to eat rightly, and at
proper times; to drink only when
| thirsty or when through eating. We
would hardly say never drink while
eating as IL causes the food to he
! washed down without being thorough
| ly masticated. but We would say that
great moderation should be us>d
Teach the children to use their teeth
! to thoroughly grind or masticate their
food. Gladstone asks his family to
chew each mouthful thirty-two times,
"once for each tooth" 1t is god
plan to allow on our tables little of the
kinds of food "that Just melt in ores
mouth, for these sorts cheat the teeth
out OF then proper work.
If one will insist on eating hot brea1,
mince pies, sweet cakes, pickles and
! other indigestible things, at least We
should not let our children eat at the
same table. OF winter morning
while we take our hot cakes and syrup,
washed down with coffee, let us see
hat the children have plenty of cat
meal or cracked wheat, and milk with
bread aud fruit, and they will lie happy
and free from illness.
Many people fail to notice the wrong
com mbinations of food which are often
on the table at the same time. Certain
vegetables as cabbage, turnips and
beans should never be eaten together
with eggs and fruit. Nor should two
kinds of acid fruit be eaten at the same
lime. They form a chemical action
which causes gas in the stomach or
fiatulence. While acid fruits like
lemons, should not be eaten with milk
and cream, raw clans and glass of
milk are sometimes fatally poisonous
Ice cream and lemonade are often
served together, but few indeed are
The stomachs which can stand this
combination.
There is no more prevalent disorder
han constipation and there is none to
be more dreaded, for it IL indeed at
:he root of almost every disease How
many chronic and complicated diseases
might we not trace to this?
Children should be carefully taught
he Importance Of regularity in this
respect.
Nature has regular times for per.
forming her functions and neglect it
bonform to her rules always brings
trouble. She has proper times for
iecreting the fluids and juices for
iigesting food, and irregularity on
meal times, together with improper
very many of the stomach troubles. /
have found from experience that where
iood ferments, causing wind or gas on
the stomach. the dryer food is taken,
and more thoroughly mixed with |
saliva, drinking nothing while eating,
the less troubls I had. l often make |
81 IS
Lr wheat. 1t does not ferment where |
oatmeal, unless cooked very dry will |
10. Milk, unless taken very slowly, |
in sips, will cause fermentation.
Exercise that will bring the abdom.
inal muscles into action is very bene.
fic.al. 1t is well not to eat fruit at the |
same time with vegetables. Let the
fruit be eaten for supper and break
fast AMI vegetables at dinner only. |
Gong entirely without supper is often
one of the best measures that could be |
adopted for those who are suffering |
from headache or any of the other
symptoms OF indigestion. Often the
dinner has not been quite digested,
and adding supper seems to upset the
whole, even though it be ever SO light.
How very important that parents
should see the necessity of "physi-
cal education" for their children as
" eli as mental training, when We see
the sickly and melancholy forms OF
those around usl Persons, many of
vi ON are endowed with splendid men
tai faculties that would make them pre-
eminent in the world, shining as
bright lights to guide and instruct
others are thus deprived of usefulness.
They find that in the struggle for ex-
lstence it is the one that has not only
brains but health who makes any head
way. They may, at times, attempt to
forget their bodily ailments and in con-
the mind and heart upon
some useful and noble work may for a
time at least succeed. But how much
easier would be their work with the
health and strength, which should be
theirsl Life becomes merely q con-
Hict with disease; struggle between
hope and dependency. But dear af-
tiicted one the mind can rise superior