St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-17
Mental VigOr and Physical Training.

Mental VigOr and Physical Training.
A generation ago physical culture as
science was unknown in America. Now it is
not only prominent factor in college train
ing, but clubs and societies in the Cities
towns and even villages of the country are
taking it up. AS is usually the case, the ten
dency is to go to extremes at the beginning,
and there is much danger that proper
physical culture may degenerate into an
athleticism that will do more harm than
good. While there is certainly danger of
this, 1t is to be hoped that the spread of in
telligence and mental culture will keep pace
with it, and so avert the evil. At any rate
there is far less danger of OVERRIDING physical
culture than there is in neglecting it. Now
and then exceptional mental powers have
manifested themselves in persons physically
weak, but they may be regarded as phe-
nominal. It is more certain that men of
marked intellectual force have been men of
corresponding physical strength, or rather of
physical powers of endurance. It is en-
durance, rather than momentary strength,
that should be cultivated, and which after
all is the strength of the physical man. We
should bear in mind that, apart from the
health resulting from physical exercise, it
has marked influence upon the physical
character. Many of the little frailties, vices
and foibles which, if permitted to assert
themselves, may grow into serious defects of
character, back down in the presence of a
vigorous and persistent, but not exhausting
training, while physical exercise tends to
give self-reiiance, and regular habits of train
ing affect the mind as we'll as the body.
In physical contests, requiring physical
endurance and skill, spirit of Justice,
friendship and camaraderie are developed,
which in themselves are entirely desirable,
and which tend to give force and self-reliance
to the character.
While then we should deplore the tendency
to excess in physical training and everything
like spasmodic exercise, it should be our aim
to make physical training habit, certain
that in SO doing we will inculcate habits of
thought that must be beneficial.
Henry Labouchere says in London Truth,
ssThe reading public may be divided into
three classes: Those who read and remem-
Der; they are few. Those who read and for
get; they are many. Those who read little
or nothing, and they are most. The original
writer of to-day belongs to the first class,
and, it may be said, he writes for the others"
Professor Richard L. Garner is certainly all
enthusiast in his investigation of the Ian
guage of the Simians. Speaking Of his re-
cent visit to Africa, he said: "The world at
large expects too much. People seem to in
sist upon it as their right that I should 60 to
the gorilla country, spend few months
there, and return with complete dictionary
Of the gorilla language. Why, if we're
sure of learning even three words year,
would forsake friends and family, 60 to
Africa and devote the rest of my life to
study that yielded such rich results in the
present and promised such immense posi-
bilities for the future"
Sir George Clark is a strong advocate of
the union of the English speaking race. These
now number, all told, one hundred and
twenty millions, Of which there are seventy
millions in the United States, and at least
seventy-six millions in North America. #
the Engiish speaking nations and colonies
were united to preserve the peace of the
world, anything like general or continued
no vn,v