The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-30
Physical Instructor R. |. Weston Gives Ills
Views On the Subject,
SYSTEM EMPLOYED IN Y. NJ. C. A
It Is Framed TO Suit the Require
ments of Each Person with a View
10 Giving the Body What Should Be
Its Natural DeveIopment-It Is lm-
perative That All Brain Workers
Should Exercise.

allowed to marry unless they had un-
dsrgone certain physical training,
As u result the bodies Of both male and
female were we'll developed. Their
minds were developed, but not ut the
expense OF their bodies, as is very often
the case now. Greek authorities be-
leyed that the mind could not possibly
be healthy unless the body was also
healthy; and it would bS well for US If
we would initiate them. 1t was COM
pul6ory for parents to give their chill
drsn course OF physical training.
General physical exercise is the kind
required for all boys and girls, and 1t is
necessary that systematic course
should be pursued. and this can only
be had at some institution where they
make the work Of physical culture one
OF the spscialues; any substitute for il
has never given satisfactory results and
never will unless taught by q specialist
| In this line.
The work carried on in the Young
| Mems Christian association has met
with the approval Of the medical miuG'
Of the country, and more good work
has been done in that institution in the
last ten years to provide proper exer-
else for young men at fair price free
from ali demoraliziug influences than
was ever dSne in all the previous his
tory by athletic clubs.
GYMNAsIUMs or THE PAST.
About fifteen ysars Azn It was nsces-
sAry to pay as much ma $25 or $50 yearly
to attend poorly equipped gymnasium
in which the beds 10 tumble on were
stuffed with excelsior or straw, every
thing was OF the heavy or fancy style
Of apparatus: tho liyhtsst weights were
about ten pounds aud tue heaviest
seventy. FIVE pounds clubs, accordingly.
The horizontal bar. trapez. and lifting
machines were among the features
Tbs arrangements Tor bathing were
very poor. The work, In fact, was all
laid out for the strong man. the aero
bat, the boxer, the jumper or the hor
izontal bar performer, everything ran
to specialties. the undeveloped man
or boy did not have any chance what
ever. Everybody seemed to want TO
out DO everybody else Nobody seemed
to use the gymnasium az means 10
the end Ia giving every man and boy q
building mp OF the weak parts frat
that IL. giving them the advantages Of
a regular course for some special por-
tlou of tho body.
believe 10 using light weight. en-
tirely In the beginning They should
be directed toward promoting the
healthy activity Of the circua,ory or
gaus and 10 correct any deformi,ies
The body should Ds washed as often
as the face. | DO not mesn tub bath
Of ten minutes duration, but just a
cleansing one every day. take two
body baths on an average daily the
wear round, aud ! never have cold OF
any kind. A shower or needle bath
will cleanse the system OF all impuri
tie, In natures way ard will produce q
skin thay will feel like velvet
MODERATION ~ EXERCISE
Exercise should be very moderate a,
trst eul should bs directed to building
up the weak parts first; then exercise
should be taken to bring all the muscles
into play This will stimulate the ac-
ton " the heart sul lulgs and will In
crease the circulation aud respiration.
believe the tystam OK exercises con-
dueted Ia tho Young Mems Christian
association TO DO the best Of any Ia tue
cOlntry /. Is being used 10 the pub
lie schools ~ large cities aud on board
the United States training ship at Bos.
ton Where the swedish system was
used and abolished. the sysl,m OF the
Young Mems Christian association has
taken its place
Some few idoss might be given in
reference 20 the work carried on ia the
Scranton Young Meme Christian asso-
clAtiou.
The gymnasium work has never been
so popular Gs 10 is at present, for those
who come for bodybuilding exercises.
and the work is 40 conducted that there
is no interference on the part OF those
who exercise certain hours aud days
are sst apart for the boys and they are
not allowed in the gymnasium any
other time
The gymnasium has been Of great
benefit to business men Very often
we read OF some splendid professional
J or business man dropping out OF life
through prostration, indeed, tho mum.
Der who succumbed 10 this growing
malAdy has increased slarmiugly OF
late, and the death rate Of those who
commit suicide is also on the increase
Eminent medical men agree that this
Ia chiefly owing 20 oyerworKing th,
brain RGd the nsglsct OF physical exsr
else, hence sleeplessness through tho
inability to stop thinking ut night.
} Finally the Imagination breaks away
: from the will
oyERw ORKlNG THE MIND
Mind activity, II pushed to far, i'm
pairs the general health and endangeri
the brain. which, when oVerworked, ii
, unable TO rsouperate by nutrition
then. II the nervous forces continue &
be pushed, the body brsaks down and
the symptoms Of nervous prostratior
appear and men 80 affected die Of ex.
haustion or Bright's disease. They
would live TO old age if physica
strength were not squan dersd snC
vital forces wasted.
The best preventive against the
growing malady of nervous prostratisr
| Is judiCious habitual exercise. Con-
, slant and regular physical indulgence
is necessary for all brain workers sum
mer and winter-fOr the middle aget
as we'll as the young.
Gladstone, the famous English states
man, in whom the hopes Of natior
depended. is alive to tho value Of ply.
steal exercise. BY esrnsstness in hi,
physical exercise he has built up
healthy body and keeps it in condition
to resist disease.
Exercise aids digestion, improves
physique, clears the mind ana give,
grace and assurance. The fundamental
functions of the body are the functions
of the heart and lungs; and, as the wei
fare OF the body depend largely upon
these functions 1t is we'll to Use means
to develop them, which can be done
only by careful exercise, carrying
purer blood to the muscles and fortify-
ing the nervous system.
One hour of earnest daily exsrclse is
necessary for brain workers. for lack