The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-28
TRAINING THE HUMAN BODY.
Advantages Offered by the swedish Sys.
tenn Of Physical Culture, Which Is to DC
Introduced Into the Scranton Young
Mems Christian Association.

The fact that the highest degree Of in
tellectual and moral culture can not be
obtained without attention to the ply
sical is now generally recognized. PLY
steal education Is therefore a necessity
We can not overestiniate the import
ance of beginning physical training in
childhood. The bones, owing to their
SOftnes5, are ait that time easily shaped.
and defects such as contracted and
undeveloped chests are then very read
lily overcome. Correct habits of walk
ing, standing and breathing are OBJ
tanned with little difficulty. Fortunate
it is, however, II physical education has
been neglected. that a well developed
body can still be secured by those
men in middle life by judicious and sys-
tematic exercise.
In the Swedish system the exercises
have been carefully investigated as to
the effects produced. The system offers
the most complete general body educa-
tion Of any yet known. The system
contains free standing exercises, and
exercises on apparatus: It differs from
others in THAT it Is Independent of ap-
Ilsratus. ls movements being applicable
to whatever may be at hand. There
are three main points in which the sys-
TEN differs from Others-First, the man.
ner of selecting the exercises. They are
chosen according to their gymnastic
value. Only such exercises are used
whose local and general effects are well
known, and proved to be needed by the
body. In judging of the effects of an
exercise, the Swedes think the least Of
the muscular development produced.
For the effect Of all exercise Is to pro-
duce muscle; but they think OF the
effects produced on the nerves, vessels,
etc, for the effects in this direc ion can
be vastly changed by varying the
movement. 1t Is aimed to uniform the
functional activity of the body. All the
exercises are made to comply with the
laws of physics. physiology and psy-
chofogy as applied to the body.
The second point of difference is the
regularity of the method. In order to
make gymnastics systematic there must
be progression. In the Swedish system
this Is adhered to very strictly. so that
the exercises beginning with the most
simple. gradually become stronger.
Each - 'emeEt In a lesson prepares
for tn q blowing. The exercises fol-
low eac.- other progressively from les
son to lesson and from week to week
No movement Is given until the simpler
ones of the same type have been ac-
quired. 1t has been proved that II in
each lesson the exercises follow each
cher In a certain order. the movements
oln be made stronger; Ill results can be
prevented, and hence good effects can
be made all the more pronounced. For
that reason the movements are divided
into classes such az O Introduction. (0
arch fiexlons. t9 hearing movements.
az balance movements. 6) shoulder
blade movements. 6) abdominal exer-
c.5es, "a lateral trunk movements, CO
slow leg movements, go jumping, QO
respiratory.
Owing to the fact that there are
many movements under each class,
great variety can be obtained. The
third point In which the system differs
from others is in the method of apply
ing the exercises
Old Ways Discarded.
The old ways Of imitation is learning