Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-27
Hob and Why Physical Culture
viii Bring Beauty and Strength
BY BESSIE LINN SMITH.

That exercise is necessary for health
everybody comedies. The physiology
makes that clear enough.
1t tells how the nutriment extracted
from the food is taken up by the blood.
which. as it circulates through the body,
deposits wherever 1t is needed the proper
amount and kind of material for repairing
and building up each minutest part and
muscle of the body. and gathers up the
worn-out, used-up, impure substance and
carries it to the proper organs for re-
moval from the system.
It shows how. IL the blood is sluggish,
falling to circulate properly, not enough
material reaches the different parts to
keep them in repair; cold hands, cold feet,
sluggish hair action result Impure mat
tiers are left where they originated and
eventually weakness. disease, bad tenn
pers. irritability and whole host of evils
follow.
1t explains how the brain is not mus
cular organ and must rely on bodily &C
tivity to draw the blood down that has
been used and make room for new, and
unless this is effected and the supply OF
blood TO the brain frequently renewed the
organ loses its capacity for vigorous
thought; this is especially the case with
growing children, whose natural impulses
incline to the activity so necessary out
who are by our educational systems con-
fined to the unnatural stiffness or the
school room, childish forms soon becom-
ing invaded by lassitude, headache, con-
gestion and host of Ills.
Exercise with a moderate medium OF
resistance, brings a copious supply OF
blood to the brain and muscle without
breaking down much tissue, leaving a
balance of material in favor Of repair and
growth Rosy cheeks, round limbs quick
brains sound bodies are visible results
that repay the moderate expenditure OF
time. effort and money that IS needed TO
ac ETercisa Is absoluteiyl essential. And
physical culture is exercise in scientlhc
form.
PHYSICAL culture is one of the fads Of
the day, and "a most happy fad. Books
and periodicals are full of It,
one especial phase of the subject IS the
attainment of the beauty Of grace through
.tba+ scientific method. This is no cater
ing TO a mere fad; it is in accord with the
tardy modern recognition Of deep seated
truth long ago duly honOred by the
Creeks. "a healthy mind in heaIthy
body" -
The body is merely the instrument OF
mind. or rather of soul, ana as II eaHeS
a uerfect Stradivarius or Guernarius Vloln
the body forth to the listening ear tpe
subtle sweetness, the dantiness, the dell
cacv of the dreams of the master mu-
scian: so the body should be perfectly
trained. in order that ii may breathe
forth grace. strength, efficiency ana All
the other qualities of mind.
The growth of population. the fight to
live. the struggle of competition mas
forced the multitude to recognize the neeo
of all the wit sharpening processes the
improved educational methods, and the
necessity for mental culture whicn Is
such a noticeable feature IN American
civilization.
the times and the nervous energy that
has such calls made upon it has grown
the recognition of the necessity OF physl-
cal culture. With the higher mental cul-
ture. more wholesome ideals or beauty
and grace are prevailing, in contradls-
tinction 70 former ideas that physical
frailtv and a disposition to faint away on
all occasions constituted feminine delca-
cv and refinement. Long, slender necks'
narrow shoulders and languishing ways
constituted beauty in the days OF our
grandmothers. but now athletics mas pc
come a part of the education OF the
younger generations.
In most of the progressive schools anu
colleges there are regular teachers OF
athletics and attendance at the gymha-
sium is compulsory. Not the nnglnS
about of ones arms and legs in the man
ner dignified by the name OF caIisthen-
les. which exercises fall short or their Cd
iect. for they do not contract the mus
Giles completely without an expenditure
of will force that tends to counterfeit any
benefit they produce: not caiisthenics, but
natural gymnastics: work, not heavy,
which is a thing of the past, but such as
admits of numerous movements without
greatly taxing the vital forces.
Such movements develop better quail
ity of muscle aad more quickness and &C
tfvity as well as strength. Any one who
has for three months kept up such exer-
else, and noted the buoyancy and energy
of life that follows, rarely consents TO fall
back into the old regime Of inactivity or
actual physical laziness for that is Its
correct name.
A course OF development even If in the
years to come, the exercises are dropped
entirely, will have a beneficial erect and
will be evident throughout life.
All athletic diversions such as cycling,
tennis, golf, etc. are of value to give
pleasure to useful exercise. but these
alone do not serve the purpose.
Again, chopping wood, house work.