The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-23


were a boy, you used to roll around
in the grass when you were taken to
the country for the summer? Do you
remember what your father used to
saw; Let the rascal roll, it's good
for him?" And, more important still,
do you remember how the tossing ex-
hilarated you and sent you to bed O.
nights ready for healthful sleep?
If there is any business man who
remembers these things let him lose
his manhood's dignity for the sake of
his health when he goes into the
country this summer, in the roly-poly
system of outdoor, hot weather ply
steal culture.
1t will come easy to such a man,
for it is based on the rolling instinct
that is natural with children and near
ly all wild animals. The child out
grows the habit because of his en-
vironments, and thereby loses one of
his holds on health, but the wild ami
nal keeps it up through life, because
instinct triumphs over invented dig
nifty, and thereby insures itself a splen-
did circulation of the blood to all
parts of the body
Herein lies the chief value of the
roly-poly system Man scarcely ever
aids the heart in it's work of lifting
blood to those parts of the body above
it, principally the head. He is so par
ticular about keeping mis- head higher
than his feet at all times, that he sleeps
on a fat pillow and takes special care
not to bring his head into bodily eX-
ercise any more than he can help.
Consequently, the brains blood sup
ply is neither varied nor stimulated, in
contradiStinction to other portions of
the body. So the brain goes on crav-
ing for more blood and physical exer-
else, which is as necessary to it as to
other parts of the body, and the result
is languor, stupor, headaches and
other kindred troubles.
But roly-poly physical culture rene
dies all this. 1t gets the body out of
its sitting or standing posture. 1t pays
no attention to customary positions. 1t
does all it can to invert the bodV-to
make the heels higher than the head,
and to give the head a stimulated blood
supply and all the exercise it needs, the
latter of which it receives by coming
in contact with the ground. In this
way the brain gets it's physical culture
through gentle vibration.
At the same time that the usually
neglected parts of the body are brought
and for any part the exercises can be
made as severe or gentle as desired.
This instinctively natural exercise is
also valuable for it's massage effect
In fact, natural massage can be got in
no such large measure in any other
way. Just as rolling on the grass-cov-
cred earth keeps an animals coat
glossy and fine. so mother earth will
keep mans skin in the pink of condi-
ton if only he will let her. The brain
massage is especially good. This Is
produced by the brains being gently
bumped from side to side of the skull
as the body is rolled about.
Let the man who has been in his
office the year around, or who smokes
too much, or who has been living too
high, start with the simplest roly-poly
exercises and gradually work up to
the harder ones. In this way he will
accustom his body to strange positions
that once were natural and easy Of
accomplishment without any accom-
panying traces of dizziness. But if he
should become dizzy, let him rest and
try 1t again, and before long no I'M
comfortable feeling will be noticed.
The exercises-four are described be-
low-will soon let the man know where
ne is weak and what muscles need
building up. Let him heed the warn
ing, center the mind on these parts
and strive earnestly to strengthen
them against the day of disease. Let
him not be annoyed by any strain
on those parts, for this will be a sure
sign to him that his efforts are having
a beneficial effect.
l. Side Rolling-Lie down fiat on your
pack on grass plot or the seashore.
BEND the legs, grasp the toes on the
outside in the hands and see that the
1eet are touching. Pull a little in OPP
Il
mat the arms may be well stretched.
Then, at first, roll from side to side
on the back only. (Figure ~ When
you become more proficient roll clear
over and make a sharp effort to land
on your back again.
AS in nearly all of these exercises,
the whole of the body is benefited, but
the parts especially looked after are
the neck, due to holding up the head;
the shoulders, the upper legs, the
small of the back and the region
around each knee.
H. The Back Roll-This is a difficult
but excellent exercise for fat man,
as 1t speedily reduces the abdomen by
contracting it in an unusual way.
Lie down on the back, with the
palms of the hands on the ground at
me sides of the head, and with the
Ihsers pointing back of the head.
RAISE the legs and lower part of the
BODY over the head until the toes
touch the ground. (Figure p.
When you become adept push
against the ground with the hands
while the legs are being carried over
the mead, draw the head from between
the arms and lie fiat on your stomach.
Next push harder with the arms
ana spring up to a standing position
the moment the toes touch the ground.
ne placing of the legs over the head
keeps the abdominal region and the
organs contained therein in fine trim.
Inc pushing is good for shoulders,
arms and neck. The stretching Of
the muscles along the spine cures
Weaknesses of the back, and the en-
urged supply of blood insured the
mead banishes headaches.
ILL., Equilibrium Exercises.-This is
executed on a log eighteen inches or
Two feet in diameter, or a rock, or u
mound of earth or sand.
race the abdomen on the log and
nave the head, knees and feet on the
ground to begin with. Stretch the
trims to their full length clear Of the
Eipund in front of the head and then
.llhg the body In a straight line. with
lue abdomen alone touching any
sarthy thing. (Figure 80
later on, when this can be easily
zone bend up and backward the head.
Apper back and legs. so that the body
~ lofn as much as semi-cIcle as