The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-12
Time Talk for Boys the Real Power Body
A Branch of Physical Culture That is
Neglected Strangely, Although 1t is
One of the Most 1mportant-The
Shambling Walk Of Many Ath-
letes who Have Never
Learned What to Do
With Their Bodies.
WHY MOST PEOPLE JOSTLE

E7ATCH person walk and yo,
IVAI can tell whether or not he is
Wv strong and healthy.
kvNY=I The athlete who has over.
lESExll developed part of his body at
the necessary expense Of the rest. is be-
trayed by his walk almost every time
Not one out OF tea athletes walks cor
rectly. He can't. A top-heavy locomo-
tive or ship would wobble just the same
way when it moves.
Yet lots Of boys. and men. too, are
rather proud OF walking stftly when they
have begun to lay on muscle. Some of
them tread heavily like a track horse.
Others walk so fatty that their legs bow
outwards Others talk instead of walk
ing.
Look at any athletic field when the
contestants appear on the ground, and
observe how few Of them really walk
so that it is pleasing to look at them.
Good boxers and fencers generally walk
pretty we'll. But dunlbbel showers, ira
peze symnasts, Indian club swingers, tug
of-war men and almost all other ath-
letes who develop their upper bodies in
cline to walk as II they were handy
legged
They put their feet down firmly
enough-too firmly, in fact. They plod
instead of walking.
Now. II athletes walk in this ugly. wad-
ding fashion what can be expected Of
the mass of persons who pay no atten-
ton at all to their muscles?
Look around you on the street and see
them-men. women and children-going
by. Only about ono in hundred may.
be said to walk at all. The other ninety
nine shuttle. slide. drag, plod. roll. wad-
die teeter. mnce. prance-but they don't
walk!
Imagine an ancient Greek, with his
majestic, free stride, compared with
the Americans and Europeans to-day!
The fact Is that the majority of per-
sons to-day actually topple from one
foot to the other. Their walk really
and truly Is nothing except succession
o. falls.
20 much showing and pushing in a mod
nrn crowd. Nine out of ten in the throng
nre so insecure on their feet that they
cannot possibly move without swaying
TO this side or that Most of them can't
stand still. They can't balance on their
toes. They can't balance for even a fleet
Ing second on one foot. They topple !
every time they raise foot, and If the |
other foot doesn't reach the ground i'm
medately to stop them, they naturally |
iurch into any one who Is near them.
Do not make the mistake of thinking |
that this is exaggerated In even the least |
respect for the sake of making point.
1t is literally true.
And If the Greeks would laugh at
modern procession OF ordinary mortals,
what would they have said II they saw
our athletes step heavily and soggily
INTO an arena?
The fault Is due. in the first place, to |
aziness In the second place. 1t is due
10 incorrect athletics.
It is lazness that makes boys shuttle /
as they walk, SO that you can hear the
soles of their feet scrape the ground with
each step. 1t Is laziness that makes them
wear their heels down at one side more
than the other. 1t Is laziness that makes
them knock holes into the toes OF their
shoes.
Laziness makes a person naturally drop
heavily on his foot every time he takes
,tep. Then he drags the other foot labo-
riousy and indolently, so that he can
repeat the operation.
Do you think that you can walk?
Just step out smartly, and before your
protruding foot strikes the ground, check
Y and hold 1t in the air. Now, unless