Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-07-23
THE GAME OF TENNIS.
Particularly Recommended to Those
With Weak Lungs.

-~Y
In the entire category Of athletic
games there is not a single n that
outclasses tennis for all-round phys
ical development. When considered
from all standpoints it is found to
have to its account about every
thing that may be said for any sport,
without any of the dement's. Las
Vegas, as a health resort, may profit
ably encourage the game, with par
ticular benefits to those of weak
lungs.
Exercise to be beneficial, speaking
with reference to its constitutional
effects, must be accompanied with
that bu0yancy Of feeling which con-
stitutes 1t q pleasure, rather than q
duty, just IS hunger gives zest to
the appetite. The companionship the
game of tennis affords, the alertness
Of all the senses in the continued
exercise of judgment required at
every point, the matching Of ones
powers against those Of his opponent.
and many similar things that may be
said Of 1t, make It q form Of exercise
which affords the greatest amount of
pleasure In It's performance. and
which is farthest removed from any
sense Of prosaic duty or work. Such
feelings are a natural part of the life
spirit, and are closely allied to, II
not actually q modified form Of ner-
vous energy. So that . buoyancy Of
feeling and a ~pleasurable state Of
the mind exert q revivifying and
building-up influence on the whole vi
tai economy. On the other hand,
q depressed or melancholic state OF
mind has just the opposite effect. It
Is very obvious to all that one Of the
most important conditions Of health
full exercise is that it should be taken
in the open air. The prime object Of
all exercise Is, Of course, the &C.
celebration Of the circulation, upon
which all nutrition or tissue structure
depends. Without muscular activity
there can be no nutrition. Every mus
cular movement implies an expendi-
ture of nervou energy, but nature
has provided for our reward in that
the very activity shall be the means
of replenishing the supply. To get
the very best results In physical de-
velopment rest should alternate with
exercise, and in this game, which at
times calls for the most active and
strenuous exertions. there are periods
OF time suficient. for recuperation.
Gymuastic exercises carried on within
doors have the disadvantage gener-
ally Of poor ventilation, and the train.
ing 10 such as to contribute to the
development Of she arms and chest
muscles, usually, to . greater extent
than ti,se Of the lower limbs. Il
should be borne In mini that II Is
the latter that proportionately need
the greatest strength, while In the
upper limbs more delicacy OF move.
ment Ii desired. Tennis, and also
golf, are admirably adapted to our
need, making the largest demand
m~uscularly upon the lower limbs, con.
tributing agility to all parts Of the
body and training the hand to work
with the eye In . way that walking,
running, rowing, and many pursuits
do not. Par-excellent for the lungs
and for lung development is the
game Of tennis, having - 1t does the
most abundant supply Of absolutely
fresh air. Expansion and therefore
development, must take place within
the lung cells themselves, from within
outward, and not through any manipu-
lation o development Of the wallis en-
closing these organs. It is the air
that ID taken into the lungs that
gives them their real expansion rath.
err than thoracic muscular action. The
cir Is the expanding medium to Inflato
and All out the cells. where the air
comes in contact with the capillary
blood supply and performs It's func.
tional purpose Of publication and alb.
sorption. The greater amount Of kI.
netic energy expended the greater
will be the respiratory need. The &C.
tivity Of the lungs. or their functional
performance. is dependent upon and
IL direct ratio to the total cxpendi-