The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-17
influence of Physical CuI
ture on Mentality.
INCREASE OF COURAGE
The Reduction of Adipose Tissue in
One and the Building Up in Flesh
and Muscle of Another.
The Natural Laws of
Health.

AS a prelude to the remarks cOnldIIleu
in this article upon the Importance OF
physical culture, you are respectfully re-
ferred to a previous one written by the
same author some two or three years ago.
The general awakening of our people to
the fact of the Importance OF systematic
physical training is not unexpected, and
we are impelled to exclaim In the words
of Wordsworth. 'In the unreasoning pro
gress of the world. wiser spirit is at
work for us, a better eye than ours
We all have the privilege accorded us
to ''Gve and learn by personal knoWl-
edge, through study, travel and by con-
versatlon-with those of superior ability
and undoubted integrity, and are permitted
to gather pearls of thought, which COM
bined with experience, enrich our lives
and contribute to the happiness of others.
Hence in the following modest attempt to
impress upon our people the Importance
of well directed physical training, quote
from those who are authorities upon the
subject and of large experience.
1t is well known that the Ling System
of physical culture is the ground work of
we claim no monopoly, no superiority. We
simply assert the educational value of
physical culture, and all the more strong
ly because it has been. and is yet. sadly
neglected Surely O subject which has
most direct and powerful bearing on the
physical well-being of man, cannot be
exceptionally less efficient than other
studies, which concern him less closely
nd TC act Oh no
time that the understanding is exercised
to awaken an interest in the laws govern
ing health. to understand somewhat of
the relation existing between mind and
muscle? / cannot conceive Of a more
beautiful study than that of medico and
educational gymnastics, wherein we learn
of the marvellous construction of the hui
man mechanism. For instance, we learn
that the, nervous system is that part OF
the animal organism by which the differ
ent parts of the body are controlled and
caused to work together. through which
mind and muscle are connected.
And again. we learn from the study OF
educational gymnastics that in the should
er blade movement the psychological effect
is to produce localiZation of thought and
symmetrical development of faculties
whereas the physical effect widens the
pectoral chest, broadens the back, straight
ems the dorsal spine and produces equal
development of brain halves. Hence we
see the close connection between mental
and physical activity.
Does not the machinist succeed best
when able to understand and solve thor
oughly the principles of cause and effect
of shape and plan? The most successful
farmers are those who best understand
the needs OF different soils. So it is in
all walks of life. Is the human body less
important? Slowly, but surely, we are
coming to the point where physical
knowledge is culture" in the truest
sense.
Many look upon physical training as a
side issue. merely a list of movements to
be given in class, irrespective of tempera-
ment, age, mental or muscular ability
This is entirely erroneous. In their lg-
norance, not knowing it 20 have physlo-
logical and psychological reasons for ex'
listing, it deserves and is entitled to a
place in the front rank of educational IN
stitutions.
The pupil, as well as the teacher, should
understand to some extent the effects pro
duced upon the whole system OF properly
guided exercise. A knowledge of the or
ganism of the human body is an indls-
pensable preparation for an enlightened
moral education. We have no extrava-
CANT expectations of immediate results to
be obtained from our improved methods OF
dealing with physical deformtles. On
the contrary, one of the most impressive
lessons Of science, is that permanent
growths are slow, and that there are
limits that one dare not attempt to over
pass. We must determine the effects OF
a movement upon a pupil before attempt
ing to proceed with it. In nothing does
cause and effect have to be considered
more than in the application OF physical
exercise for prevention and correction OF
abnormal tendencies.
We are dealing largely with causes
which only work out their results IN the
fullness of time. How important it is
to understand the effects produced by
each exercise The knowledge gained by
diligent research and the organized cul-
ture Of the present age is bound to help,
not hinder, this tendency.
The eminent question is. how may the
child be developed healthfully and vlgor-
ously, bodily, mentally and morally
Science alone can answer by statement
of the laws upon which that development
depends. That is our plain duty to fol-
low this law to the letter. Ignorance of
them must inevitably involve one in
failure. A teacher of gymnastics, In or
der to work to best advantages and in
terests of all, should consult with the
physician and cooperate with him in the
establishment of health. As we have
stated before. no two people breathe alike,
neither must they be judged capable of
executing the same exercise with impunl-
ty. Nowhere In the curriculum of a
school does judgment and common sense,
combined with training, need to consti-
tute SO important part as in the de-
partment of physical culture.
The one great physiological principle
upon which we all agree is that bodily
and mental health are alike dependent
upon alienation of action and repcse.
"The rhythmic action which seems to
mark all display of power in the uni
Verse" is plainly manifested in animal
and vegetable economy. Exercise and