The Republican journal., 1904-03-17

lsntiy SpOtS III VWH.-CdmoeH ueidiu.
fed by the healthy revival of which l
have spoken, a revival that has been
helped on by the sensible utterances of
| physicians on the subject. When one
we'll known doctor says, Il have often
given bicycling the preference as a
mode of exercise above horseback
riding and boating: with an early start
in childhood it might take the place of
gymnastics through life, THE parent
who has thought seriously of the physi-
cal development of his sons and daugh-
tiers feels that it is perhaps well to look
into this matter of bicycling in some
other light than that of an amusement.
TO get the full benefit from a bicycle
for growing boy or girl, the wheel
should not be bought at random. At
one time the acquisition of bicycle
sank to pretty much the same stand
ing as one of the given -with-a-
pound of-tea' prizes. The market was
flooded with cheap wheels and the
getting one was a sort of catch-as-
catch-can business. But we have
changed all that Now, when boy
to fit. What will do for one will not
wheels have learned that the worst
service they can do their products is
to send out one that is not entirely sat
isfactory. No longer can one buy a
bicycle from a responsible firm on the
hit-or- miss plan.
Here some one will rise with tale
of how he bought a wheel for his boy
and it did not last him any length of
time at all ''1e gave it no more wear
than | gave mine, but it was so poorly
built that it went to pieces before he
had had it month. That cured me of
high priced wheels. Get a boy a cheap
one and let him use that up and then
get him another"
That principle may have applied
once, but its day is over. The modern
juvenile bicycles produced by a first
class house are strongly built, to meet
the knock-about usage of the younger
generation. They are made of the
same high-grade material aud receive
the same care in the making as the
adult models. AS matter Of course,
if boy is absolutely reckless with
them he is able to ruin them-as he
would anything else of value,-but in
struction in taking decent care of his
goods and chattels is, or should be,
part OF his training.
The wheel purchased, the boy should
be taught few things about it. For
one thing, that it is not necessary for
him to ride doubled up over his handle
bars when he is making an ordinary trip
for business or for pleasure. 1t is en-
tirely possible for him to get over the
ground at a good rate while he is in an
absolute upright position, and if this is
impressed upon him and he follows
rules he will grow straighter because
of his bicycle riding. | have seen this
successfully tried with more than one
boy. Next, he should he taught that if
he wishes to bend over in scorching he
leans straight forward, bending at the
waist. 1t is the crouching position that
stoops and rounds the shoulders
Moderation in the use of the wheel
should be enforced. Like every other
good thing 1t is possible to have too
much of it if it is taken at the wrong
time. The lad who starts cut on ride
the moment he has finished meal and
Scorches across the country on a hot
day with full stomach has himself to
blame and not The wheel if he upsets
his digestion. 1t would be fortunate if
it were only the boys who did this.
There are men and women, too, who
have no better sense than to follow this
course
All that has been said of the value of
the physical training gained by the boys
who use the wheel applies with equal
force to girls of the same age. 1t is a
mistake to think that what helps the
boy to develop his body will be of no
use to the girl in the improvement of
hers. | often question if the girl does
not perhaps need it more even than the
boy. While she is still a child the best
thing that can be done for her is to en-
courage her in the tomboy life. so far
as it leads her into the fresh air and
vigorous exercise. If she has the right
kind of mother she will have all the
refining and Terminating influence she
needs to make her the sort of gentle
woman one wishes young girl to be-
come.
OF course, there is such thing as
OVERRIDING the out door life and the
physical side, just as there is a posi-
blllty of excess on the other side. But
the evenly balanced man or woman
must have plenty of both sorts of
training. There has never yet been
found better combination than a
healthy mind in healthy body.