The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-04-11

Athletic Rope Skipping.
childish opponents be pitted against
each other, often keep both amused
or an hour at time.
Almost every outdoor game, from
hide-and-seek to tag, is good in one
way or another for the child athlete.
But skipping-rope, ball and hoop are
the best, and the child should be in
duced to play with each of the three
for certain length of time every
day.
Even in rainy weather the hall Of
most houses or fats Is large enough to
permit this trio of exercises.
A method much in use among
nursery governesses in England is u
lay child, face downward, on table
or across lounge, or on some other
surface large enough to support the
trunk of the body but leaving arms
and legs free; then to put the young
ster through the motions Of swim
ming. This is good for the back as
well as for the arms and legs, and the
child may be taught to regard it as
sort of romp.
In laying special stress on the ad-
vantages of keeping the baby athlete
amused while going through his vari-
Gus exercises, it is not alone to avert
the tedium of routine, so distasteful to
the baby mind, but because a child
that is amused will throw his whole
energy and vitality into the exercise,
and put his whole mind on 1t. And in
this way alone can child, baby or man
achieve athletic success. For, In ath-
letics as much as in business or in
school, the aspirant who Is content to
go through the prescribed motions me-
chanically is foredoomed to failure.
Muscles Should Be Massaged.
Massage forms an important item in
the baby athletes training. After his
bath, before he is dressed, his mother
or nurse should lay him on warm
blanket lin warm room, OF course,
to avoid his taking cold), and should
knead the muscles tenderly yet firmly.
all over his body, 'flexing' the various
joints carefully, yet quickly, and Sup
pHuS Tic WuoiC uouy. ~ 10 Hioihiy
on these details that masseurs and
osteopathists depend for success.
The massage and flexing may be fol-
lowed by a brisk rubbing of the flesh;
not enough to irritate the tender skin,
but sufficient to produce q glow over
the whole body.
After this, dress the little athlete
quickly, before the reaction sets in.
Care should be taken to prevent him
from catching cold after any Of his ex-
ercises. Carelessness along this line
will undo all the good he has gained.
AS soon as the boy tires Of any feats
of athletics let him stop at once. II
the idea becomes irksome to him he
will cease to derive much benefit from
the work.
Treat It all as a jolly game. and in
sensibly he will acquire q groundwork
Of muscular physique and Of strength
ened organs that will not only last
him through life but will aid him to
combat or throw on most Of the count
less ills that beset childhood.
Good for Girls Too.
The foregoing lesson is as useful
for little girls as for their little broth
ers. The modern athletic girl" is all
the better for beginning her gymnastic
career at an early age.
! have outlined all the branches Of
athletics that may be safely prescribed
for a child under eight years Of age.
The dumb-bell, chest-weights, Indian
clubs, ETC., belong to later period and
should not be put in the hands Of boys
Of tender years.
The course Of training" have laid
out for the little athlete In his pre-
schoolboy" days comedies with his
own inclinations and will do far more
to develop him than would any routine
of uninteresting calisthenics.
have not mentioned running In
these instructions, because it Is the
average child's impulse to run. rather
than tc walk. Such an impulse should,
Of course. be encouraged. and the
child, even at four or nve years, may
be taught to keep his mouth shut end
his chest out while he runs