The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-09-18
ocALA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED

| a RUE, II were DeJJ0T 10 nave l6dIJny
minds in healthy bodies. There is no
reason why this should not be the
case. 1t is not necessary for a man
to be a giant in size to be strong. Da-
yid was not large man, yet he slew
Goliah. The Bible tells us that once
upon a time he met lion IL his path
and slew him with his hands. Sam
son, though the strongest, was not
the biggest man the world has ever
known. He was no larger than some
of the balance of US, yet he per
formed some marvellous deeds of
strength.
If men were stronger in those
days" it is because they lived more
in the open air and took more exer-
! else. That's all We have the same
world now that we had then. The
same atmosphere. Flowers bloom
now as they did then. The rains and
the dew and the sunshine now as
then cause the seeds to fructify and
| terminate and develop into such
strength as to withstand the fiercest
storms. 1t is the same world and
the same laws control
In 1874 Weston gave US a wonder
full exhibition of the powers of endur-
ance. Night after night, and day af-
ter day, those who entered Madison
Square Garden in New York City
saw this man walking on his rounds
hour after hour with marvellous per-
severance and speed. When the six
! days were over and the end was
reached it was thought the limit of
speed and endurance had been attain
ed, but nearly forty years afterwards,
when Weston had grown to be an
old man, he Overreached the speed
limit that he had set when he was
supposed to have been in his prime.
How did he do it? Simple enough
He kept steadily at it. He made ex-
ercise a part of his life. He not only
exercised daily, but he took absolute
care of his body. That tells the
whole story.
What a mighty race of giants there
would be in this old world Of ours in
this day" as there were in chose
days" if we all would do as Weston
has done. There is not enough atten-
tiOD maid IN these things
An eminent preacher is said to
have once said that a man could not
have a beautiful, healthy religion UNI
less he had a healthy digestion. The
same rule applies to women as we'll
as to men. They need exercise and
physical development just the same
as men, and should be encouraged to
become members of the association.
But going back to what the preach
er said-good religion and bad diges-
ton don't harmonic. Indigestion
leads to peevishness and loss of tenn
per- Instead Of growing sweet and
mellow, ones disposition becomes
SUR duu dSLu. Tue WIG UCIOAOS
pouty and nervous and love and kiss
es vanish
A man to be thoroughly poised
must not only have a strong BRAIN
but he should possess well balanced
nerves and well trained muscles.
He is not "all in" unless his body
harmonizes with his brain and is
equal to it.
A man should be as assiduous in
the development and expansion of
his chest as his devotions, and have
as much pride in the ruggedness of
his muscles as in the brilliancy of his
intellect Neither, however, should
be sacrificed in favor of the other. A
mans body is the foundation of his
morality Bodily weakness is some
times the foundation for moral de-
pravity.
We are glad that the Athletic AS
| ISOLATION has been organized in
| Ocala. Nothing better could be done.
The boy who joins it now, and sticks
right to it, exercising daily, will thank
his stars in all his after life. When
he grows old his muscles will not
have become fabby and his bones
stiff and his whole person decrepit.
At the age of 80 he will be as nimble,
virile and active as the average man
at so.
Stick to it, boys, is our advice.
Care for your bodies, exercise your
muscles, expand your chest, initiate
your lungs, practice deep breathing,
court the gymnasium and don't be-
come a stranger to the open air. Visit
the woods occasionally and study the
wonderful beauties of nature. 1t will
help you for life's battle. You will
feel better for it. You will be better
equipped for the work in hand and
better able to perform lifes duties
and sponsibilities.
Better in the gymnasium than in