Morgan County republican., 1913-06-26

the possibilities. which are much more
numerous and very much more pleasing
to talk about.
We are all interested in the health of
our children, SO first let us take up this
subject from the health point Of view.
PLAY is necessary to good health"
This certainly has proven to be true In
city, and is bound to be recognized be.
fore many wears in the rural districts.
Between the ages of FIVE and twelve
the boys heart increases twelve times
in size. while the arteries which carry
the blood from this organ to all parts of
the body increase only three times in
size. This physiological condition causes
an enormous pressure, which we often
hear spoken of as "boy energy" For
example, this might be likened to a
small steam engine. but instead Of steam
it is energy which is being generatd.
This energy must have an outlet A
little boy who lived with his sick grand.
mother for some time said, "Grandma,
If you should die would jump up and
bust" meaning by this that he could not
longer hold his energy. Oftentimes we
forget that boy connot keep still for
any length Of time; he simply must play.
He munt relieve this pressure and play
is his method.
Not only are the BOYS organs growing
at an enormous rate, but his bones are
growing and his muscles are filling out
We all know that the harder boy plays
the harder his muscles and bones become,
and when boy has hard muscles no
mother need be afraid that he is sickly.
Sick!y boys do not have hard muscles.
All this time the boy is growing tall and
lanky, and he needs those games and ex.
ercises which will stiffen his backbone
and make him manly. You have all
heard the expression, that fellow 'sgot a
stiff backbone" and we infer immed-
lately that he has been through several
experiences each of which has stiffened
it little more.
1t is very healthful to have a straight
and stiff backbone, for a crooked and
weak one means that one has spinal cur.
vature, and a bad curvature always
affect the internal organs to some extent
There is one point that would like TO
speak Of which is very vital to the health
OF the boy but which mother cannot
fully realize. After the boy reaches the
age when he feels himself becoming a
man, when his voice changes and his
"kid days" are over, the greatest gift oi
God to boy is his power to work off in
physical way the energy that is contin
ually being stored up within him 1t is &
fight. a real battle with the devil and al
his forces, for boy not to fall into secre,
sin and waste his strength; and for him &c
run, swim, box, wrestle, ride and play a,
all the games is one of the salvation pro
cesses for which he Can thank nature
We should not discourage him, but rath
er urge him to use up this energy in &
way that turns it into health, sire myth
and power.
There is another phase Of the boy s lif,
which is just as important as health. ant
that is the moral side, or would prefer
it named the leadership quality"
The boy Of courage is the one who il
admired by other boys. Any boy cat
help drag the bob UP the hill. but thers
only one VINO is picked to steer all the
rest down, and in him all have perfec,
confidence. This leadership quality il
brought out only in some kind of physi
cal activity. In choosing baseball team
there must be captain and only one cap
tain, the rest are perfectly willing ts
work with him and fellow his lead. 81
athletics and bodily exercises play yer,
important part in the development Of thi
moral courage and leadership. for whel
a boy is playing with other boys he is lia
bic to be natural and will stand up 70
those things which he thinks he deserves
You don't always find him this way q
the table or At Sunday school and ds,
school. In these places he feels just
little as though he mad to assume NOR
careful and unnatural msnner.
This rubbing elbows with other boy
and sizing himself up by his friends an
: putting his strength and skill against hi
playmates has great deal to do with hi
I after life; and we would do we'll to thin
, more about this phase of his character.
: But the problem Of giving the countr
4 hoY a chance a good chance in nhysicI