Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-02-09
BOWLING AS a Moral Agent.


department of surgery at Bennett
Medical College and Loyola Univer-
sity. chief surgeon of the Jefferson
Park Hospital, member of the Illinois
state board of agriculture and for 10
wears surgeon at Cook County Hos
pital, comes out as champion OF
bowling. He calls it a most healthful
exercise for men and women. Or.
Robertson. in a recent lecture before
his clinic, said;
THE question of adult men or wo-
men maintaining a healthy body, es-
pecially when they reside in the city,
is one of the greatest problems that
we have to solve. The sedentary &C.
equations which most business men IN
large cities follow, must OF necessity
interfere with the normal metabolism
of the tissues.
Good food, fresh air and exercise,
each in proper quality and quantity
is the great triune which keeps US
healthy. He who eats much and
breathes little fresh air is not supply
q
the fuel that he has taken into his
stomach. Oxygen is required for the
burning of the food and in order that
this oxygen may reach the blood cur
rent, deep breathing is necessity, and
deep breathing cannot be accomplished
by the ordinary movements of the
body.
THE result is that we see many,
many persons accommodating large
quantities Of fat simply because they
do. not take in enough air to burn up
the excess, and at middle life they find
themselves overweight, short of breath,
clumsy, and uncomfortable, and with
fair chance of a reduction in the years
of their lives by twenty-five per cent.
This comes about for the most part on
account of the ignorance of the indi-
vidual as to the proper exercise for
him to indulge in"
Some men and women at concen-
trated mental occupations simply for
get to breathe. They take in just
enough oxygen to keep the machine
going. They have little physical exer-
else that causes them to breathe deep
", and to form the habit. That is
their mistake. They should be
awakened to the danger, particularly
if they are inclined toward obesity.
1t seems reasonable that bowling
should be accepted by those expert
in human anatomy and its ills, as
mr. Dol M
the sitting up exercise practiced by
L. S. soldiers is found to be one of
the most satisfying in its results. In
that exercise the individual lies prone
upon his back with his toes fastened
under a strap at the railing or at the
bottom of his bed, and with his hands
clasped behind his head. sitting up at
first just a few times, but each day
more and more often, until at the
end of six weeks he is able to sit up
from fifty to one hundred and fifty
times in succession. When he has ac-
seventy-five times in thirty or forty
minutes, then he has solved the prob
lem of his extra fat, for this will re-
move ii. Another exercise equally
good is the STOPPING one in which the
individual touches his hands to the
floor with his heels together or with
his right or the left foot forward,
keeping his hands extended, leaning
over backward and looking toward the
ceiling and then strengthening up
quickly with his eyes facing the cell
ing. In this way he is accomplishing
the same thing as tire sitting up prac-
tiee, and in order to do this he must
breathe deeply and the effort that he
makes must be done during expira-
ton. or as the air passes out from his
lungs.
And right here is where the bowling
benefits come in. The bowler assumes
practically the same position, calls
into play the same muscles as in the
exercises described. AS the ball leaves
ms manu- ne SlTalgtlCeIlS up ana STANDS
erect. The deep inspiration brings In
large quantities of oxygen, not only
supplying his blood with the fires
which burn up the fat, but putting his
fabny muscles in condition for SER
vice.
Augusta Is displaying unusual inter-
est in bowling, this winter, and we
are glad to recognize the tendency.
Other cities, too, are enjoying and
pronting by bowling booms. 1t is
clean and wholesome sport. 1t attracts
clean and energetic men and boys.
Let us encourage it, temporarily. ac-
cording to our time and means. of
course.
We have been deeply interested in
the whole appearance of the crowds
of men and boys who most frequent
the bowling alleys of Augusta. Al
most without exception they have been
quiet, good natured, sport-loving young
and middie-aged men. Little profan-
a., ,x..loo v-f$v f~ haa ri. the small nj