The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-18
TEACHING CHILDREN
DAILY EXERCISES

Better babies Is clarion cali Of
present day civilization TINT is ring
ing loud and clear In every chorus that
makes for progress. Some use II for
the Keynote Of eugcnio marriage laws.
books and plays: others In an ondeav-
to wipe out objectionable environ
mental conditions that affect the poor.
others In correcting the physical de
fects In infants and In school children
already here for our ministratlon and
guidance.
AN ounce OF practica! assistance Is
worth ton OF theory. and rs thore are
few subjects on which 40 much "scien-
tine" nonsense Is talked and written
as on this OF heredity. IL is best TO get
sure Tesults by working on the mate
rial at hand in taking care of the de-
vclopment Of the brain and body OF the
child Teach Il child to believe it's
body a beautiful and sacred thing. and
answer Its questions with sensible,
straightforward answers, and you will
instill observation-disclosures
child can easily he taught to re-
gard the daily exercise as just as much
n part of tho usual routine as the bath
and thc cleansing OF the teeth. Unless
the habit Is acquired early in youth,
the effort of getting up In the morn
ing and going through certain set ex-
ercises Is more than most men and
women can accomplish. Usually adults
walt until bodily strength begins 10 de-
cline. until habits are formed and the
mind worn in ruts. and then they on
deavor to conserve ficeting power by
physical training. This often means
ls t.k.,at t...l,. 1,..x L.
exercises possibly three days and then
dropping them. Yet good health de-
Ponds on muscular strength; without
tone In the muscles bodily strength de-
creases rapidly.
Muscular activity Is the positive
method of keeping young. Motion Is
essential to vigor OF mind and body.
also to sweetness and playfulness In
daily living. Stiffness of muscle and
lameness OF joints lessen buoyancy and
lead to melancholy" says DR.. Elmer
Lee. But it Is most important that
these truths be instilled early. before
nature has taken stock of one's powers
and checked them off as below par;
for 1t Is far easier to preserve what
we have than to cultivate that which
we do not possess. More than Lady
Constance Stewart Richardson twho
has written eloquently on this subjecD
agree that were Il few of tho many mil
lions of dollars spent annually on homes.
hospitals and schools for feeble-mind
ed expended In our schools In properly
teaching the young, In couple of gen
erations may of these institutions
would BIO empty.
Proper supervision should be given
NIL exercises. sports and games of chill
dren between the ages often and six
teen. There Is as little likelihood of
children suffering injury through a
natural rough -and-tumble among them
selves ms there Is I'm the romps of pup
pies and other young animals at play
| II Is only when competition and un-
natural excitement arc introduced into
the games and artificial amusement
creeps into the games that more harm
than good ts likely 70 result. Teach
your child the way to breathe. walk.
exercise and eat, and you will give
unto 1t heritage OF health that Will
bless ita possibilities for happiness
usefulness and longevity to be likewise
unprecedented In generations 90 come