The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-24
a THLETICS indoors such as are
IA provided by Y. M. G. AS the


~ provided by Y. M. c. AS the
country over are excellent sub
stitutes for real exercise in the open
air, and are very beneficial to the
young men in cities and towns, but
are not nearly as valuable as the
open-air athletics. There is no room
for argument and no need of making
comparisons as between these two
very useful methods Of preserving
and adding to the health and vigor
OF our young men, for they are both
controlled by conditions and environ
ment that have made of them the
only feasible methods to use.
Country Boy An Exception.
In the case Of the country boy,
however, who lives on a farm or
orchard, or even in a suburban To-
cation with an acre of soil to cult
vate, the matter Of athletics need
be no concern of his. so far as the
proper exercise Of his body goes, for
no artificial method Of exercise in
tended to promote health and
strength can possibly surpass the
natural use of all bodily functions
In the process of working the soil, in
sowing and reaping, in cultivating
and pruning, In picking fruit and
handling the boxes, and innumerable
other things that must be done in
raising a crop from the soil.
In his childhood days the various
chores that fall to the lot Of a coun-
try boy, particularly on a farm where
diversified farming Is practical, are
all so different In character as to
call into action a great many muscles,
and so far as an education to the
brain to control his actions quickly
and accurately Is concerned, they are
all that could be desired.
How many and various are the mo-
tions required to carry in enough
wood to fill a woodbox, feed the
chickens, water the horse and cow,
hoe awhile in the garden or carry
something to a neighbor on Dobbin's
back!
Then there Is the walk of a mile or
two to school, and his teacher knows,
II the trustees and parents do not,
that such children have no need for
calisthenics in the schoolroom or yard
to develop their muscles.
TO those who in addition to other
chores have gathered the eggs, look
ing in all of the hangers, climbing
, ladders to the top Of the haymow
and jumping from one NOW to an
other with eggs in his hat, 1t is not
-, 10 coy tbat indian c1phc
lifting weights, handball or the run
ming track are not needed for his
physical development.
Chores VS.. Sports.
How about grooming and harness
ing a big team to plow or harrow
and doing a round or two before
school time? Such a simple chore
may look tame to the city boy who
is a crack tennis player, for instance,
but he would find 1t quite as diff
cult to do as would the country boy
to play a game of tennis, and each
one would wonder that they had SO
many muscles that had not been used
before.
Then there Is the lawn to NOW and
rake and the grass to haul away, re-
curing a great many quick and &C
curate motions to do it properly, quite
as AMY, In fact, as would be neces-
sary to play a game OF football OF
golf. barring the broken limbs and
uncomfortable language that some
times accompany the games. AS tc
the value of either from the stand
point of benefit to the physical body
and mind-all three being performed
in equally pure air and sunshine,
who will choose the one which should
take precedence Of the others?
A suggestion was once made by {
gentleman who was q crank IN nj!
belief that bodily exercise should bt
made to serve a useful purpose a'
we'll pulled off at some Of our biz
college meets between two teams O
properly coached and drilled lawn
mowers" by having these meets
at frequent intervals the bluegrass
and clover of the college lawns would
be kept in prime condition withou
cost, the students would be KEEP
athletically fit, and If all concerned
could be made to see that this NOW
ing contest was play and not work
ali would be we'll and the b%leacheri
would be filled at the usual prices.
A Good Occupation.
Perhaps there Is no agriculture
occupation so conducive to enjoy