Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-04-24
BRITONS GOING BACK
NATIONAL PHYSIQUE SHOWN TO
BE DETERIoRATINe.
Results Of Physical Examinations
School Children Have Stirred the
Phlegmatlc Islanders From
Natural CompIacency.

The recent statement Of Sir James
Crichton-Browne, that In many public
elementary schools today 1t Is impos-
slble to find ten children absolutely
sound In mind, body, wind and limb;
that almost every child shows blem-
ish Of some kind that interferes either
with Its education or mars more or
less Its prospects in life, has attracted
enormous interest In England, though
IT has long been recognized that the
national physique has been steadily
deteriorating.
The National League for Physical
Education and Improvement, which
has been amalgamated with the Man
sion House committee on health and
housing, Is now devoting itself to the
physical care of children in schools
In the hope that in due course of time
the Improvement of bodily health will
be as large part of the curriculum
as anything else.
The board Of education has recently
established medical department
which has introduced system of
Swedish physical drills In elementary
schools, and also in about 1000 Sec
ondary schools. Prospective teachers
are now going through course Of
instruction in the training colleges.
1t was at one Of the recent meet
ings of the National league that Sir
James Crichton-Browne made the
speech which has been 80 much COM
mented on recently.
1T is always abnormalities, definite
defects, individual calamities, that
chiefly move sympathy" he said.
ANY great and sudden catastrophe is
Immediately met by a copious out
pouring of such relief as is possible
and ] rejoice at this.
But 1t Is our desire that catastro-
phes, not sudden, but which are long
drawn out, shall not be overlooked.
and In these class the possible catas-
trophies Of the decadence and de-
terioration of the British race, q prob
lem which this league is now engaged
in graphing with.
Il am not pessimist," he con-
tinued, but 1t is impossible to read
the reports coming In daily from medi-
cal officers throughout the country
without feeling the greatest appre-
tension for the future of our race un.
less stringent methods are adopted.
"On q memorable occasion II was
demonstrated that ten righteous men
could not be found In O certain city.
In some public elementary schools to-
day-I am sure In many OF them-it
would be impossible to find ten chill
dren absolutely sound In mind, body,
wind and limb.
Almost every child shows q blem-
ish Of some kind that either inter-
feres with education or that must
mar. more or less, It's prospects In
life. We may not be able to make
them all Venuses de Medici or Apollos
Belvedere, but the first step must be
taken by bringing all the flaws to
light, for many of them are capable Of
correction or cure II taken In time"
The Bombadier Wells fiasco has oc-
casioned further comment on the na-
tlonal stamina. Admiral Montague. a
hale old Victorian figure, who invaria-
bly, occupies a seat at every fight at
the National Sporting club. writes as
follows:
Il have not followed the new craze
Tor international Olympic games, 30
can offer no opinion as to how we
stand, but do think this-maybe be-
cause as n citizen OF seventy-two
years. well passed In age, one is In
,lined to be blased-that the youths
Of England have not nearly 80 much
grit In them as In former days. There
are plenty OF reasons why this is SO;
II is not 30 much their fault as their
Misfortune"