The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-03-11
BEGINNING TO KNOW OUR
SELVES.

bNllloOll INNdo llNld q. IC
present war is going to teach the
American people many things Of
vital Importance to the life of the
nation, individually and collectively.
q The extraordinary percentage OF
reflections OF men called to the army
and navy service has given authori-
ties ground for inv eStigating the
causes. Physical insufficiency at
some vital point has been discov-
cred in hundreds OF thousands OF
young men who ought to have been
robust and fit from head to foot.
In examining into the history Of
thousands of cases government med
ical experts have proven that malnu-
triton of children is responsible for
very large percentage OF the re-
jectionS. In other words, children
all over the country have not had
sufficient nourishment, or the nour-
ishment has not been OF proper max
ing, or OF healthful variety, or the
child has been stunned in his di-
gestive functions till he could not
assimillte growing power from his
food.
1t is clearly shown that the homes
of the United States have in a ma
jority OF instances been the breed
ing places OF weakness rather than
OF strength, transmitters OF physi-
cal insulficiency rather than of
physical manhood. This has not
been maliciously done, to be sure,
except in so far as willful ignorance
is criminal, but the effect upon the
child and hence upon the commun-
ity and the nation is calamitous
just the same.
The first right OF every child is
healthy birthright. Every child has
the inalienable right to be born well.
Many are robbed of this divine in
heritance. Losing this they are
then entitled to norma develop
ment. First of all, man ought to be
healthy animal. Then he ought
to develop into the finer forms OF
culture upon the original physical
perfections to which he is entitled.
1t does not require a highly in
spired mind to discern the truth
that we are not growing a nation
of red blooded men and women. The
life OF the people is hampered with
anaemia. If any man doubts this
assertion let him take his stand at
the front door of any school in city
or country and there honestly study
the forms and movements OF chill
dren as they file out. Many we'll
developed specimens will be found,
but a lamentably large portion of
them will be seriously lacking in ev-
licences of inherent power and nor
NAL development.
Thin nostrils, narrow chests, con-
stricted lung spaces, stopped shoul-
ders, dropping spines, listless eyes,
staggering gait, shambling carriage,
dark-rimmed lids, tell-tale pallor,
flabby muscles, irresponsive nerves
all OF these and more may be seen
daily in any group OF children, the
frosts OF December blanching the
May-time roses in their cheeks.
The first and fundamental lessons
OF modern education are the les
sons OF physical perfections. The
whip and lash OF any system make
brilliant intellects and cram the
minds with knowledge cannot fail
OF reaction upon physical supports.
The government has found out
through official investigation what
any discerning mind may have dis
covered by even casual observation.
We have expended almost countless
millions to make our children smart
when the essential right of healthy
physical development has had only
indifferent attention. We have
idealized mental attainments while
the animal life has paid the penalty
of this eXcluSiveneSs. We have we'll
nigh forgotten that blood is quite
as much as brains, and that good
brains come only of good blood.
We groom our pigs but let our