Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-31
Tho Need of Exercise.

CcFctAl WeeG6 akO me employees oI
the Pennsylvnnia railroad In the Broad
street station were given permission
to indulge In callsthenics for a Ave-
minute Period twice daily. Tho exer-
cisos were held under the direction of
one Of the employees. and consisted
mainly Of deep breathing. aud blood
circulation movenents. such as tho
swinging Of the arms and legs. and
weaving the body backward and for
ward
REPORTS from divisional Offices state
that the practice is spreading, and that
clerks elsewhere are regarding the in
novation with pleasure. and are taking
advantage of the opportunity afforded
to stretch themselves bit. and become
refreshened by the morning and after
noon tnteriude.
This practice of all workers In a
large conccrn taking a few moments
or at a stated period each day for ox-
ercise is a wise one OF course the plan
could not be followed in certain In
dustries. because of the nature of the
work; In others the employees receive
sufficient exercise MT their tasks. and
need no special moments ast aside for
calisLben.ca But Il should prove of
value whore large groups of men and
women follow sedentary pursuits. and
seldom move from their chairs from the
moment that they como to work. until
the hour at which they leave for home.
The experience which several million
men had In the army taught them the
value Of a little exarctse taken daily
These young men. upon coming home,
preached the gospel of hreah air and
exercise as an aid TO health: as a re
suit we are rapidly becoming nation
which is taking thought to those per-
sonal habits which VIII cause US to
lengthen our span of life.
There are two primary reasons which
make the daily exercise Of value to all
Of US: the first one is that "a sound
body enables a sound mind TO function
better; the second is that a sound
body VIII outiast a sickly one From
the standpoint Of personal efficiency
and from that of tho desire TO live
long in the land, no man or woman oan
overlook the opportunity to keep fit
physically.
The majority Of as are active IN
youth. bat after passing the fortieth
year there is n general tendency TO let
down, to take life more easily. and to
avoid any exercise not absolutely nee
esssry in the line OF duty. The conse-
quence Of this is that many become
old before their time. so prevalent has
this custom of physical lalziness become
that many physicians say that the
period should be called "the dangerous
forties." for il is then that men. once
active, begin 10 increase their waist
girth from laaix Of exercise.
There Is no reason, SO Investigators
tell US, why everyone should not cut
live the Biblical span OF life, IL prep
er health precautions are taken. or
course Il is not expected, or desired.
that the man OF middle age should
exercise as strenuously as tho youth of
20. The body viii not stand il. Yet
there are pleasant exercises. a1s even
games, which can be INDUCED in by
men Of all ages. which viii aid in
keeping the system in order. and in
staving of the inevitable last moment.
Waiter Camp, the sports authority.
recently stated In an article published
in Golfers Weekly, that hundreds Of
thousands Of persons benefited physi-
calfy by New York being snow-bound fer
q spell last winter. Those persons In
question. he pointed out, were office
workers who were accustomed 70 ride
TO and from their work. and who seldom
if ever really stretched their muscles.
Consequently they had become not only
fat. but fiabby In body. and perhaps
slightly fabby IN mind. For days these
Office workers had TO walk TO and from
their work At first there was much
grumbdng, but by the time that the
snow began to disappear many were
enjoying the experience OF getting fresh
air and exercise at the same time.
Since then many have adopted the habit
Of walking daily TO their offices. This
may work "a financial hardship on the
traction companies. but it certainly will
add 10 the lives Of the pedestrians.
Five minute exercises. twice a day
with the addition of a brisk long walk
VIII DO even the most confirmed
Crouch" some good. IT viii not only
improve ones physical condition, but
Il viii keep one physically At all the
time