Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-24
PHYSICAL EXERCISE and BUSINESS
EFFICIENCY SUBJECT PROF, EDWARDS
ADDRESS AT KIWAN|S MEETING

The regular meeting of the Kiwanis
Club was held at the Elmwood Hotel
last evening. the speaker being Prof.
c. Harry Edwards, member Of the
club, who took as his subject, "Phy-
steal Exercise and Business Efficien-
cy." Prof. Edwards spoke in part as
follows:-"Most men abuse their
body for from twenty to thirty years
and then when signs Of failing health
appear. go to their physician and ex-
pect that he Is going to restore them
in two or three days. Most men in
herit good body and they engage
in active pursuits up to maturity.
The boy up to 10 or Is years of age
in the rough play of boyhood, aft er
that in directed play in school and in
college. But the professional and
commercial life Of today tends to
sedentary life. The business man
comes to work in the morning. often
in his automobile and he remains be-
hind the counter or behind a desk all
day, getting very little muscular &C
tivity. The day when every man
walked to his store or office and had
a small garden in which he got some
exercise morning and night has gone
by and the man of today gets very
There are three classes Of people
as regards exercise. The first group
admit that 1t Is good thing, that 1t
ought to@be taken by everyone and
they take it from time to time but
make no systematic attempt to fol-
low up well developed plan. There
is smaller group that think that II
Is necessary and they do follow out
some plan but often an incorrect one
SO that they do not get the good
from 1t that they should. And then
there is a third group still smaller
who do not believe in exercise. But
the great mass of business and pro-
fessional men are turning to some
form and the search is for the best
form and this can be determined in
a great measure by the man himself
in his physical reactions to the ex-
ercises that he takes.
There are certain involuntary mo-
tons like breathing, digestion, the
action of the heart that go on all the
time and must continue as long as
we live. Then there are the involun-
tary motions that come from manual
labor and the following of some vo-
cation. There should be some kind
OF all round general activity of the
type of recreational games and con-
trolled exercise"
All this contributes to health as a
result OF the physical and chemica
change IN the muscles. the breaking
down OF old tissue and the Kidding the
body of accumulated poisons. II
causes greater flow of the blood
wh1ch Is the only means of carrying
the llfe-giving oxygen to the various
fary relief from the congestion of the
blood in the internal organs as il
spreads it out over the whole body. II
IS in this way only that the heart can
be developed and made safer against
that sudden strain that comes to all of
us at some time or other. Another way
TO help is by increasing the depth and
frequency of respirations. This gives
a greater oxidation to the blood and
helps to rid the system of poisons. One
or the greatest good of exercise If it
is done properly IS that it is distinct
aid to digestion, this being especially
so If the trunk muscles are given A
good amount of work.
1t Is impossible to give any one tyne
OF exercises that can be used with
equal benefit by all. In general they
should involve slow. steady stretchings,
especial work on the trunk and deer
breathing. They should be regularly
INDUCED in morning and night and
should be done whenever possible in
fresh air. One of the things that ev-
cry man should endeavor to do is to
conserve the enjoyment OF muscular
activity. He should want to do these
things which make for an increase in
his enjoyment of life, and 1t Is almost
a necessity that he should exercise to
music or in company. Either is of
great value. Perhaps the best of all
the exercises which have been devised
Is Walter Camps Daily Dozen. These
are not too strenuous and they provide
the working Of the muscles which need
1t the most and are the least used.
There are two great responsible
ties in the development of physical
efficiency. First, pecuniary, for any
man is able to earn more and is of
far greater commercial value If he has
health and pep; and the second Is ideal,
in the development of the human mech
anism as means of praising the
Maker and handing down to posterity
the best kind of a natural heritage"
One of the pleasing events of the
evening was the presentation of a
clock to Norman E. Haskell, who has
recently married. The presentation
was made by Rev. Arthur Buckner
and Mr.. Haskell made a neat little
speech in reply thanking the members
for their remembrance. and then at the
request of the president sang a song
in his usual pleasing style.