Inter m : tz ondl Hm f}; E x it

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'

L O NDO N . 1 8 84
.

AT H L E T IC S

PHY SICAL SE AN
EX ERCI D RECREATION .

P A R T I.

R EV . E . WA R R E , MA
. .,
l
ETUN CO LLEG I

PR INTED A IVD P UB L IS HED F OR THE

di z z c ufim dIm xm i l ai the g u n

m atmna l £ 2 3111} (Ex hibiti on
'

aa h fur the Gia n

nt il c f the S m itty ui 3m ,

BY

WI LLIAM CLOW ES A ND S O NS , L IM IT E D,
INT ER NA TIO NA L HEA LTH EX HIBITIO N,
A ND 1 3, C HA R ING C R O S S, saw.

1 884 .
 "
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PR I NTED BY W I LLI A M C LO WES AND SO NS , L I MITED,
S T A M FO R D s r
'
nnnr '
A ND e m u am c a o ss.
 CO NT E N T S .

C HA PT ER I .

I NTR O DU CTO R Y .

PAG l

Im po rta nc e o f subj ec t to i na t ona l elfa e A th let

w r — ic s underra ted
— O verra ted —True fun c tio n— I n d iv i d ua l— —
S o c ia l Influen ce

o n c h ara c te r— S elf-c o ntr o l— F a i r ne s s— U nse lfi s n —

h ess G oo d

C HA PTE R II .

C
A N I E NT ATH L T I CS
E .

Term from G ree k — G ree i

k d ea of e d uc a t i o n— G ym nast ic institu

tio ns — Id ea l d ifferen t in difl eren t tri be s

'

— —
O lym pia Deterio
ra tio n o f G reek g ym n ti c s
a s — M r —
o a l to be dra wn R o m a n

a thletic s — S ole idea , h ea th

l — O ld a n d un —
yo g More pra c tic al
th anG reek — Deteri ora tio n E fiec t o nLa tinra c es
— ’

C HA PT E R III .

DEV E LO PMENT o r A TH LE CSTI IN THE I NDIV I DUA L

C ra ving fo r e x erc i se in h u m a n na t ure — Th e i n fa n t— S en s o ri al

m o tion — T h e g rowin g c h ild — F id g e ts — L o ve o f c h a ng e— B e

g n
i ngi n o f e d uc a ti o n — N ee d o f c a re a nd d sc r m n
i i i —
a tio n Th e

wh ole being t o be c on i
s dered— B o y l fe o nily tre a ted o f h ere
Ch a ng e to sc h oo l l fe— Pr va te sc h o o l tra nn
i i g
— C o m etition
i i
p
— Pla y a n — —
d wo rk Lo a fe rs A thletic s of sc h oo l ife
l — G ym
na sties no i
sub st tute for g a m e s — C erta inex erc ises c o m pulso ry
— R ec ord to be ept Pun
k — ish m ents— —
Public sc h o ol M a t ure
life— M i suse o f a th le i
t s
c — Neg e c t Tra in
l — i ng nec essa ry fo r
ny
’

a g re a t efi o rt

WOR2 01UN34 ’
 iv CON TEN TS .

C HA PT E R IV .

AT H LE I CS SOC IA L
T , .

no ;
So c ial c h a rac ter —Pec ulia rly En g lis h — C o nt ra st wi th fo re ig n
—
ideas Hi story o f Eng li sh a th le ti c s t o r s t —
p e en t m e Develop
i
nt o f soc ial a th letic s—C a uses— M o stly re stri c ted to upper
m e

an —
d m iddle c lasses Multi pli c a tio n o f c lubs a n d m a tc h e s
H th y a spec ts Un
e al — h ealth y sym pto m s— Dec li n e o f p ro fe s

i
s o ua l a thletic s — Desira ble th at so c ia l i
a th le t c s sh o uld be
de velo ped am o ng th e lo wer c lases

C HA PTER V .

I I I
U N V E R S T E S A ND PU B LI C SCHOOLS .

Develo pm en t of a t hl e ti c d
s u e to th e i r e x a m p le — An nua l c o ntests
— Pub1ic sc h ools— G en ero us tra d i ti o n s—J o y o f g a m e s— No n

p la ye r s— F a g g i ng
— O bj ec t s t o b e k e p t i n vi e w — H o use m a t c h e s
— G a m es th a t h a ve died o ut— G a m e s no w invo g ue a de qua te
h i
a s p ys c l ex
a er c i s e — U n i v e rs i t y life — P a s t i m e s — M a ny m en
t a ke but li ttle ex e rc ise— R ea d i n g m —
en A dvi c e

C HA PT E R V I .

R OW I N G .

Num ero us bo o ks but sc a n ty — n

A c en
rec o rd s i t — M edia va l
—
M o dern First reg t a t a i n E n g la n d — E a r ly c lu b s— P u b lic

sc h o o ls a nd un — —
iversities U nive rsity ra c e S c ulling c h a m pion
sh ip — Hen —
ley R eg a tta A m a te r c lubs Dec li n
u — e in p ro fes

s io ual ro win g
— B o a t s , c h a n g e s i n b u ild— O u tr i g g er — K ee lle ss
— C o x swa in les s fo u rs — S li d i ng se a t —- Inst ru c t i o n in ro w i n g
Eto np a pers—S troke— S c ulli ng Can
-
oei n —S wi m g m ing

C HA PT ER V II .

T R A I NI NG .

Ne c e s s ity o f— B o o k s o n — H i s t ory — O b j e c t a nd p r a c t i c e — D i e t
—
E x erc i se S ta len ess — B a th i n g
— D re s s — M e nt a l o c c upa t io n
S lee p
— G o ing o u t o f tr a i n i n g

C HA PT ER V III .

OT HE R PAST I ME S — T HE V OL U NTEE R S E RV I CE.

A rc h e ry— Th e fl
ri e— C a det c o rp s — V olunteer c orps i n t o wn
Drill h a lls — S ta nding c am p s insum m er
 C O N TE N TS .

C HA PTE R IX .

EX E R CISE FO R C HI L DR E N— W O —
M E N PE RS NS O OF M ATUR E Y EA R S .

PA G I

G a m es Fo r m al ex erc i s es Wa lki ng Ex e rc i se s fo r g i rls

Da nc ing R o w ing Im po rt a nc e o f p h y s ic al ex e rc sei fo r
wo m en Ex
— erc ise to be ke pt up by older pe rso n
s

C HA PT E R X .

CO NCL S I ON
U .

l m —
No t m ind o r bo dy a pa rt , but wh o e a n Neg lec ted by legi sla
—
t io n Need o f O pe n s pa c es — —
B o a rd sc h o o ls G a m e s Difii — '

c ult ie s— A th leti c c lubs Im port a n

— c e o f a th let i c s t o future o f

ra c e
 A T HL E T IC S ;

PHY SICAL EX ERCISE AND RECREATION

M ew sa nd inc orpor a sa ne .

CH P A TE R I .

INT R O D U C T O R Y .

Im p orta nc e of j n n
sub e c t to a t io a l wn
elfa re— A th letic s u derra ted
O ve rra te d True fun c ti o n In d ivi dua l S oc ia l Influe nc e on

c h ar a c t er— S elf c ontro l Fa irn

- e ss— n n —
U se sh ess G ood fellow
lfi
sh ip — S um m a ry .

IN th e motto so h a ppily a dopted fo r the Intern a tion a l Im po rtanc e f o

H ea lth E xhibition the right end a nd obj ect o f a thletics

,
t°
,

w hich we m a y define a s phy s ic a l exerci s e a nd recre a t ion we lfa re

,

i s ters ely a n d truly expressed It would be h a rd to sa y

.

h o w m uch th a t co n cern s intim a tely not o nly th e h a ppiness

an d us e ful ness o f i ndividua l li fe but a l so the good o f society
, ,

an d the fut ure o f the r a ce is involved in the right ,

a ppreci a tion o f the truth conta ined in thi s little form o f

s o und word s They commend tha t which is a s often

.

o verlooked by the e n thusi a stic a dvoc a te o f i ntellectua l

progress a s it is neglected by the thoughtless worshipper
o f phy s ica l prowe s s They a re a st a nding rebuke to those
.

w h o would t a ke o n e s ide only o f h um a n n a t ure un der their

c a re a nd lea ve the other to t a ke c a re o f it sel f
, .

A so u nd m ind ina nd bo dy
so u
”
I

A h ealth y m i nd ina h ea lth y b ody " ”

[ H 2 4 ]
 A THL E TICS ; OR ,

Whichever tra n sl a tion we m a y pre fer it is pl a in that ,

no t o ne a lo ne but both together should be the ca re o f the

, ,

ed uc a tiona li st a nd the legi s l a tor Where the i ntere sts of .

either a re overlooked mi schie f will s ooner or l a ter fo llow

, ,

an d tho ugh thi s m a y n o t in a ll ca s e s be recogn i sa ble inth e

i ndivid ua l it will not long be hidden in the comm unity
,

L e t me n t a l tra i ni ng a nd c ult ure be n eglected a nd there ,

will follow in time a lowering o f ta ste a nd tone a nd a ,

retrogre ssi o n to th a t more a n im a l type o f life which is

un lovely a nd undesira ble There will be less enterprise .
,

less a dva ncement in a rt s a nd sciences less na ti o nal ,

progress a nd in the end less n a tio na l we a lth On th e

, , , .

o ther h a n d neglect the conditions o f phy sic a l well being

,
-
,

while stim ul a ti n g menta l exe rtio n a nd the con seq uences ,

a re c erta i n The bra i noverworked while the other orga ns

.
,

o f the body a re denied their proper exerci se will ,

’
o er info rm n
t h e t e em e nt o f c la y .
”

In the end it will h a ve done less work a nd ha ve done ,

th a t work le ss well th a n it would h a ve d o ne if the due

,

proportion o f exerci se a nd recrea tion h a d been observed

an d m a int a i ned Nor does the evil in thi s c a se e n
. d with
the i ndividua l s whose he a lth a nd physic a l development h a ve
bee nthus imp a ired The ra ce s uffers inco ns equence Th e
. .

full res ults a re felt by the C hildren to whom they tra n s mi t

the feeble he a lth a nd wa nt o f physic a l vigour which thei r ,

o wnfa ulty h a bit s o f li fe h a ve e ngendered in them selves It .

is the highest wi sdom o f a ll tho se who a s legi sl a tors o r , ,

go vernors or tea chers a re resp o n sible fo r the educa tion

, ,

o f the youth o f the n a tion to h a ve d ue reg a rd to t h e

,

physica l a s well a s to th e intellectua l need s o f th e yo ung .

Th e ba be unbo rnth e drea d intent m a y rue,

of those who in their zea l fo r i ntellectua l improvement p ut

un d ue pressure upon tender bra i ns a nd overta x wi th sede n ,

t a ry hours a nd menta l a pplic a tionthe reso urce s o f growi ng

li fe Wh a tever m a y be the dra wba cks a nd d a nger i ncide nt a l
.

t o the other extreme it is a t le a st free from thi s peril Th o s e .

 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TIOIV .

wh o over e x e rt them s elves in a thletics bea r their own

-

p uni shment They do no t i nflict a ny physica l di sa bilitie s

.

upo nthe n ext ge nera tion .

It is n o t however the p urpo s e o f thi s h a ndbook to hold A thle ic

, ,
t s

a brie f fo r a thletic a ga i n st i n tellect ua l exercise but ra ther ,

t o poi n t o ut if it be poss ible the mea ns by which a thletics s ti

, ,
om e m es

o ve na k d
m a y be m a de the a cce ss orie s a n d comp a n i o ns o f intellect ua l
'

pro g ress o f i nd ustri o us voca tions a nd b usi ness li fe P ublic

, , .

opi nio n in thi s as in other m a tters is a pt to o scill a te

, ,

between extremes At one time we he a r a thletics

.

vehemently denounced a s the enemies o f a ll ment a l

improvement a nd ed uc a tio na l progress At such a time .

t h e unco n scio us Phili stine is s co urged a n d sc a rifi e d by

e s s a yi s t s a nd writers o f le a di ng a rticles till the h a nd s tha t ,

wield the litera ry l a s h gro w wea ry o f bel a bo uri ng the

to ugh hide o f the i ncorrigible Soon the pe ndul um swi ngs .

towa rd s the opposite extreme It is di scovered th a t the .

world o f E ngli sh s pea king peo ples is deeply interested in

-

t h e re sult o f a tri a l o f s peed between two cre ws on the

Th a mes New York a nd S a nFra nci sco C a pe Town a nd
.
,

C a lc utta a nd even remote Hong Kong a re a nxious to

, ,

receive by telegra ph the impo rta nt news a t the ea rliest

m o ment More th a n a million o f h um a n bei ngs flock to
.

se e or to fa n
,
cy they h a ve see nthe conte s t The a ctors init
, .

a re the heroe s o f the mome n t ; a nd the le a ding journ a l ,

co nformi ng to the popul a r bent devotes co l umn a fter ,

c o l um n o f l a rge type to the descripti o n o f their doi ngs .

The whole thing is overdone It is felt to be overdone ; .

an d the nthe pend ul um begin s to swi n g ba ck a ga i n L et .

us t a ke a dva nta ge o f the mome n t when it h a s ne a rly ,

re a ched the perpendicul a r to plea d fo r a ri g ht estim a tion

,

o f the v a l ue o f a thletics a n d to bring them under the

limita tion o f the c a no n m ans sa nd i nc orpor a sa w
,
”
.

The truth is th a t it is a s e a sy to underra te as it is to True func

,
.

overra te the va l ue o f a thl e tic s In j udgi n g concerni ng {gaf f a ‘h '

them it is neces sa ry inthe first p l a ce to di sti ngui sh bet wee n Indi idu l
,
a. v a .

th em a n d the excitemen t o fte nfictiti o us th a t is set on foot

, ,

a bo ut them : t h e betti n g the go ss ip the i nordi na te wa ste o f

, ,

B 2
 A THLE TICS ; OR ,
‘

t ime int a lki ng a bo ut nd l o oki ng o na t ga mes a nd a thl e ti c

a

contests . These a re no t in a ny se nse a thletic s no r d o ,

they deserve the na me By a thletics we understa nd t h e

.

he a lthy exerci se o f the phys ic a l p o wers the neces sa ry ,

p a stimes o f a m a nly a nd vigoro us ra ce Their true .

fun ction so fa r from bei ng a nt a gonistic to i ntellect ua l

,

l a bo ur a nd progress is to be i ts helpful associ a te Righ tly

, .

used th e y a re i n
, va l ua ble in thi s p a rticul a r respect a nd they ,

c a n no t be di sca rded without a loss o f vigour They give .

i ncrea se o f vit a l power a nd phys ica l e nergy in which t h e ,

bra in p a rta kes a s well a s the rest o f the body M a ny no .

do ubt p urs ue them unwi sely fo r their own s a ke ; but thi s

does no t m a ke them less nece ssa ry or less a dv a nt a geo us to
tho se who wi sely enga ge i nthem fo r the sa ke o f ha vi ng a
h e a lthy body i n which a he a lthy mi n d m a y do its be s t .

Nor i s it o nly by ex er c ise th a t a thletics c o nfer phys ic a l

benefits up o n the individ ua l who uses them rightly b ut ,

a l so a s r ec r ea ti on properly s o c a lled
- H um a n n a ture
.

requires ch a nge fo r its recrea tion . Va riety is C ha rmi ng ”

,

no t only bec a use it is va riety but beca use co ntinuo us

,

e ffort in one direction produces l a ssitude sta le nes s a nd , ,

decrea se o f power By the la w o f o ur bei ng ch a nge is

.

necessa ry to prevent exh a ustion a nd to restore vigo ur t o .

the p a rts th a t h a vi ng done their sh a re o f l a bour req uire

, ,

the rest th a t they h a ve fa irly e a rned Next to food a nd .

s leep ,
which a re the grea t a nd necessa ry restora tives o f
phys ica l power a thletics m a y C l a im to h a ve the l a rge st
,

s h a re inthe recre a tio no f h um a nli fe The m a no f b us i ness

.

an d the st udent a like fi n d inthem th a t v a riety a n d ch a nge

from the reg ul a r work o f li fe which refreshes a n d rei n
v ig o ra t es both mi nd a nd body E a ch a ble-bodied .

i ndivid ua l if he is wi se provides fo r him sel f both exerci s e

, ,

an d recre a tion in a w a y s uita ble to h is a g e a n d power ,

with a View to preservi ng fo r him sel f a s ound mi nd in a

so un d body .

6 S oc ia l.
. B ut a thletic s h a ve a stil l wider s phere th a nthe in d ivid ua l .

They n eed not be selfi sh or s olit a ry They flouri sh ra ther

.

a s s oci a l in Ch a ra cter givi n , g common occupa tion to m e no f

 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TIOIV.

s imil a r needs a nd ta stes a nd thereby enh a nce their va l ue

,

t o e a ch a n d t o a ll .They a re in thi s respe ct o f i n fini t e

import a nce to s ociety a t l a rge a s providing fo r the grega ,

ri o ns i nstincts o f hum a n na ture in the common pas times

o f exerci s e a n d recre a tion The m ultit udi no us cricket
.
,

bo a ti ng foo tba ll bicycle la wn ten nis a rchery a nd other

, , ,
-
, ,

C l ub s
, th a t a re s pre a d like a network over the lengt h a nd
bre a dth o f thi s l a nd a re o f more va l ue to the li fe o f th e
,

na tio nth a nmost people im a gi ne They a fford not only a s .

,

s om e a ffect to thi n k the outlet fo r a nim a l s pirits in

,

h a rmle ss recre a tio n b ut a g o od dea l more tha n thi s viz

, ,

t h e in n umera ble O pportuni ties o f i nterco urse between m a n

an d m a n up on a commonground other th a n th a t o f th e
,

b us i n e ss o f work a d a y li fe .

The i nfl ue nce tha t a thletics thus exer t upon the form a tion 4 Influenc e .

o f C h a ra cter is e n ormous a nd in proportion a s they a re ffi g fh a'

, ,
r

m an ly a nd cond ucted upon honoura ble pri nciples they S elf c ntrol ,
- o
.

e xerci s e a power fo r good which is i n ca lcul a ble They .

h a ve a lw a ys lesso ns o f p a tie nce a nd end ura nce re a dy fo r

thos e wh o will le a rn thro ugh them th e w a y to s uccess .

They tea ch sel f co ntrol -

They a re corrective o f va nity
. .

They di scipline the temp er In a thousa nd wa ys th e .

ge nerous riva l ry which is Ch a ra cteri s tic o f wholesome

a thletics o era te s to the c urbi n g o f the h a sty te m pers a nd
p
s elfi s h i n cli na tions o f the i ndivid ua l s who ta ke p a rt inthem .

E ve nthe fa ct th a t the circum st a nces o f a ga me often c a ll

fo rth these fra iltie s a n d exhibit them in their unlovely
,

pro portio ns h a s the coll a tera l a dva nta ge o f c a using thos e

,

to be m o re c a re ful to exerci se sel f control a nd s el f restra i nt - -

who co ndemn in o thers th e fa ults i nt o which they feel

th a t they them selve s a re li a ble to fa ll under like C irc um
st a n ces At th e sa me tim e s uch reflections tend to m a k e
.

them more tolera nt a nd more re a dy to m a ke a llowa nces fo r

the infi rm it ies o f h um a nna t ure .

Ag a in the nece ssa ry dem a nd fo r fa irness in a ga me is in Fairness

, .

i ts el f a condemn a tiono f mea nness a nd tricke ry in the i ndi

vid ua l . It fos t e rs the C hiva lro us a n d ge n ero us elem ent in
hum a nity a nd esta bli shes a mong those who pla y a co nscience
,
 A THL E TICS ; O R,

tica l in such m a tte rs which instinctively a ppe a ls to t h e

c ri ,

sta nd a rd o f a nhono ura ble a n d upright cha ra cter .

selfi h n
Un s ess .
I t is di ffi c ul t t o sa y how gr e a t a ninfl ue nce fo r goo d s uc h
a feeling a s thi s ex e rci s es in sen s ibly esp e ci a lly upon t h e ,

young in thes e d a ys o f s el f seeking when c o mpetition is s o

,
-
,

s evere , an d the struggle fo r sel f a dva ncemen t a n d se l f

-

a ggr a nd isement is so keen a n d unremitting To pl a y w e ll .

’ ’
fo r on e s side o r fo r one s cl ub or school without a thought
, ,

o f s el f is a nobl e a mbition a n
, d he wh o does so sets a n
,

e x a mple which is felt a n d a pprec ia ted by h is fellows a n d is ,

widely efii c a c io us fo r good in others .

Wh a t good fellowship wh a t trusting friendships a re

,

’
cemented by soci a l a thletics " They test a m a n s re a l
n a ture they reveal h is temper a nd a long with h is fa ults
, , , ,

h is good q ua litie s a re not hidden And a ccordingly th e y

.
, ,

k nit men together no t only in the bo nd o f common p urs uits

,

an d common memories o f plea sa nt d a ys a n d h a rd-fo ught

struggles but by the tie o f m ut ua l confidence which a
,

thorough m utua l knowledge gives to friend s who ha ve lo ng

pl a yed o r rowed together in the cours e o f a na thletic ca reer
, .

We could ha rdly ha ve better evidence o f this th a n the

words o f o ne o f Her M a jesty s j udges di sti ngui shed a li k e
’ ’
,

a s a noa rs m a n a n d a cricketer : I feel when I h a ve rowed ,

w ith a m a n th a t I know him from he a d to foot

, If I .

h a d t o lea d a forlorn hope Is ho uld like bes t t o h a ve w ith

,

m e s ome o f my old s hipm a te s so m e o f the s te a dy a n

, d
trusty men wh o never fa iled inthe supreme struggle o f a
U niversity ra ce ”
.

M uch more might be sa id upon this point but eno ugh ,

h a s been written to s how th a t we c a n cl a im for a thletic s ,

rightly us ed the hono ur o f mini steri n g to the m ens sa n ”

, d
inm a ny w a ys They a s s ist the intellect by s upplying th e
.

best restora tive a n d recrea tive fo r the bra in which is ,

the physic a l s e a t o f the menta l energy They exerc is e .

a mora l i n fl uence upon t h e cha ra cter tea ching p a tience ,

an d pers evera n ce s el f control a nd s el f-restra int correcti ng

,
-
,

M r J ustic e C h i tty S pe ec h a t U niv e rsity B o a t R ac e C o m

. .

m e m o ra ti o nDin ner 1 88 1 , .
 P H YS ICA L EXE R CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION .

v nity a nd s el f suffic ie nc y a nd fostering a spiri t o f fa irness

a -
,

an d ho n o ur a spirit a ls o o f unselfish ness a kin to p a tri otism

, .

Nor doe s their influence stop a t th e individua l Soc ia lly .

they a ffect the li fe o f the n a tio n a n d a re direct ly o f use in

,

m a i nt a i ni ng s ome o f its noblest cha ra cteristics mora l a s ,

well a s phy s ic a l Thi s is a point to which we sha ll revert

.

herea fter believing th a t the benefits con ferred by a thletics

,

up o n the n a tio na l li fe fully j usti fy a n a ppe a l fo r fa c ilities

to be given to l a rge cl as ses o f o ur co untrymen who n ow

k now nothi ng o f th e better kinds o f a thletic s not bec a use ,

they h a ve no leis ure time to spa re fo r them but ,

bec a us e either initi a tive o r pl a ce o r mea ns a re wa nting

, , .

If thes e co uld be provi ded m a ny who now a fter worki n

, , g
ho urs a re over st a nd idling in the streets o r sit in the
,

public ho use would be doing somethi ng better viz :

, , .

m a i nt a ining the c orp us so m em by he a lthy a m usement

“
.

The cha nge o f employment a nd the recrea tion a fforded

by a reg ul a r pa rticipa tion in g a mes wo uld invigora te
m a ny a li fe which no w is stunted a nd e n feebled by t h e
mo notony o f it s exi stence We should see a better colour
.
,

brighter eyes a more el a stic s tep broa der chests a n

, ,
d a ,

more vigoro us type a ltogether tha n is now to be m et with

inthe gr owi n g m a le pop ul a tion o f o ur l a rge town s Would .

there n o t a l s o be a h a ppier tone less di scontent less

, ,

mi sery y es a nd less crime P Or sh a ll we be told th a t a ll

,

thi s depends only upon th e ra te o f wa g es a nd th e n , o rm a l

ic e o f food ?
p r
 A E
C H PT R II .

A NC IENT ATHL ETIC S .

Term from G reek —G idreek

ea o f ed uc a ti o n— G ym n asti c in st i tuti ons

Ide al d ifferen t in d eren

iff —
t tribes O lym pia — Deteri o ra ti on o f
G reek g ym n asti c s—M o ral to be dra wn R o m a n a thletic s—S o le
—
idea , h ea lth — O ld a n d yo un g M o re rac t i c l th a n G reek
p a
—
Deterio a ti o n Effec t o nLa tinrac es.
r

Anc i ent WE h a ve a lrea dy desc ribed a thlet ics fo r the p urposes o f

w
“

f o
r m th e
fl efi c
th is h a ndbo ok as the he a lthy exerci s e o f th e phys i c a l

powers the necessa ry p astimes o f a m a nly a nd vigoro us

,
G m ek ”
'

.ra ce B ut we a re reminded th a t we a re indebted fo r th e

term a thletic s to the Greek s who were di stingui shed a mong
,

the na ti ons o f a ntiquity in con sidering the educa tion o f th e

body as equa lly necessa ry with th e tra ining o f the m in d .

The h a rmonious development o f a ll the fa culties a nd

powers by suita ble a nd regul a r exercise wa s the concepti o n
which a t the best period o f their history wa s domin a nt in
their ed uca tion a l system Hence intheir gy mn as tic in st i
.
,

t ut io ns they did not los e s ight o f the fa ct th a t th e mi n d

G ym m dc
in s ti tution s is infl uenced thro ugh the tra ining o f the body .The e nd
i d al differen t
n s fa ct io nin t h e best m a nner po ss ible o f
e
ind ifferen t I V IC W w as th e sa ti
triba l th e pra ctica l dem a nds o f li fe . An d a ccording a s th e
qua lities va l ua ble in milita ry o r civil life were most i n
uni son w ith th e idea l o f the tribe so did the ch a ra cte r
,

o f the ed uc a tion , intellectua l a s well as physica l va ry , .

The Spa rta n wa rrior wa s prepa red fo r a li fe o f p a in ful

end ura nce by a ned uca tion directed to th e h a rdening o f
h is body a n d the s trengthen ing o f h is m usc ul a r vigour .

The Atheni a n whos e a im w a s gra ce a nd e a se o f bea rin g

,

an d deme a nour fo und inh is g ymn a stic e xerci s es a ll th a t

,
 PH YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TIOIV .

wo uld tend to m a ke him lithe a nd a gile in movement a s ,

well a s erect a nd dignified in h is genera l bea ri ng In th e .

gym na si um a nd in the pa le stra running a nd wrestli n , g a nd ,

boxing together wi th the us e o f the bo w a n

,
d o f the j a velin ,

we re the pri ncipa l exercises o f the youth C o ntests o f .

s kill in thes e a n d other exercises followed a s soon a s th e

bodily powers h a d been m a t ured ; a nd a ny o ne who was
pre emi nent in a pa rticul a r bra nch h a d the cha nce o f c o n
-

tending a t the gre a t ga thering a t Olympi a where once in ,

five yea rs on the b a nk s o f the Alpheus a ll Greec e

, ,

a s s embled to View o r t o t a ke pa rt in the n a tion a l ga me s .

G rea t was the glory a nd the fa me o f him on whose brows

th e fresh Olive wrea th wa s bo und by the j udges Admired .

o f a ll beholders hono ured by h is fellow citizen s with m a ny

,

h o no urs held worthy o f a sta t ue by a Phidia s a nd o f a

, ,

hymn inh is pra i se by a Pi nd a r he s eemed to h a ve rea ched

,

the highest pinn a cle o f h um a n success .

Th ere were however evil a n

, d demora li s ing elemen
,
ts inDeterio a r
1.
G reek civili sa tion which led to the deteriora tion o f their 5335 3
ymn a stic ed uca tion By degree s it bec a me pro fe io n l
2 53
g . ss a

ra ther th a n libera l it s a im s were lowered a nd the very

, ,

na me o f a thlete wa s bro ught a nd no t unrea son a bly brought

, ,

i nto di srep ute A pa rt from other con sidera tions it is

.
,

e vi dent th a t unle ss s ust a ined by a high a im an d lofty

pra cti ca l idea l the systema tic tra ining o f the individ ua l
is a p t to be brought dow n by s elfi sh n ess a nd s el f seeki ng -

t o a lower level The Greek a thletics h a d no t in them the

.

collective element wh ich is o f so m uch va l ue in o ur modern

ga mes such a s footb a ll a nd cricket They ra ther exhibited
, .

wh a t e a ch i ndivid ua l could do fo r him sel f Hence a s the .

,

n a tion a l life a nd s pirit dege nera ted a nd a s liberty fa ded ,

a wa y ,
the s pirit a l s o o f the gymn a stic ed uca tion wa s
deb a s ed The a thlete beca me th a t which the na me implies
.
,

a mere competitor fo r prizes a nd wa s often bruta l a nd

,

coa rse as well a s stupid He belonged to a C l a ss th a t wa s

, .

ge nera lly rega rded a s l a zy overfed idle a nd useless a nd

, , , ,

s o he n o longer fo und a Pind a r to pra i se h is victorio us

c onte sts in dea thless lyric s or a Phidi a s to repre s ent h is
,
 A 77 6 3 OR ,

S plendid symmetry infa ultless bronze but was ra ther th e ,

s corn o f the philos opher a n d the b utt o f the sa tirist H e is .

respons ible fo r a certa in dista steful sa vour th a t clings to

the na me o f a thletics a nd which even now h a l f dis pos es
,

us to wi sh th a t s ome other e q ua lly comprehen s ive ter m

could ha ve been employed as the title o f a tre a tise t h e ,

object o f which is to recommend these hea lth ful exercis es

to the pres ent a nd to future genera tio ns .

Th e mora l is th a t physic a l tra i n

, ing a nd phys ica l
exerci se should not be a llowed to a ss ume a selfi sh o r a
pro fession al cha ra cter except so far a s is necessa ry inth e
,

ca se o f thos e perso ns who a s tea chers a nd tra i ne rs a re

obliged to devote their whole time to th e work o f
i nstruction a nd who se livelihood depe nd s upon the sa m e
, .

The deca y o f pugili s m a nd o f profe ssiona l rowi ng though ,

l a mented by some h a s in thi s respect a sa tisfa ctory a s pect

, ,

an d is not to be regretted whe n vi ewed in the light

reflected by the hi story o f Greek a thle tics And yet .
,

though there is no do ubt th a t they h a d fa lle n a wa y a nd

were by h is time fa r below the best ide a l o f the p a l m y
d a ys o f Greek libe rty it is interesting to fi nd in L uci a n
, ,

him sel f a s a tiri st a n a pology fo r a thletics in reply t o

,

the common invectives o f the d a y H e i ns i sts upon their.

useful n ess to yo ung men in givi ng them som e worthi e r

objects o f a mbition th a n thos e which the indolence a nd
e fl e m in a c y o f the a g e wo uld se t be fore them a n d in tra i ning
'

an d fos tering those qua lities a n d Virt ue s whic h c o m bin e t o

m a ke the ch a ra cter o f the true gentlem a n Th us th ough
”
.
,

bro ught i nto disrepute by the evil ha bit s o f a cl as s th a t

lived upo n them the genera l use fulness o f a thle ti cs which
, ,

could not be destroyed preserved them as a pa rt o f

,

ed uca tion a mong the Greeks even to the times o f the l a t e r

,

empire .

Rom a n idea s a nd pra ctice with rega rd to ga mes a nd

a thletic exerci s es were o f a ch a ra cter very di ffe re n t fro m
those o f the Greek To th e Rom a n the whole questio n
.
,

wa s o n e o f he a lth. It s eemed to him a n ecessa ry pa rt o f a

reg ul a r a nd he a lthy mode o f li fe to ta ke stro ng exercis e
,
 A THL E TICS ; OR ,

o wi ng to h is ba d ey es yet was a reg ul a r freq ue nter o f t h e

,

C a mpus M a rti us a n d if we m a y so in fer from h is mention

, ,

o f it a n expert inth e tr ig on ga me inwhich the b a ll w as

, ,

c a ught , an d thrown by the le ft h a nd bet ween thre e

p l a yers .

S uch were the ga mes th a t the Rom a n s them s elves

p r a cti sed a n d it is n otice a ble th a t they s pe a k with un m it i
g a ted Contempt fo r the Greek modes o f exerci se a nd
a m us ement They pursued their own in th a t sa m e
.

b usi ne ss like a nd pra ctic a l spirit which ga ve them s ucce ss

-

in other things At the sa me time we m a y rem a rk th a t

.
,

they a l so l a cked the soci a l element which is the ch a ra cter

istic o f modern E ngli s h ga mes P erh a ps they h a d more o f
.

thi s th a n the Greeks but with both the boa t ra ces t o wh i ch -

,

we sh a ll refer here a fter s eem to be the only a thletic conte st

,

inwhich the e ffort wa s not th a t o f one individ ua l a g a i n st

an other .

Th a t the Rom a n idea l in the m a tter o f a thletic exerci s e

wa s n o t s o lofty a s th a t o f the Greek m ust be co n fe s s e d
but o n the other h a n
,
d it wa s ch a ra cteri stica lly pra ctic a l
, ,

an d the doctri n e th a t it was everybody s duty to get a n

’

a ppetite fo r dinner inthi s p a rtic ul a r wa y wa s if homely yet , ,

o f d a ily cogency a nd well ca lcul a ted to form regul a r

,

h a bits .

It was only when the in fusion o f Greek a n d Orient a l

corruption s h a d destroyed the grea ter s implicity o f Rom a n
li fe th a t these energetic d a ily exerci ses m a de wa y fo r a
,

m ore e asy a n d indol e n t style The ch a nge wa s not witho ut

.

its e ffect upon the n a tion a l ch a ra cter Wh a t would a C a t o

.

o r even a l ux urio us M m c e n as h a ve tho ught o f the loo s e

an d e fie m in a t e h a bit s o f the Rom a n nobility in the d e e n

'

g e

ra te da ys o f the decline a nd fa ll ? Apa rt from oth e r

i nfl uence s the con sta nt s pect a cle o f gl a di a tori a l comb a t s o r
, ,

o f the be a st s gl utted with h um a n flesh in the a mphithea tre ,

an d the horrible plea s ure derived from s uch s ight s a s they ,

bec a me more a nd m ore common m ust h a ve gra d ua ll y ,

engendered ha bits o f tho ught a nd feeling a lie nto those wit h

which a m a nly a nd vigoro us spirit is susta ined a nd it is no t
 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION .

wo n derful tha t when these h o rrors were sta mped o ut by th e

be n e fic e n t in fl uence o f C hri stia nity they left th e Rom an
,

r a ce a nd tho se s ubj ect to it in a n enerva ted condition

w i thout th a t d a i ly h a bit o f h a rd exerci s e which h a d been
th e s o urce o f s o m uch person a l vigour to the conq uerors o f
th e world .

C a n it be owi n g t o thi s tha t the L a tin ra ce s in Eflec t o n '

La m m es
E urope a t the pre se nt time h a ve so few ga mes i nwhich '

p hy s ic a l exerci s e is ta ken The o ld Rom a n g a me o f b a ll

s eem s to h a ve a s urviva l in a ga me which is s till p l a yed in

t s of I t a ly a n d in the F rench je u de p a ume (pil a l

p a r , p a

m a ri a ) which wa s ext remely pop ul a r in the middle a ges

, .

Po s s ibly tenni s is a l so a descend a nt o f the sa me origi na l

s toc k tho ugh the pre se n
,
t form o f the ga me is if the story
,

b e true due to a ccide n

,
t a l a nd origi na lly loca l c a uses j ust
,

a s the E ton fives ga me owe s its pec uli a ritie s to the s t a irs

an d b uttre s s o f the o ld ch a pel . B ut with the se exception s

there do not seem t o be a ny g a mes th a t deserve the na me

o f a thletic on the C onti n e nt Gymn as tic exerci ses there a re
.
,

an d milita ry tra i n i ng enough a nd to s pa re but these do not

,

in a n w a y repre s ent a n cient a thletics or fulfil the s a me

y ,

o ffice a s the s oci a l ga mes which a re th e proper pas times o f

youth in merrie E ng l a nd .
”
 A TE R
CH P III .

DEV EL O PM ENT O F A THLETICS IN THE INDIV IDUA L .

Cra vin g fo r e x er c i se in h um a n n a tu re — T h e i n fa nt— S e nso r i al m o t i o n

— Th e g ro win c h ild— Fid et s— Lo ve o f c h a n e B e in n i n f
g g g g g
h
o

educ a t o n Need o f c a re a n
i — d d isc ri m in a ti o n Th e wh o le b ein
—
g t o

be c o n si de red — B o y life o n ly trea ted o f h erc han g e t o s c h o o l

life — Priva te sc h o o l t ra in in g
— C o m p e t it io n— Pl a y a n d w o r k
Lo a fers— A th leti c s o f sc h o ol life— G ym n a stic s n o sub sti tut e fo r
—
g a m es C erta nex e rc ise s c o m pulso ry R ec o rd t o be ept Pun
i — k —
i s h m e n t s— P u b lic s h
c oo l— M a tu e
r li fe — M isuse o f a th let ic s
Neg —
lec t Tra inin ne c essa ry for ny t e ffo rt
g a g rea .

I. A th leti c s B UT in order to tra ce the origin o f a thletics if th a t is ,

c ra ving fo r In
germ ne to o ur pres ent p urpos e we sh a ll ha ve to g o
a
h um a nn a ture
.
,

fur ther b a ck th a nGreece or Rome or eve nthe s till hi g h e r ,

a ntiq uity o f E gy pt The truth is th a t t h e cra ving fo r

.
,

exerci se is a pa rt o f hea lthy hum a n n a t ure The ver y .

c rie s th a t the i n fa nt utters whe n it first e n ters i nto thi s

world a re the first exerci se o f the l ungs in the e x
,

2. Th e infant p
.
a n s io n a nd contr a c t i o n nece s s a ry to li fe The w a vi n g .

o f the ti n y h a nd s a nd the kicking o f the little feet i n

, ,

s eemingl y me a n i ngle ss a nd a imless motio n a re the me a ns ,

whereby the circ ul a tion o f the blood a nd the nervo us

a ction nece ss a ry to growth a n d exp a n s io n a re m a i nta i ne d .

E a ch a ctionis a ccompa nied by wa ste o f ti ssue which boo n ,

n a ture repl a ces with interest a nd a ccum ul a ted energy i n

, ,

the hea lthy body There is plea sure in thi s to thos e

.

wh o wa tch with a mother s pride the vigorous e ffort a n

’
d
the signs o f growth a nd hea lth in their o ffspri ng a nd th a t ,

there is inn a te plea s ure in the a ction itsel f is testified by th e

dim p led l a ughter a nd the crowi ng o f the i nfa nt a nim a l life
,
.

The sensori a l motio n which a git a tes th e limbs o f t h e

 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION .

yo ung is the hidden ca use o f the first physica l exercise — in

a word o f i n
, fa nt a thletics The more vigorous the a nim a l
.

li fe the more consta nt a n d prono unced is thi s pl a y o f the

limb s Here is the beginning o f ga mes a n
. d o f all a t hleti c
exerci se " Wh a t cruel misconception first i nvented swa dd
ling C lothes P We re m em ber s eeing some years a g o in
So uthern Europe in a cotta ge a mong the hi ll s a n in fa nt
, ,

tightly bound in these a bomin a tions o n a boa rd which

proj ect e d a bove its he a d h a nging on a peg like a pict ure
,

a g a in s t th e wa ll . It seemed mon strous cruel ty O ur .

firs t imp ul s e wa s to ta ke it downa nd rele ase it but it was ,

the c us tom o f the count ry a nd a s such co uld not be inter

,

fe t ed with by s tra ngers however benevolent

, .

A s g rowth progresses the bo n es a re gra d ua lly h a rdened 4 “ w 18

,

m g m d
an d the fra mework knit together more firmly a n d still as
'

i n the ca s e o f the grea t ora tor so fo r the perfection,

a ctio n a ction a ctio n is

’
o f n a t ure s pl as tic m as terpiece , , , ,

ne cessa ry The gro wing child fi nd s thi s in pl a y ; if not

.

a llowed to pl a y he fi dg et s Fidgets a re often provoca tive a Fidg t

. . e s.

o f wr a t h i nh is elders One o ften hea rs a Child scolded in

.

a s ome wh a t a n gry tone : Why c a nt y o u sit still ?

’
It
w o uld be better if in stea d o f feeling a nnoyed
, C orrector,

B e sti us returned a n swer t o him s el f The C hild ca nt s it

,
’

s t ill na t ure infa ct does not intend him a t present to do so .

She is sti m ul a ting him through h is nerves fo r the s a ke o f

h is gr owth .He is n o t fi dg e t ing thro ugh m a lic e pr ep ense .

H e is not doing it on p urpos e ; he m a y indeed contro l it

by a n a c t o f h is will ; but the thing itsel f is i n vol unt a ry ;
an d it is very doubtful whether on most occas ion s he , ,

sho uld be c a lled to s top it by a direct a c t o f h is will It .

m a y i ns ome c a s es be good di scipli n e fo r him to do s o but ,

a pers on who unde rs t a nd s children an d loves them will

, ,

genera lly succeed in a ba ting the nui sa nce without m a ki ng

an y s u ch dem a nd The
. obj ect i on a ble fidg et a ri ses from

l a ck o f other employment co ngeni a l to the mome nt

S upply thi s or divert the a ttention to so methi ng th a t
,

interes ts a nd t h e nerve centres will h a ve work to do a n

, d ,

th e phys ica l need be sa ti sfied .

 A THL E TICS ; O R ,

It is interesting to observe th a t th e delight in novel ty ,

an d the quickness with which children ch a nge from o n e

thing to a nother the very fi c kle ness with which they dro p
,

tha t which ple ased them fo r th e moment is unco nscious ,

Obedience to the la w o f n a ture which re quires ch a nge as a

,

mea n s o f resting one set o f m uscles a nd nerves a nd o f ,

giving employment to a nother set in its t urn The very .

j oy which they express is the outwa rd s ign o f their

Obedience t o the na t ura l la w A s they grow older they
.

become c a p a ble o f more susta ined e ffort a nd less rea dy to ,

cha nge but the divergences o f tas te a nd o f a bility whic h

,

di fferenti a te the Ch a ra cter a re in them selves the evidence o f

the va ri a ble a mo unt in which in di fferent individua ls
, ,

a ccording to either heredita ry di s position o r di ffere n ce o f

food or other C irc um sta nces the ti ssues h a ve be en used a n
, d
repl a ced with interest d uring in fa ncy a nd e a rly childhood .

The conseq uence s o f mi sm a na gement a nd o f illtrea tment

d uring thi s period a re fa r rea chi ng M a ny others be side
- .

Mephibo sheth h a ve suffered in body till the da y o f their

dea th owi ng to the ca relessness o f their n urse Ho w m a ny
, .

h a vesuffered menta lly a nd mora lly even worse thi ngs from
th e s a me ca use or from the ign
, ora nce o f the truth o f
n a ture a nd the s imple rules o f hea lth on the p a rt o f those
to whom they body a nd soul were entrusted "
, ,

5. B eg n
in i n
g s A s the child grow s older the need o f ed uc a tion i s
° f “ m am “
recogni sed in view o f the future a nd the pra ctica l dem a nd s
,

o f li fe
. L e s so ns begi n .The bra in h as its a llotted ta sk s to
perform ; a nd so in m a ny c ases a kind o f conflict begin s
together with lesson s To some in whom the sen sori a l a ction
.

is vigoro us lesson s a re more irksome th a n t o others ; they

a re ve ry o fte nca lled n a ughty Their a thletics a re ill timed
.
-

an d it m ust be con fessed provoking to those wh o des ire to

d o their d uty in the wa y o f te a ching Others a re rea dy
.

enough to ta ke to book s a nd like being t a ught a nd a re

, ,

quick a nd receptive o f k nowledge ; but in m a ny i nsta nces

these show a di st a ste fo r a ny but the s m a llest a nd ea s iest
a moun t o f bodily exerci se They prefer sitti ng in a nd
.
,

dislike going o ut How ca reful h o w di scri mi na ti ng should

. ,
 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION .

be the trea tment o f childre nv a ryi ng a s they d o inc a p a cit y

,

an d power me n , ta l a nd bodily " All need lesson s All .

need exerci se .

B ut h o w m uch c a re is nece ssa ry o n the p a rt o f those 5 Need o f ,

w h o h a ve to superi n tend either o r both o f t hese " How c nm ina tion w e nd m a s'

n n
.

p a rtic u l a rly c a r e ful t hey s h o uld be o t t o ove r s tr a i the

t e nder gro wth by impo s i ng o r a llowing th a t which is
c o ntra ry to the requirements o f n a ture not the n a ture o f
—
the bod y o r o f th e mind only but th e n a t ure o f m a nwh o ,

h a s both " N urses a n d governe ss e s a re often uncon scious ly

to rt urers C hildren a re m a de to t a ke long wa lks o r to sit

.
,

t o o lo n g a t lessons a nd the powe rs a nd i nclin a tion s o f their

,

e lders a re pervers ely m a de the mea s ure o f wh a t is good fo r

them The results becom e a ppa rent l a ter o n Insome is bred

. .

the di s like o f a ctive exercise in others a na bsol ute di sta s te

,

fo r a n y ment a l exertion E xtreme

. s meet a n d s imil a r

re sults follo w th a t ind ulgence which is fooli sh in yieldi ng

w he nit o ught n o t to yield t o the ch ildi sh des ire t o g o o ut

o r t o s ta y in to le a ve its less on s unfini shed o r to s it poring

, ,

over a book o r drea ming a nd doing nothi ng a t a ll These

,
.

things va ry infi nitely in di ff ere nt i ndividua l s It need s a .

w ise a n d di scrimin a ti n g p a rent to determi ne the r eg i m e

s uit a ble to the C hild o f h is love M uch h a s a lre a dy been
.

w ritten a n d m uch n o do ubt will be w ritten upon the subj ect

o f e a rly ed uc a tion It is do ubt ful whether m uch c a n be

.

lea rnt from books upon the que stion .

B ut o n e thing a t le a s t is certa i n th a t n
, , o sy stem c a nbe 7 Th e wh o le
,
.

be in n t
s a ti s fa cto ry m uch le ss s ucce ss ful which doe s n
o
o t provide
, , m i n o bo d y r

fo r the he a lthy tr a ining o f the whole bei n g o f the child p t t o b a ar , e

c on
,
side ed
divi ding a nd distin g ui shing menta l a nd bodily exercise if
r .

it will but a t the sa me time c o ordin a ti ng them in due

,
-

rela tion s to ea ch other a nd providing by el a sticity o f

,

method fo r the divers i ty o f a bility a nd i ncli na tion wi th

which it h as to dea l The a im a nd obj e ct o f rig ht ed uc a
.

tion whether e a rly o r l a te m ust be the m en

, , s sca m in
c o rpor e sa n
”
o .

B ut we s h a ll be a cc used o f w a ndering from o u r s u bj ect 8 B o y life

,
.

on ly t ea ted
d o f h a ving q uitted the a thletics o f the pera mb ul a to r a n
r
an d of he e r .

[ IL 2 4 ] C
 A THL E TICS OR ,

th e schoolro om fo r the gra ver a nd wider subject o f ge n e ra l

e d uc a tion . We m ust h urry b a ck to o ur t a sk o f tra ci ng th e
hi story o f a thletics in the i ndivid ua l as he deve lo ps a nd ,

we h a ve now come to the momentous period inthe li fe o f

th e growing bo y whe nhe le a ves the home c a re with a ll its ,

c om fort a n d ind ulgent restra int fo r the very di fferent ,

di scipline o f a priva te school We a re s pea king o f boys

.

only in connectio n with thi s subject o f a th letics no t

, ,

bec a use we think th a t a thletic s a ccording to o ur definition

a re a lien t o girl li fe a n d belong to bo y li fe a lone but the , ,

two di ffer so m uch inch a ra cter th a t it is more co nvenient

t o tre a t o f th e s ubject in rel a tion to th e o ther se x i na
s epa ra te ch a pter .

9. C h a ng e The bo y p a ss e s to a s chool a nd a con,sider a ble ch a nge t a kes

“
335 31503 pl a ce in the h a bits th a t a re en forced upon him both bodily ,

life . an d ment a l . He m a y h a ve h a d brothers a nd s i sters to d o

h is less on s with a n d to pl a y with but even so th e m a i n ,

cha nge in h is condition is th a t the soc i a l element no w fo r

the first t ime enters i nto h is a thletics as well a s i nto h is
lesson s He competes with h is superiors equa l s i nferiors
n
.
, ,

in bod y a n d i mi nd inh is pl a y a nd inh is wo rk The

, .

consequence is a s a rule a higher tension in both Indi

, , .

vid ua ls va ry infi n itely a nd a ccording to c a pa bilities a nd

,

di spos ition S o does the pl a y a nd the work o f the s chool

.

a ffect them H e re a s be fo re we m a y pa use to excl a i m

.
, , ,

How grea t a respo ns ibili ty is theirs wh o underta ke the

ca re o f boys betweenth e a ges o f sa y eight a nd fourteen , ,

Io O bj
. ec ts Wh a t is the object tha t they propo se to them selves in
g i g fi a tion to the tra i n
‘ e

fi y zz c ol
rel ing o f the se C hildren ? Is it s ucce s s a s
train in g measured by th e n umber o f sch ol a rships th a t th e school
c a ng a in a t the p ublic school s ? or the n umbe r o f boys th a t

re pl a ced in the highe st fo rm pos s ible o nentra n ce Or i

a s

it th a t c a re o f the bo y which without m uch solicitude a bout

menta l a dva ncement exhibits him well kempt a nd c a red
fo r a s reg a rd s h is bodily exterior t o a fon
, d mother wh o
, ,

will sa y perh a ps to her friends Well I a m a fra id th a t my

,
“
,

de a r boy doe s not know a s m uch a rithmetic o r L a ti n

gra mm a r a s he ought to k now but then y o u k now M r , , , .
 A THL E TICS ; O R ,

ment a nd ki ndness At a ny ra te if he ca nnot be preva iled

.
,

upon to pl a y c a re s ho uld be ta ken th a t he h as ope na ir

,
.
-

e xerci s e in d ue pro portion to h is powers a n d with the

View to develop them .

(3 Lo f rs
. a e There a re we a re i nclined to thi nk very fe w boys who
.
, ,

co uld no t be ind uced to pl a y a t ga me s but a s a m a tter o f ,

fa ct there a re a g re a t m a ny who do n o t pl a y except by c o m

p ul sion Some o f these a re st ude nts by na t ure a nd prefe r

.
,

ment a l work to bodily exerci s e B ut m a ny o f tho s e wh o .

do no t pl a y do not work except upon comp ul sion Thes e , .

a re they who a re c a lled by their m o re vigorous c on

temp o ra ries m uffs ” “

These furnish recruits t o the l a rge
a rmy o f lo a fers a host which inpoi nt o f mere n umbers
“
,

exceed s we s uspect tha t o f the e nergetic workers phys ic a l

, , ,

an d in tellect ua l p ut to gether The se a re they who m hom e

, .

ed uc a tion h a s s poilt a nd the priv a te scho ol ed uc a ti o n if

, ,

they h a ve h a d it fa iled to recover , Thes e furni sh .

s p e ct a tors to a ny ga mes which req uire pl uck e nd ur ,

an ce a nd s el f control but no t the a ctors in it Theirs

,
-
, .

is the e n dle ss go ss ip a nd do nothi ng excitement a nd ga pi ng -

idleness which a gre a t m a ny excell e nt perso ns pers i s t in

,

confoundi ng with a thletics with cricket a nd boa ting a nd , ,

footb a ll o f which the s e worthie s a re a ll but guiltless

, .

r4 N . nta g o
oa It sho uld be the obj ect o f a school to prod uce as few a s
It is n o t prete n
2 3 3 3
6
5

2 32 5 po
8
ssible o f thi s type d e d here fo r a
2 d l y moment tha t boys who pl a y well a lwa ys work well o r a re
1
o a
.

go
p .
,

a lw a y s fo n d o f their lesso ns A gre a t m a ny d o work w e l l .

a s well a s pl a y well more th a n it is the fa shion to s uppo s e

, .

There is no a nta goni s m betwee ngood work a nd goo d pl a y ,

an y more th a n there i s betwee n the m e ns sa na a nd t h e

“
c orp us so m em The two a re q uite comp a tibl e B ut there
. .

a re m a ny who a re me n ta lly slow a nd physic a lly vigo ro us , ,

who rejoice intheir g a mes but do no t fi nd the s a me jo y in ,

their lessons These not unfreque ntly though they m a y

.
,

no t shine in litera ry pursuits find it d ifli c ult to p a ss a ny

'

o f the ex a mi n a tio ns which n o w like three he a ded C erbe ri -

g ua rd the porta ls o f most profe s s ions ; yet if th ey ,

do pa ss a re found no t to be a whit i nferior a s p ublic

, ,
 P H YS ICA L EX ER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION .

se rva nts a s s oldiers a s clerg yme n or in a ny other p ro

, , ,

f e ss io n to their fellows a n
, d o fte n dis cover in the work o f
,

l i fe in the b us i ne s s o f their profession q ua lities o f the

, ,

h ighe st v a l ue the exi stence o f which in them the ex a miner

,

w h o looked ove r their p a pers a n d perh a ps j ust did not

,

p l uck th e m c o,u ld s c a rc e ly
,
h a ve divined It s ho uld be the .

o bj ect o f s chool te a chi n g a s well a s o f school discipli ne to

look a fter the i nterests o f the m en s sa n a in these a nd to
“
,

keep up the sta nda rd o f their intellectua l work This w ill .

no t be done wi sely by c urt a ili ng the a mo unt o f o ut o f d o or - -

e xerci s e th a t a vigoro us body req uires but ra ther by ,

s e izi n g o n the times when ta lk ra ther th a n work o f a ny , ,

ki nd is ri fe ; by m a ki ng the hours d ue t o prepa ra tion o f

le s s ons t o be rea lly employed in the work ; a bove a ll by
kind ness a nd e nco ura geme nt a n a logo us to tha t which we ,

s a id before should be extended to tho se wh o di s like

pl a yi ng a t ga mes a nd by a s little p unishme nt qud punis h
,

m e nt a s pos sible .

And here we re a ch the import a nt a nd s omewh a t 1 5 Th th . e a

formid a ble q ue stion wh a t should be the a thletics o f s ch o o l 1 32

5 “
,

li fe C h ie fly a n d prim a rily th e ordi n a ry o ut o f door g a m e s - -

the s e sho uld be a s free a s p o ss ible from the compul sory

i ncidents which m a ke them a bsol utely distas teful i n li m ine
to the wea ker o ne s We sh a ll s pe a k o f a thletics a t p ublic
.

s chool s a n d un ivers itie s more p a rticul a rly herea fter a nd ,

will here confi ne Ours elves to the a thletics o f younger

b o y s C ricket a nd fo otb a ll fives a nd ro unders a nd
.
, ,

n se a s o n provide fo r vigoro us
’
p ri s oner s b a s e a ll
,
i their
boy s the a m usement s they require Everythi ng possible .

sh o uld be d o n e to enco ura ge the wea ker ones t o t a ke their

a rt int h e s e g a me s to end ure a little h a rdnes s a n d to pl ay
p , ,

their be st .

B ut there a re s ome thi n gs which do no t belong to the G y ns m a

c a tegory o f ga mes which might well be i ns i ste d o n ingggtstéfi

,
c
l
‘

or

th e tr a nn o
i i g f i ndivid u a l s b e i ng good ,
fo r the developme n t g a e - m f»

o f t h e phy s ic a l powers The yo ung A ugust us o ught no t

.

to n eglect in h is yo uth th a t which h is imperi a l na mesa ke

tho ught nece ssa ry fo r h is hea lth e ve n in a dv a nced li fe .
 A THL E TICS OR,

Running a nd j umping s hould be a regul a r p a rt o f school

t ra ini n
”
g Besides a good stout rope fo r tug o f wa r
. ,

para llel b a rs a nd the va ulti ng hors e not to o ta ll fo r little

, ,

boys a re a ll the gymn a s tic furniture th a t a school re quires

,
.

The use o f them is ea s ily ta ught a nd the exerc is es use ful

,

inkind . A s fo r gymn as tics tech n ic a lly so ca lled we d o no t ,

a dvoc a te them a s des ira ble fo r boys a t s cho ol They a re .

us e ful for yo ung m e n a t the university who con scio us in , ,

them selves o f l a cki ng physica l development vol unta rily ,

unde rt a ke the course B ut in them the pro fe s s ion a l

.

instructor s pres ence a nd guida nce is necessa ry a nd they

’
,

s ho uld n o t be e ntered upon without such supervis ion They .

a re very de sira ble fo r yo un g soldiers a nd fo r m enwho se,

p hy s iq u e req uire s developme n t fo r the better perform a nce

o f their d uties B ut a t school if comp ul so ry they a re a pt
.
, ,

to i n terfere with th a t free a nd n a tura l developm e nt which

the j oy o f a ga me a lone c a n give a nd it is doubt ful ,

whether the system is not t o o a rtifici a l to be quite in

h a rmon y with n a ture in the process o f development A ny .

s ubstit utiono f tech n ic a l gy mn as tics fo r ga mes wo uld be a

grea t mista ke Evenif the body which is very doubtful
.
, ,

would in a ny wa y be perm a ne ntly a g a iner thereby there ,

is n o doubt th a t the m e n ta l a nd mora l being would lose

en o rmous ly Th e re is a lwa ys some l ittle di ffi culty in
.

tea chi ng Chicke ns h a tched by a ni ncuba tor to pick up t heir

fo o d in the n a t ura l wa y a n d such is t h e entirely a rtifici a l
,

C h a ra cter o f a s trict gym n a s tic sy stem th a t even if it w a s

, ,

succe ss ful i n t urni n g o ut a l a rge n umber o f boys with the

nerves a nd s i news a nd m uscles o f a crob a t s it wo uld not ,

h a ve supplied them with thos e q ua lities mora l a nd phys ic a l , ,

which in the E ngli s h la d a re n urt ured a n d bro ught t o

per fection inh is ga mes .

At the sa me time there a re certa i n exerci ses which m a y

,

be s a id to belong to the gym na stic course which we wo uld

a dvoc a te a s comp ul s ory be s ide the r un ni ng a nd j umpi ng
a bove me n tioned The se a re the extension moti o ns a nd
.

e leme n t a ry drill Witho ut being violent exercis e they te nd

.

t o se t up the body a n d ex pa n d the C hes t They sho uld no t .

 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TIOIV .

be contin ued to o long a t a time es pe ci a lly wit h th e younger

,

bo ys A s hort ha l hour every morni ng should sufii c e fo r

. f -

thi s comp uls ory tra ining in phys ica l exercis es viz running , .
,

j umpi ng extension motion

,
s drill which s ho uld a ltern a t e
, ,

an d be c a refully gra d ua ted so a s t o suit th e po wers a n d

he a lth o f the boys .

It ca n n ot be to o stro ngly in sisted on th a t wea ther per ,

m itti n g a ll boys exerci ses a n

,
’
d ga m es should be co nd ucted
inthe O pen a ir .

Ten hours fo r rest seven hours fo r work se ven ho urs fo r

, ,

mea l s a nd rec rea tio n is a fa ir divi s ion o f t h e twenty four

,
-

h o urs fo r young boys .

At a ll school s a book should be kept inwhich should be 1 8 Rec o d . r

entered the n a me o f e a ch boy with the record o f h is gg ? and

,
i

gr wth height me rement ro nd the che t a nd weight

o , , a s u u s d e velO Pm
,
e nt

a t the beginni g n o r end o f e ch chool time h is a g e in yea rs

a s -
,

an d month s being a l so correctly given These ta ble s if

.
,

regul a rly a nd a ccura tely kept would be i nva l ua ble as

,

s t a ti s tic s inm a n y wa ys A form is a ppended which might

.

b e fo und use ful fo r the p urpose (See .pp 2 5 .

,

An d here we would a d d o n e word a bo ut the di ffi c ult 1 9 Pm i h . s

en ” m
subject o f p uni s hment O f corpora l puni shment we sa y
.

no thi ng Solomon s a dvice is no t in fa vour in modern

.
’

times B ut it is m uch t o be fea red th a t the punishments

.

i nflicted o nboys in m a ny c a ses rob them o f the a mount o f

time th a t they ought fo r their physica l well being to spend
,
-
,

i nthe Open a ir a n ,d th a t with o ut doi n g a ny good to their

m i nd s At a priva te school mig ht no t puni shm e nt drill o r
.

w a lki ng exercise sometimes be sub stituted fo r the other

a ltern a ti v e o f s itting in a t a de s k a n d writing a nimposition
Bo ys wo uld di slike it a s a p un. i shment j ust a s m uch o r
,

more a nd they would th us be m a de to feel their fa ult with

,

o ut a n y detriment to their phys ic a l li fe P a i ns s hould be

.

ta ke no na ll h a nd s to red uce p uni shment to the minim um

compa tible with good di scipline a nd ind ustry There is a .

wi se sentence in o ne o f the L a ti nexerci se books which a ll

tea chers m a y well la y to hea rt Do y o u find fa ult with your
.

se l f a s ofte n a s y o u inflict a p un i shment o na n y one el se ?

 A THL E TICS OR ,

30 Sa We believe tha t if the phy sic a l exerci se a nd recrea tion o f

bo ys a t p riva te school s were the object o f such c a re a s h a s
be en indica ted a bove not only would the intelle ctua l
,

st a nd a rd not be lowered but the q ua lity o f the bra in work

,

would be improved We cert a i nly should se e fewer c a s es

.

o f those wh o suff ering from the pre ssure o f prepa r a ti o n fo r

,

a competitive ex a min a tion between the a ge s o f nine a n d

fourteen o r fi fteen a re in the ye a rs th a t succeed st a le a n
, d
li stless a nd un a ble to work up to the sta nda rd to which as
,

picked boys they o ught to a tta i n We should we believe .

, ,

se e fewer
“
lo a fers a nd more o f those hea lthy a nd vigoro us
”
,

s pecime n s wh o exhibit to the credit o f tho se Wh o h a ve h a d

,

the ca re o f their ed uc a tion a hea lthy mind in a he a lthy

,
”
body .

B ut li fe moves o na n d t h e boy q uits t h e priv a te s chool ,

an d prob a bly enters the l a rger world o f a p ublic school a n d ,

find s in th a t l a rger world more freedom a nd a w ider C hoice

o f comp a nio n s an d pa stimes Grea t a s is the ch a nge th e
.
,

h a bits o f this previous li fe will a cco mp a ny him a nd w il l

s ilently determine m uch o f h is c a reer Ins ome re spect s h e
.

will be m uch more h is o wnm a ster a nd if incli ne d t o do ,

nothing in the wa y o f phys ic a l exertionwill be a ble to d o a

m inim um . The rules o f the house o r o f the s chool m a y
compel him t o pl a y a t thi s o r th a t g a me so m a ny times a
week a ga i nst h is will but he will no t energi se m uch if h e
, ,

o nly pl a ys o ncompul s ion no r will he get m uch good fro m

,

the ga me If o n the contra ry he is keen to pl a y he will

.
, ,

find a mple opportunities o f coming to the front a nd a mpl e ,

delight in the exercise a nd the i ntere st which the contest o f

s kill o r o f speed a n d end ura nce bri n gs with it And a s h is .

fra me is knit together a n d h is power i ncre a s es so will h is

ple asure increa se a nd the wholesome a mbition fo r d ist inc
,

tiona mong h is school fellows And if he is con scientio us

.
,

an d work s well a s well a s pl a y s well h is ple a s ure a n d pro fit

,

wi ll be a ll the grea ter Bra in wi ll h e lp nerve a nd m uscle

.
,

an d nerve a n d m uscle will help bra in An d if he ta ke s .

p a rt inimport a nt co ntests inwhich he m a y with others be

re pre se n ti ng h is h o use or h is school he will soo nlea rnthe ,
 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION .

REC O R D O F

P HY S IC A L PR O G R E S S O F PU PIL S

D IR E C T IO NS FO R U S E O F TA B L E S .

1. Ea ch n a me should h a ve a pa ge to itsel f .

2 . E ntries should be m a de a t the begi nning o r the end

o f e a ch term o r o ftener a t re g ul a r interva l s
, , .

3. Height i
, n feet a nd inche s T a ken in s t o cki
. n g s o r

b a re feet n o boot s o n .

4 . C he s t me a su rement in inche s H a nd s a bove he. a d ,

a rm s extended th umb s cro ss ed pa lm s turned t o th e fro n

, , t .

P upil to t a ke full bre a th a nd then count ten a loud slow ly

, , , .

M e a s urement ta ken with l a st n umber over ba re che st o r , ,

thi nje rsey only .

Weight t be t ken between 8 — 0 A M r u le

5.
,
o a 1 a s a . .
, .

T a k e o ff coa t a nd wa i stcoa t a nd boots a nd a nythi ng , ,

hea vy o ut o f pockets .

6 Rem a rk s
. . Under rem a rks a ny serious illness o r
a ccide n t interfering with progress should be noticed .

Aver ge I t wo u ld be us e ful a t the e n d b

7. a s . o r e ,

ginning o f e a ch term o r a nn ua lly to ta ke a ggrega te

, ,

( )
I . N umber o f p u pil s .

Aggrega te yea rs month s , .

Agg rega te (i ) height . .

ii
( ) che s.t .

( )
ii i weight .

Divide the a ggrega tes by n umber o f pupil s a nd ,

the norm a l fi g ure fo r th e school will be obt a i ned .

Ta ke tota l n umber o f boys within cert a i n limits

o f ag e an d divi de by t ha t n umber their a g g re
ga tes within those limits a nd n o rm a l ra te fo r ,

a g e will be obt a i n ed .
A TE L E m s ; OR ,
 A THL E TICS ; OR ,

pl a ce With m a ny such exerci se a s they do t a ke h a s init

.
,

more o f d uty tha n o f plea s ure No do ubt a t firs t the a g e

.

o f pl a y a n d the a g e o f busine ss overl a p e a ch other H a p py .

the yo ung m a n wh o bringing from school or colleg e t o

,

the business desk a he a lthy body a nd a hea lthy m i nd ,

m a inta i ns as long a s he c a n the h a bit o f he a lth ful

exerci se suit a ble to h is powers H a ppy the C ity clerk w h o
.

c a n a fter b us ine s s hours get o n h is bicycle a good l un

, ,
g
fi llin g dr a ught o f p ure co unt ry a i r H a ppy he w .h o c a n g o

down to Putney o r Ki ngston a nd get a good spi no nt h e

,

river in h is cl ub eight or four The time o f co urs e will .

come whenhe will h a ve to give thi s up but a s l o ng a s h e ,

c a ndo it a n d feel a ll the better fo r it so long he s h o uld ,

re si st the i nevita ble concl us io n th a t will be forc e d up o n

him some d a y or other tha t it is to o m uch trouble tha t h e ,

c a nnot a ffo rd the time a nd the like Wi se is the m a nwh o

,
.
,

when h is time come s a n d the l o ve o f c as e is g a i ni n

, g
ground yet still re fuse s to drive i nto the C ity in t h e
,

m orni n g a nd wa lk s in a nd w a lk s o ut to h is pl a ce o f
,

b usiness fro m h is house or from the s ta tion a nd conti nues ,

t o m a ke h is legs d o their d uty tow a rd s keeping h is bo dy

hea lthy It h a s beensa id th a t a m a nunder five a nd fo rty
.
- -
,

in order to keep h is body in s oun d hea lth o ught t o t a k e ,

exerci se equiva lent to a wa lk o f ni ne mil e s eve ry da y V ery .

fe w m e n we s uspect except such a s by their occ up a tio n

, ,

a re com pe lled to le a d a n o ut o f door li fe -

regul a rly d o
-
,

an ything a mo unti ng to thi s Y et it is well to h a ve a

.

s t a nd a rd o f comp a ri son It is well a l s o t o h a ve a C l e a r

.

c o nception o f the re a son fo r co nti nui ng such phys ic a l

l a bo ur a t a time whe n the i ncli na tion to sp a re him s e l f
trouble is gra d ua lly growi ng upo n a m a n The exerci se .

is fo r the benefit o f he a rt a n d l un gs a nd bra in a nd fo r th a t ,

w hich is li fe sus t a i n -i ng inth e m It is recre a tio na nd rest

.

to o ne C l a ss o f m us cles a nd nerves while it give s their d ue,

sh a re of vibra tio n a nd exp a ns ion a nd contra ction t o

a nother .

The a thletics o f i nfa nt li fe were a s we sa w invo l unta ry

, , ,

but it o ft e n re quire s a s tro n g e ffort o f wil l to m a i nta i n

 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TIOIV .

th e proportion o f a th letics a s yea rs a dva nc e but

d ue ,

we believe th a t if the ex a mple o f the a ncient Rom a n s

was m ore ge n era lly followed in thi s p a rticul a r respect we ,

sho uld h a ve fewer e a rly coll a p s e s fewer hypochondri a c s , ,

fe wer dy s peptics fewer p a llid fa ce s with pend a nt cheek s

, ,

fewer fa tty unwieldy fi g ure s more vigorous genera lly

, , ,

h e a lthy bodie s a n d certa inl y n

,
o t less genera lly he a lthy

m in ds .

B ut it m a y be replied Gra nti ng a ll tha t y o u cl a im fo r 2 3 Misuse o f

,
.

a t h letic s rightly used gr a n ti ng eve ntha t they a re no t the

,

an ta go n i t to work
s s a n n
d me t a l ind ust ry th a t they a re t im e

v e ry ge n era lly supposed to be eve ny o u will a dmit not,

on ly th a t it is po ss ible to mi s use a thletics but th a t a s a

m a tter o f fa ct they a re freq ue n tly mi s used We a re no t .

q uite sure a s to the reply to be given to thi s a ssertion ,

un til we know wha t is mea nt by mi suse We will a dmit .

t h a t if a m a n goes t o ro w o nthe river when he o ught t o

be a t h is desk in the C ity he is in a se nse mi sus i ng
,

a thletic s but the m a n a n

,
d not a thletics sho uld bea r the
, ,

bl a m e in this ca s e j ust a s m uch a s if he was pl a yi ng a t

,

billi a rd s o r sto pping in bed a nd rea ding a novel o r doi ng

, ,

an ythi ng el se th a t pleas ed him in stea d o f doing h is d uty .

T h i s is no t th a t ki nd o f mi sus e a ga in st which we a re ~

speci a lly co n cerned to w a rnhim inthi s h a ndbook D uty .

be fo re ple a s ure is the rule o f the m en s s a w i nc or or e

p
sa n an d if he neglects thi s rule he m ust be a r h is o wn
”
o , ,

burden .

B ut there a re cert a in mi s use s o f a thletic s a ga i nst which 6 O ve ta in g . r- x

f ”w “
we a re bound here t o li ft up o ur voice .
° e

First with rega rd to boys They a re ve ry a pt to

, .

mi sj udge their power They will a ttempt to do thi ngs

.

o ut o f proportion to their s tre n gth whether in runni ng or , ,

inli fti n g weight s or in p utti ng the stone o r in performi ng

, ,

fe a ts fo r the sa ke o f a dmir a tion o r to o utdo somebody ,

els e They therefore require some wa tchi ng a nd c a re in

.

thi s res pect o nthe p a rt o f those who ha ve cha rge o f them ,

an d th a t n o t in s uch a w a y a s to di s co ura ge them fro m

progress a ccording to their strength but to prevent the m ,

 A THL E TICS ; OR ,

from doing things either beyond their strength o r int h e ,

wrong wa y .

For inst a nce a boy t rying to li ft a weight which t a x e s

,

h is stre ngth will a lmo st a lw a y s unle ss se t right s ta nd in , ,

s uch a wa y as to throw a n und ue stra in upon h is

a bdomin a l m us cle s an d run the ri s k o f stra i n
, ing a nd
perh a ps rupt uri ng him s el f The exerci ses which a re .

tech nica lly ca lled Athletic S ports a re ofte n fra ught

with d a nger o f this kind especi a lly fo r young boys They , .
.

a re tempted to perfor m tour s de f or c e w hich a re beyo n d

their m uscul a r stre ngt h The e ffort is sudd e n a nd viole nt
.
,

an d so stra i n s o fte n occ ur which s ometimes ent a il seri o us

con seq uences even ina fter yea rs .

The sa me thi ng m a y be sa id with rega rd to tri a l s o f

s peed fl a t ra ce s h urdle ra ce s a n
,
-
,
d the like -
The he a rt m a y
, .

e as ily be overta xed by the individ ua l being tempted to

s us t a i nviolent exertion beyond it s powers ; even i f it is

n a tura lly stro ng a nd hea lthy a very sudde n a nd vi o lent ,

e ffort or a stra in und uly prolonged m a y do it d a m a ge

, , .

c. Neg lec t . Ag a in the s pring is the time o f ye a r when th ese sports a re

,
C a tc h m g c o ld
m o st in vog ue It m a kes o ne shudder to s ee boys stripped
.

.
,

with only a thin j e rsey o n a nd fl a nne ls c ut o ff a t the kne e

, ,

either wa iti ng fo r their turn to compete or ha vi ng compet ed , ,

an d h a ving got thoro ughly he a ted with exertion s t a nd a n d ,

look o n a t the next perform a nce in a cold ea st wind O ne .

might m ultiply in sta nces o f s imil a r imprudences o f which ,

n e ither sa ua m eus nor sa uum c orpus should be guilty

“ “
.

B ut boys will be boys a n d it is well if their elders a re o n

,

the look o ut a nd rea dy to protect them a ga ins t them

-
,

s elve s .

24 . Nec essity O nthe other h a n d their elders a re so metime s tempted to

f supe vi i n
sj udge the exte n a jeun ess e na
o r s o ’
mi t o f boys power ’

inc ase of boys .

s ; L
a proverb which is not un freq ue n
”
ja m a i s tor t ,
tly fa l s i fi ed ,

L e t them a l o n
’
seem s t rue in their eye s e they ca n t h urt
.
,

them selves sa y th e y whenperh a ps a word in sea son wo uld

, ,

sa ve from ye a rs o f p a i n or ill he a lth

-
.

Inc a rrying o ut the exerci ses o r the drill recommended

a b o ve it c a nnot be too s tro n
,
gly impressed upo ni nstructors
 P H YS ICA L EXE R CIS E A ND R ECR EA TIOIV .

th a t they should no t be conti nued fo r to o long a t a t ime ;

freq ue n t rests sho uld be given d uring which th e rea s o n ,

o f t h e thi n g m a y be expl a ined a nd elementa ry i nstruction

a s to the structure a nd va rious functions o f p a rticul a r
m us cles m a y be conveyed whi ch will interest a nd benefi t
,

boys while filli ng up t h e interva l o f s ta nding e asy Nor .

o ught t h e w a rni n gs a t such time a ga in st stra ini ng them

s elve s b y a ttempti n g foolish fe a ts a nd a gain s t getti ng ,

un necessa rily chilled be fore or a fter running a ra ce o r th e ,

like be left un sa id M a ny boys do fooli sh thi ngs o f thi s

, .

ki nd from ignora nce i nnocent but not innocuous

, , All .

un
”
con scious o f their doom the little victim s pl a y B ut a s .

there is no p a rtic ul a r bliss in this kind o f ignor a nce it is a s ,

well t o try a nd in fus e a little w isdom o f a pra ctica l ki nd

which m a y perch a nce sa ve them from such folly a nd its
fruits . Bigger boys a nd young men wh o h a ve got beyond 2 5 Training .

an n 23 i
f
$2
f
y s u pervi s ion o the ki d need to be w a m e d by tho s e w h o ~

h a ve experience in the class o f a thletic exerci se to which fort .

they a re devoting their e nergies a nd t o whom they n a t ura lly,

lis te nwith s o m e respe ct th a t fo r m a ny e ff ort s a nd es peci a lly

, ,

prol o nged e fforts in competition with others a course o f ,

tra ini ng is necessa ry O f this we sha ll spe a k a t length in

.

a s ub seq ue n t cha pter B ut we m a y s a y here genera lly

.
,

tha t a thletics a re mis used whe nhe a rt a nd l ungs a nd other

m us cle s a re a sked to d o tha t fo r which th ey ha ve not been
rep a red The br ai n us ua lly re fus es a n intellectua l e ffort
p .

which is beyond its power It soon becomes bewildered .

,

w ill n o t go on fo r in s ta nce with a na rithmetic a l p uzzle which

, ,

i s beyond its c a p a city It m a y i n

. deed be overstra ined by
a prolonged e ffort . B ut it is n o t o ften ca lled upons udde n ly
t o perform such fe a ts a s i nthe a rdo ur o f a na thletic conte s t ,

o r o nthe s p ur o f the moment a re ruthle ss ly dem a nded o f the

,

hea rt a nd l ungs Thi s is a rea l d a nger a ga i nst which th e

.
,

young a nd a mbitious a thlete need s to a rm him sel f with the

couns el s o f prudence a nd sel f restra int L a stly those wh o
- .
,

a re s uffe ri ng from a cold a ffecting thro a t o r l ungs o r those ,

wh o a re conva le s ce n t from a n ill ness a nd h a ve not yet ,

rega i ned full bo dily hea lth a nd vigo ur should no t a ttempt ,

32 A THL E TI S ; OR
C

exerci ses which a re hea lth ful only fo r those who a re

perfectly sound Ill re sults ha ve come a bo ut to m a ny fro m
.

the se seemingly obvious r ules being viol a ted These a nd

.
,

there m a y be other mi suse o f a thletics a re fo r the most p a rt

,

c as es o f imprudence Aga in st them the true a ntidote is

.

common s ens e tha t m eus sa ua which sho uld keep wa tch

,

an
”
d g ua rd over the c orpus sc m um
“
.
 CH P A TE R IV .

A THLETICS , SOC IA L .

S oc ia l c h ara c ter— Pec uli arly Eng li sh Con tra st wi th fo reig nidea s
Hist o ry of Eng li sh a th letic s to pre se nt t im e— Develo pm e nt of
so c ial a th leti c s — C a u s es— M o stly restric ted t o upper a n d m iddle
c la s ses — M ul t i p li c a t i o n o f c lub s a n d m a t c h e s— H e alt h y a spe c t

U n h ea lt h y sy m p t o m s — D e c li ne o f p r o fess i o nal a t hl i
et c s — Desir
a ble th a t so c i al a thletic s sh o uld be d evelo ped a m o n g th e lo w er

c la s se s.

IN the foregoing rem a rks we h a ve while sketching the r A thletic s , .

,
” cm
hi story o f a thletics from childhood upwa rds dwelt chiefly ,

upon them so fa r a s they a ffect th e individ ua l the p a rt which ,

they pl a y inth is physic a l development a nd in the recrea tion

o f h is mind a n d body B ut as we h a d previo usly poi n
. ted
o ut ,
a thletics h a ve a wider s phere th a n the i n divid ua l .

They a re fo r the mos t p a rt socia l inC ha ra cter a nd a s such ,

exerci se a very wide infl uence on s ociety a t la rge a nd upon ,

the yo uth o f th e n a tion There is something pec uli a rly

.

E ngli sh inthis fea ture Indeed it would not be t rue to sa y

.

the sa me o f a ny other n a tion There is no p a rticul a r in z Pec uliarly

.
.

which the E n glish ra ce exhibits so strong a contra st to g En u fl "

foreign ra ces a s in its a rdent love fo r ga mes o f which

,

Violent bodily exercise is the cha ra cteristic Wherever a .

colony o f Engli shmen is settled it m ust needs ha ve even , ,

ina hot C lim a te its cricket its rowi n

, g its polo or even its
, , ,

footb a ll Its proceedings in this re s pect seem to foreign

. ers
mysterious stra ng e a nd even bordering on the i nsa ne
, , .

They c a nnot understa nd the enth usi a s m o f the pl a yers th e ,

violent energ y expended th e e nd ura nce o f cont usions a nd

, ,

the genera l good temper displ a yed under circ umsta nces
which would rouse hotter blood to fury .

(H .
 A THI E IICS
'

. OR ,

A disting uished French m a n o ne wh o kn ,ows Engl a n d

an d the E ngli sh better perh a ps th a n a n y other Fre n ch
w riter th us describe s the fa vouri te ga mes o f a nE ngli s h
,

p ublic school A u b a llon les gro upe s se pré cipitent le s

un
’
s sur le s a utre s ; l en fa nt q ui s e tro uve des s ous po rte le

poid s de to ute la m a sse ; il y a des bras e t d es j a mbes

l ux é s des cl a vic ules c a s s é e s
,
A u cricket la gro ss e b a ll e
.

pesa nte est l a ncé e a vec t a nt de fo rce q ue le j o ueur m a l a

droit est renversé s il s e n l a i sse a tteindre Presque tous
’ ’
, .

les j eux comportent h a bituelleme n t d e s meurt ri ssures ; o n

s e fa it gloire d y etre i n sen s ibles e t p a r un e c on s eq ue n
’
, ,ce

na t urelle on nh é site pa s pl us A les inflig e r q u é le s subir

’
,
’ ”
.

a in s s ur l A n
’ ’
(T e Note , g le t e rre p The
, g a me .s a re

evidently in h is eyes bruta l a nd brut a li sing He c a n s ee .

nothi ng o f their skill he k nows nothing o f their joy They

, .

a re
,
in their spirit a nd power fo r goo d quite inc o m p re ,

h en sible to him We remember some yea rs a g o in

.
,

conversa tionwith a professor a t one o f the gre a t L yc é es in

P a ri s a fter di scuss i ng the modes in which E ngli sh a nd
,

French boys s pe nt their pl a y time a nd the gre a t di ff ere nce

-
,

between the two system s o f ed uc a tion with re spect t o

liberty th a t the ga me o f footba ll wa s a ll uded to a nd a t
, ,

h is request de scribed His rem a rk in reply was

. Che z ,

nous Ca sera it imposs ible sera i t une é me ute

— ”
At t h e .

sa me time he regretted th a t i t w a s so a n d did n o t conce a l ,

a wish th a t the youth o f h is country co uld be more

h a bitua ted to ga mes in the open a ir a nd e ntrusted w it h ,

m ore liberty in their a m us eme n ts th a n a t present is t h e

c as e . M Ta ine notwith sta nding h is un fa voura ble c o m
.
,

ment o ncricket a nd footba ll expresse s him sel f in a som e

,

L é c o lie r fra n ca is surto ut l in te rn

’ ’
wh a t simil a r m a nner . e ,

de no s c o llé g e s e s t enn uyé a igri a ffine pré coce et t rop

, , , , ,

pré coce ; il est en ca ge et so n i m a gin a tion fermente

,
"
.

A nd he confesses th a t as rega rds the form a tion o f

c h a ra cter th e ed uc a tion o f a n E n
,
gli sh school is bet t er .

“
Elle pré pa re mieux a u monde e t fa it le s Ames pl us
sa ines There a re nOt w a nting a mong h is country m en
.
,

no w tha t Engl a nd is better k nown th a n it wa s t o the m .

 A THL E TICS OR ,

whe nth e frost set would g o upon th e ic e a nd run

inthey
a ga in st ea ch other with pole s in imit a tion o f l a n ,
ces ina j ust , ,

an d fre q uently one or both were bea ten down not a l wa y s ,

witho ut h urt fo r some bre a k their legs a n

,
d s om e their a rm s
but yo uth em ulo us o f glory seeks these exertion s prepa ra tor
y
a ga i n
”
st the time th a t wa r sh a ll dem a nd their pres ence .

W ith the decline o f chiva lry a nd the subsidence o f th e

m ilit a ry enth us i a s m which so s trongly m a rked the middle

a ge s c a me a l so a ch a nge in the C h a ra cter o f the pop ul a r

,

m e s The exh a u s tion o f the n a tion a l vigo ur in the lon

g a .
g
an d de structive conflicts o f the Wa rs o f the Ros es m a ni
feste d its el f in the neglect o f milit a ry exercises a n d i nt h e ,

rowing pop u l ri ty of s uch g a me s a n d recre a tion

g a s a s

promoted idleness a nd di ssipa tion This preva iled to such .

a nextent t h a t even the interference o f the legi s l a ture fro m

time to time wa s thought necessa ry t o correct the bi a s o f

t h e common mind .

Tudo rs. Henry V II a nd Henry V I I I both m a de efforts t o

. .

re store the pra ctice o f m ilit a ry p a s time s The l a tter se t.

th e ex a mple in h is o wnpers o n contin uing d a ily to a m us e

,

h im sel f in a rchery c a sti n g o f the ba r wrestling o r d a nci ng

, , ,

an d freque n tly in tilti ng to um a ying fighting a t the b a rriers

, ,

w ith swords a n d b a ttlea xes a n d s uch like m a rti a l recrea

,

t ion s in mo st o f which there were ve ry few who co ul d

,

excel him "

S tuarts. There is a rem a rka ble p as sa ge in the B A Z IA IKO N
AQPO N or King s C h risti a nDutie towa rd s God written
’ ’
, ,

by Ki ng J a mes I fo r the in structiono f h is so n Henry Princ e

.
,

o f Wa les Th a t lea rned mona rch seem s to h a ve been o f th e

.

s a me opi n ion as M T a i ne rega rdi ng footba ll a nd violent

.

exercises Othe rwi se he is no t a verse t o ga mes

. C er .

t a in ly
”
,
he sa ys bodily exerci s es a nd ga mes a re very
,

c ommend a ble a s well fo r b a ni shing o f idle n ess the mother ,

o f a ll vice as fo r m a ki n
,
g the body a ble a nd d ura ble fo r
t ra ve ll which is necessar ie fo r a ki n
,
g B ut from thi s court .

I d eba rre a ll rough a n d viole n t exerci ses ; a s the footba ll ,

m eeter fo r la m e in g th a n m a,ki ng a ble the u s ers thereo f

, as ,

likewi se such t umbli n g t ric kes a s only serve fo r comedia ns

 PH YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TIOIV .

a nd b a ll a di nes to win their brea d w ith but the exercises

t h a t I wo uld h a ve y o u to use tho ug h modera tely n ot, ,

m a ki n g a cra ft o f them a re runni ng lea ping wrestling , , , ,

fe n cing d a ncing a nd pl a yi ng a t th e c a it c h o r tennise

, , , ,

a r cherie p a lle m a lle a n

, d such like other fa ir a n
-
,
d ple as a nt
fi e ld ga mes The roya l a uthor proceed s to give h is opi nion
.

a t le n g t h o n h unti n g a n d h a wking a nd on g a mes in th e ,

h ous e whic h he thi n

,
ks desira ble forbidding dic eing a nd , ,

s o m ewh a t s tran gely includi ng chess a mong th e prohibited

p a s ti m es A s fo r the c h esse I think it over fo n
. d , ,

b eca us e it is over wi se a n
”
d ph iI O S O p h ic ke follie
- .

The b a ni shme nt o f footba ll a nd o f the rough a nd violen t

g a mes prosc ribed by h is M ajes ty m a y h a ve sa ved some brui ses
an d a broken leg or two but it is h a rd to believe th a t th e ,

c o urt o f the St ua rts wa s m uch improved in m a nli n e ss o r

vigo ur by the ir being disco unte na nced Then c a me the .

tro uble s o f the Grea t Rebellion The P urita n spirit which Puri tans . .

w a s domi n an t in the victorio us p a rty w a s not o ne which

fa vo ured a n y s port s or g a me s a n d the time s were a g
, a in s t
them N o twith sta ndi ng in country pl a ces they survived,
.
,

an d a fter the Re stora ti o nwere a g a i nin fa vour Ri ngi ng .

,

b o wling shooting pl a yi ng with keel pins tronk s coits

, , , , ,

pitchi ng o f b a rs h urli ng wre stling lea pi ng run ni ng fe nc

, , , , ,

in m u ste ring s wimmi n g pl a yi n g with m a sters foil

g, , , s , ,

fo otba ll s ba lo o n s ,runni ng a t qui nta i n a nd the like a re

, , ,

common recrea tio ns o f common folk sa ys B urton in h is

”
,

‘
An a tomy o f Mel a ncholy a nd he goes on to mention o f
’
,

ridi ng o f gre a t horses runni ng a t ri ngs tilts tourna ments

, , , ,

h o rse ra ce s a nd wild goose C ha se s which a re di sports o f

-
, ,

gre a ter m e na nd good in them selves though m a ny ge ntle ,

m e n by s uch me a n s ga llop q uite o ut o f their fort un

”
es .

There is however ra ther a n a ir o f a pology in the wa y in

, ,

which he spea k s o f the pa s times a nd recrea tions o f the

pe ople showi ng the strength o f th e P urita n feeling still
,

pre va iling as whe n he sa ys th a t Pl a ys a nd jesters a nd

, ,

j ugglers a nd t h e like a re to be wi nked a t lest the peopl e , ,

”
sho uld d o worse th a n a ttend them There is a l so reference .

to sports whi c h i no ur eyes a re less innocent such a s bull ,

 A THL E nos OR ,

b a itings a n d be a r ba itings in which o ur countrymen a n -

d ,

citizen s grea tly delight a n d freq uently use

”
t o whic h a re ,

a dded da ncers on ropes j ugglers comedies trag e di es

, , , , ,

a rtillery g a rden s a n d cock fig h tin g l -

1 8th c entury
. After the ch a nge o f dyna sty the ch a ra cter o f the pas times
rem a i n
’
ed pretty m uch the sa me According to Stowe s .

’
S urvey o f L ondon p ublished in 1 72 0 The modern s ports , ,

o f the citizen s be s ide s d rinking a re cock fig h t in

, g bo w ling ,
-
,

—
upon greens they s ometime s ride o ut wi th the L o rd
’
M a yor s pa ck o f dogs when the c ommon h unt goes o ut , .

The lower classes divert them selves a t footba ll wrestling , ,

cudgel s nine pin s shovelboa rd cricket stowba ll ringi ng o f

,
-
, , , ,

bell s quoits pitching the ba r bull a nd be a r ba itings throw

, , , ,

in s an
”
t cock d wh a t is worst o f a ll lying a t a leho us e s
g a , ,
.

It is noticea ble here th a t t h e divi sion o f pa s times is n o t into

s uch as suit the o ld o r th e yo ung but ra ther a s p ursued by ,

the upper a nd lower cl a sses With the exception o f the .

commonh unt the former do not seem to h a ve ind ulged

in a n y vigoro us p a stime Footb a ll a nd c ricket a ppe a r in .

th e li st o f those ga mes then in vogue a mong the lower

cla sses which a re now popul a r with a ll L a ter on in the
,
.

sa me ce n tury a ccordi ng t o M a itl a nd in h is history o f

, ,

L ondon p ubli shed a bo ut the middle o f Ge o rge II s reign

’
.
, ,

S a iling rowing swimmi ng a nd fi shing in the river

, , ,

T h a mes horse a nd foot ra ce s lea ping a rchery bowling in

, , , ,

a llie s a n d skittle s t e n
,
nic e Che ss a nd dra ughts a nd in the
, ,

winter s ka ting sliding a nd shooting a re en umera ted as

, , , ,

the p a stimes o f the C itizen s though it is obvi ous th a t they ,

were no t confined to the city O f L ondon a lone but were fo r ,

the most p a rt in genera l pra ctice thro ughout the country .

L egi sl a tion s eem s to h a ve interfered occ a sion a lly to preven t

ga mbli ng but not a ltogether with m uch s uccess Tow a rd s
, .

the end o f the l a s t century the m a gi stra tes c a used a ll th e

s kittle fra mes in o r a bout the city o f L ondon to be t a ken

up a n
,
d prohibited bowli n g a lleys a nd the ga mes o f ni ne -
,

pins D utch pin s etc ;but a s Strutt rem a rk s when o ne p as

, , .
, ,

time wa s prohibited a nother wa s pres ently invented to

s upply its pl a ce Mea ntime the grea t ga mes o f the present
.
 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION

ricket a n a y e d t hen in a ve ry
d ay (c d fo otb a ll
) tho ugh pl ,

ro ugh a nd a s we sho uld think rustic fa s hion were a live

, , , ,

an d ga i n ing ground a nd rowing was beginning to be

,

th o ught o f a s a n a m use m ent in th e summer months .

G ra d ua lly a better tone preva iled a n d the more brut a l ,

a m us eme n ts such a s be a r a d bull ba iting cock fig h ti ng a nd

,
n -
,
-

the like a nd la st o f a ll though not without some del a y

, , ,

p rize-
fi g h t in g were p ut d o wn by the la w Other a m u se .

m en ts a nd es pe ci a lly t hos e in which a l a rge n umber coul d

,

j ointo gether fo r the purpos es o f pla y beca me more a nd ,

m ore pop ul a r in con s eq uence an d cricket m a tches a n

, d -

r owi n g m a tche s bega n to a ttra ct a ttention a nd t o dra w

-

s pe ct a tors The M a rylebo ne C ricket C l ub founded in C ic ket

.
, r .

I78 7 beca me by degree s the a cknowle dg e d a uthori ty in

,

the ga me O f cricket which wa s ra pidly assuming p re

,

emin e nce a mong the o utdoor ga mes o f skill A n umber o f Rowing . .

a m a te ur rowing cl ubs a l so c a me i n to existence a nd the i nter ,

Univers ity m a tch o f the ye a r 1 8 2 9 ga ve to thi s pa stime a n

importa nce which h a d not belo nged to it previo usly .

H enley Rega tta wa s not fo unded till ten yea rs a fter Fo o t Football . .

ba ll b e c a me domiciled a t th e schools a s the regula r wi nter

ga me e a ch h a vi ng its own pec uli a r form o f pl a y ; but it
,

s eem s to h a ve been little pl a yed by the ge n era l public .

.

Te nni s restricted by its e xpen sivene ss to the wea lthy a nd Tennis

,
.

t o pro fe ss io n a l pl a yers still con tin ued inthe fa vo ured pl a ces

,

where co urts existed a nd fives a nd ra cq uets fo und develop

,

m en t a t the p ublic school s a nd a t the universities Athletic .

s ports a s they a re n
,
o w c a lled h a d n o t a s yet been c o,

o rdi na ted o r t a ke nthe form O f a regul a r s erie s o f co n

,
tests
o na give nd a y betwee nthe two Univers itie s nor unless we ,

a re mi s ta ke n were there a s yet a n c lled thletic cl ub -

, y s o a a s .

B ut pede stri a ni s m w a s becomi n g pop ul a r Wa lking a nd Pedestria nism . .

r unni ng m a tches fo und p ublic s uppo rt profe ssion a l s t o ,

tra in a nd s pecta to rs enough t o m a ke it worth their while

,

to do so Prize fig h ting still contin ued o n the sly tho ugh

.
-
,

a ga in st the la w ; nor were there l a cki n g some surviva l s o f

older g a mes in the provinces such a s nurr a nd spell term s ,
”
,

mysterio us to the uniniti a ted Inthe north a l so the nobl e .

 A THL E TICS OR ,

me o f gol f—
which is as old a s the time o f E dwa rd I I I if
g a . .
,

no t o f higher a ntiquity still a nd s eem s then to h a ve bee n

,

c a lled c a m buc (from c a m buc a a crooked Cl ub) a nd i n

, ,

—
E ngla nd ca lled a lso ba ndy ba ll o r stow ba ll was a s it is
-
,
-
,

now a fa vourite p astime S uch we think m a y fa irly be

,
.

described a s the st a te o f a thletic ga mes a nd pa stimes i n

E ngl a nd a t the time o f the C rimea nWa r thirty ye a rs a g o , .

A n umber o f B ell s L if e i n L ondon o f th a t d a te gives a

’

fa ir ide a o f the pop ul a r s ports a n d a m usement s o f the tim e .

The d a ily new sp a pers a s a rule took no notice o f them ,

except perha p s o f horse ra cing The University Ra ce wa s

- .

di smi ssed in the le a ding j o urn a l in tho se d a ys with a few

li nes in s m a ll print in a corner There wa s no pop ul a r .

excitement uponthe subj ect no crowd on the towi ng p a th

,

a t P ut n ey to wit ne ss the d a ily pra ctice o f the crews .

Simil a rly a t L ord s C ricket gro un d there wa s no crowd t o

,
’
-

se e the U n iversity o r Public School m a tches comp a ra bl e

with the a ssembl a ge o f modernda ys Any o ne who t a ke s up .

a na ncien t copy o f the sporti ng newsp a per referred t o a nd

compa res it fo r b ulk a nd va riety o f in form a tion with th e
F ield or L a ua a n d Wa ter o r evenwith its el f o f t h e pre sent
’
,

d a y will feel th a t the di ff erence is gre a t

,
It is in re a lity .

very m uch grea ter tha n is suggested even by the comp a ri son
o f t h e a lmo st s i ngle j o urn a l o f tha t d a te devoted to th e
s ubject with the m ultit udi n ous print s o f the present d a y .

Athletics in thi s country h a ve d uri ng the l a st q ua rter o f a

ce ntury a dva nced a s did the reve nue inthe p a lmy d a ys o f
,

fi na nce by le a ps a nd bound s It is worth while in t h e

, .
,

i nterest o f the soci a l m eus sa ua a nd c orpus sa uum t o ,

consider both the fa cts in its proportio ns a nd the c a uses ,

th a t h a ve contrib uted to it There a re s evera l fa ctors

.

in the s um o f a thletic prosperity which m a y a t o n ce be

recogni sed under the genera l he a d o f i ncrea s e Inthe first .

pl a ce st a nds the enormous incre a se o f town pop ul a tion s ;

next i ncrea se o f we a lth ; then i ncrea s e o f the fa cilities
o f comm unic a tion a n , d o f the te n dency to a ggrega ti o n ,

owing to the spre a d o f ed uc a tion a nd o f genera l e n ,

lig h te nm en t an d the wider recognition o f the a dva nt a ges

,
 PH YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION .

o f c o- opera tionfo r the p urpo se s o f a m usement To thes e

.
.

we m a y a d d a l s o the increas e o f phys ica l vigo ur in the well

t o d o C l a s s es owing to better feeding le ss phy s icking a n
-
, , d ,

a m ore ra tion a l tre a tment o f children L a stly we m a y .

,

notice a s connected with the development o f a thletics th e

, ,

gre a ter need o f recre a tion owi ng to the incre a sed a nd

in c reas ing pressure o f ment a l work o f exa min a tion s o f , ,

co m pe titio n i n busine ss o f the s truggle fo r exis tence

,

ge nera lly which inevit a bly beco mes severe even in

,

pro s pero us time s in a n i sl a nd the popul a tion o f which

h as grown o ut o f a ll proportion to i ts food -prod ucing
powers A n atura l re a ction from the pressure th us
.

occ a s ioned is s a ti sfied in the most vigo ro us by ex erci se

combi ning a m us ement a nd recre a ti on th us reha bilita ting ,

the exha usted energies o f the bra ina nd o f the nerve while ,

preve nti ng the degenera tion o f the m uscul ar system which

conti nuous sedent a ry employme nt i nduce s A ll thes e .

infl uence s h a ve tended d uring the l a s t qua rter o f a century ,

an d e s peci a lly d uring the l a st deca de to g ive a stim ul us ,

t o t h e development o f a thletics a mo n g the people which ,

i s we believe unp a ra lleled in the hi story o f thi s or a n

, , y
o ther n a tion Not indeed th a t thi s phenomenon h a s
'

been confined to the E ngli sh a t h ome fo r it is ob serva bl e ,

a mo n g t h e A nglo S a xon ra ce s a ll over the world

- The .

grea t America n n a tion C a n a d a a nd A ustra lia ha ve becom e

, , ,

competitors with us in a thletics a s in other things a nd a re ,

found ye a rly repres ented in frien dly riva l ry on the cricket

fie ld a n d on the river Even foreigners h a ve to s om e
.

extent bee ni nfl uenced by the a thletic s pirit which is a lien

to their youth a nd ed uc a tion a nd o f l a te yea rs sc ullers
,

from the Sei n e a nd from the M a i n h a ve fo und their wa y to

Henley o nTha mes - -
.

The grea t increa se o f pop ula tion in thi s country nea rly Upper nd , a

3§ millio n s in the dec a de 1 8 7 1 1 8 8 I h a s been

-
chiefly
, i f not
m id dle d m

entire ly urba n a nd not rura l A nd thi s fa ct is a n im

, .

porta nt o ne to observe in re spect o f a thletics a s their ,

development is notice a ble m uch more in the upper th a n in

th e lower s tra t a o f the town pop ul a tio n s T o thi s fa ct a nd .
 A TE LE TICS ; OR ,

it s c a use s we ha ll revert in o ur la st c h a pter as we bel ie ve

s ,

it is o f grea t importa nce to o ur n a tion a l well bei n g to t h e -

,

n a tiona l m en s sa ua i u c orpor e sa uo
”
With rega rd t o .

th e upper a n d middle cl ass e s the di ffusion o f wea lth a n d ,

t h e gene ra l pros perity o f the co untry in which they h a ve

la rgely sh a red h a s bee n a ttended in their Ca s e not o nly
,

w ith increas ed physica l energy but a l s o with a ra pid d e ,

ve lo p m e n t o f the m ea n s o f s upplying them with th e phy s i ca l

recrea ti on which they require To omit fo r the prese nt t h e
.

public school s a nd the univers ities where the orga ni sa t i on ,

fo r ga mes is comp a ra tively s pea ki n

, g ea sy a nd the d iffi , ,

c ulti es tha t s t a nd in the wa y o f the s a tis fa ct ion o f the

a thletic in s tinct a re o f a di fferent ch a ra cter the extr a ,

ordin a ry m ultiplic a tion a nd growth o f cl ubs a nd a s s oci a

tions fo r every kind o f exerci se is a re m a rk a ble fea ture i n
modern E ngli sh li fe There is h a rdly a town o f a ny si ze
.

Multiplic a tio nwhi c h h a s not got its footb a ll cl ub its c ricket cl ub bicycl e , ,
of lubs a n
c d
m tc h es
a .
cl u b ,
l a wn -tenni s cl u b or one, or other o f the s e T h e .

in stinct a s well a s the power o f combin a tion fo r the purpos e s

o f a m us eme n t h as been q uickened by i ncreas ed fa cilities
o f comm un ic a tio na nd o f locomotion m a king th e meetings ,

fo r friendly con tests possible which would never h a ve bee n

,

tho ught o f in fo rmer ti mes The m a tches which now a re

.
,

i nn umera ble between cl ub a nd cl ub town a n

, d tow n , ,

county a nd co unty a ll req uire orga ni si ng a nd combined

,

e ffort a n ,
d a nexpendit ure which only the a ssoci a tion o f
mea n s in co mmonfund s could s usta i n All thi s h as bee n .

fa cilita ted by the ge n era l progress o f the n a tio n a nd is ,

i n its t urn con tributing to th a t progress in m a ny wa y s ;

the hea lthy exerci se giving comm o n e n joyment the s oci a l ,

i nterco urs e which enh a n c e s the va l ue o f sel f control a nd -

,

the respect fo r the opi ni o n o f o thers a s well a s the de s ire ,

fo r their goo d o pinio n a re l a rge ly e ffic a cious in di ffus i n

, g
good fellow ship di ss ip a ting prej udice a nd cre a ti ng bond s
-
, ,

of u n ion where the e ffect o f p a rty spiri t or o f s el f interes t ,

-
,

wo uld otherwise be unmitiga ted a nd dis i nteg ra ting O f .

c o ur s e it i s tr u e th a t the s e infl u ence s o f s oci a l a thletic s if ,

w e m a y s o s pe a k o f them a re n,o t s ing ul a r ; they d o not

 A THL E TICS ; OR,

th e well -t o -do c l a ss es a n ,
d sa ying Here see the result o f
, ,

your a thletics No d a nger o f overstra i ning the mind here

.

These a re not the m ajori ty o r a nything but a sm a ll fra ction

o f the whole n umber .The m a jo rity o f the up p er a nd
middle cl a sses ha ppily fo r them ha ve to work m us t wo rk
, , , ,

an d do work a n , d it is fo r tho s e wh o m ust work a n d do

work th a t good a nd wholesome physica l recrea ti o n is a
necessity if the m eus sa ua is to be preserved in c orpore
,
“

Intheir c as e however it m a y be co n
”
sa uo
. ceded th a t th ere
is n o need to a ppe a l to the legi sl a t ure t o help o r encoura ge

t hem . They ha ve the mea n s a nd they h a ve the e nergy

,

an d power t o combine t o provide t hem selves with the t e

crea tion tha t is suita ble The only thi ng fo r their sa kes
.

th a t is to be desired is th a t they should find whole s ome a nd

m a nly exercises to their t a ste a nd not be a ll ured o r driven
,

to tho se th a t a re demora li si ng a nd destructive o f hea lth

Un h ealth y both in body a nd in mi nd Perh a p s the most unhea l thy
.

y pt m s
symptom in E ngli sh s port s a n d p a stime s is the g a mbli n
s m o
g
'

and an d betting which a cc o mp a nies mos t o f them i n troduci ng

£323; element o s spicion a nd corruption which a re the worst
9 i ,

s f u
foes o f the gen erous a nd Chiva lro us spirit which should
be their pre s idi ng goo d ge ni us It m a y be sa id th a t this
.

evil is i nvetera te inthe ra ce a nd th a t it c a nbe tra ced ba ck

,

eve na s fa r a s the times o f Ta citus Still the prog ress o f .

improvement a nd enlightenm e nt which h a s done so m uch

in other wa ys m a y a n , d we trus t will d o s omethi n g to ,

mitiga te a nd by degrees suppress it All t rue lovers o f .

a thletic s a ll wh o des ire thro ugh the vigoro us a n

, d ge n erous
riva lry o f physica l exerci ses to a ss i st soci a l progre ss a s we ll
a s to keep unimpa ired the m a n by h a bit s o f the n a tion

s ho uld j oi n in di s co ura gi n g a nd repressi ng by their o wn

ex a mple a nd infl uence thi s h a bit which is a nta goni stic to
D lin
ec e of their best desires It is thi s element which h a s tended to
.

lower profe ss iona l a thletics If it is true th a t a m a teur

.

a thletic s h a ve been ga i n i ng a nd professiona l a thletics h a ve

lost ground in public estim a ti o n one O f the re as on s fo r this
, ,

an d th a t not the le ast pote n t is the mi strus t tha t a c c o m

,

pa ni c s the l a tter owi ng to money being st a ked upon th e

 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND RECR EA TIOIV .

ev e nts in which they a re concerned We do no t pro fess to .

re g a rd th is a s a mi sfort une fo r a thletic s fo r we do not thi nk ,

th a t a thletics o f a ny kind worthy o f th e n a me a re a bsolutely

inneed o f a profess ion a l s ta nd a rd to keep them up to th e
m a rk C ricket certa inly does not no r rowing nor footba ll
. , , ,

no r b icycli ng nor l a wn tennis to n a me the phys ica l exercises

,

which no w cl a im the grea ter n umber o f vota ries We h a d .

fa r ra ther see a ll struggle s fo r ch a mpion ship o f every kin d

fre e from the hi n dra nce o f mo ney st a ke s a n d h a ve ,

th e a s s ura nce th a t wh a tever rew a rd s might fo llow succe ss

, ,

there should no t be the ind ucement o f ga mbling h a z a rds

t a cked o nto a ny a thletic co ntest The olive wrea th o f th e
.

Oly m pic ga me s wa s the fitti ng type o f a pea ceful victory ,

no r did he who wo nit l a ck more s ubsta nti a l rewa rd s a t the

h a nd s o f h is a dmiri ng fellow citizen s B ut here we to uch Lo wer c lasses
- .

d i a bl th a t
o nthe q ues tio no f a thletic s inrel a tion to the C l a s ses which
es r e
so ia l th c a

we a re told h a ve n ot an y lei s u re t o pl a y g a me s a n d i f they leti c s sh uld

,
o
be d v lo ped
pl a y them a t a ll or c o ntend inm a tche s m ust perforce do so a o ng th em
e e
, m .

a s pr o fe ss ion a l s in o rder to g a i ntheir d a ily bre a d Other .

w i s e they m ust stick to their tra de We a re no t sure th a t

.

if the a bove co n tentionwere a bsol utely true the l a tter a lter

na tive would no t be prefera ble There a re indeed kind s o f
.

pro fess iona l a id in connection with a thletics which no d o ubt ,

w ill a lwa ys be in request . Pro fess io na l keepers o f the

g r o und a n d bowler s a t c ricket ,r a cq uet a n d te n ni s m a rkers

an d th e like will a lwa ys be n ece ssa ry a nd therefore to a ,

cert a i nex tent professiona l a thletici sm will a lwa ys co ntin ue ,

b ut we s ho uld no n e the le ss h a il the da y when a p a stime

w a s genera lly reg a rded a s a p a stime a n d a ga me a s a ga me
, ,

w itho ut the a dmixture o f a n y mo n ey getti- n g motive s Thi s .

will s eem to m a ny o f o ur re a ders a nUtopi a nview a n d yet

th e express i o n o f it does not inthe lea s t imply a desire t o
curt a i l th e e n j oyment o f a thletic pas times a mo ng the wa ge
ea rni ng cl a sse s the m a ss o f the peo ple O nthe contra ry it
, .
,

is a ccomp a n ied by the hope tha t they will intime obta in

fa r grea ter fa cilitie s fo r whole s ome recre a tion th a n they
ha ve a t present Should thi s ever come a bo ut we m a y
.
,

c onfidently expect to find inthe fa r gre a ter n umbers th a t

 A TE LE TICS ; OR,

will h a ve th e opportunitie s o f distinguishing the m se lve s in

t hese p a stimes m a ny more individua ls g ifted with p o wer
an d s kill to excel in them th a n a re ever hea rd o f a t pre s ent .

We m a y expect to find inthe repre sent a tives o f cl ubs a nd

counties a nd o f All E ngla nd a higher sta nd ard o f e xcel
, ,

lence th a n is a t pre sen t exhibited by either profess i o n a l o r

a m a te ur pl a ye rs B ut a s thi s is a q uestion intim a t e ly con
.

ne c te d with the ed uc a tion o f th e people a nd o ne th a t c a n ,

only be solved gra d ua lly a nd will ha rdly be a ttemp t ed by

,

th e pres ent genera tio n we wi sh t o reserve the con s idera tion

,

o f it fo r a ch a pter by its el f We will only sa y he re tha t

.

there is no question in which the n a tion al m eus s a ua in

“

c orpor e sa uo is more deeply i nvolved Thos e wh o l o ok

.

below the surfa ce a nd a re no t merely o cc upied with the

,

olitic al an d p a ss ing event s o f the d a kno w th t t h

p y a , e

fos tering o f a m a nly a n d genero us s pirit a mong the toiling

m a ss es c a n best be a s sured by eleva ting th e cha ra cte r o f
their pas times a n , d in fus ing i n to them th e des ire fo r fa ir
pl a y a nd the unse lfi sh nes s th a t di sti ngui shes them a t their
best Good old St rutt a t the begi nni ng o f h is Spo rts a nd
.
,

Pastimes o f the E ngli sh People (to which va l ua bl e work

’

w e a re indebted fo r the sub st a n ce o f the hi storic a l s ketch o f

a thletic s in E ngl a nd which we h a ve a ttempted t o dra w
) ,

s ets forth in word s th a t a re well worth co n

, s idera tio n the ,

m otive a n d o bj ect o f h is work He sa ys th a t in ord e r to

.

form a j ust e stim a tio no f the ch a ra cter o f a n y p a r ti c ul a r

people it is a bsol utely necessa ry to investiga te the s ports

,

an d pa stimes mos t ge n era lly preva lent a mong th em Wa r .

p o licy a nd other conti ngent C ircum sta nces m a y e ffectua lly

, ,

pl a ce men a t di ff erent times indi fferent poi nts o f Vi e w but ,

when we follow them into their retirements where no dis ,

gui se is necessa ry we a re most likely to see them in thei r

,

true sta te a nd m a y best j udge o f their n a tura l di sp o s iti on s

, .

The picture th a t he proceed s to dra w o f o ur fa thers a nd

fore fa thers is n ot on e o f which we c a na ltogether fe el pro ud

if we d well a t a ll on the cruelty a n d the ga mbling th a t d is

figured too m a ny o f their pa s times P ublic sentim e nt h a s
.

pro no unced so strongly a ga in st th e former o f thes e vices

 P H YS ICA L EXE R CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION .
47

th a t n -
a n
o such sports as b ull b iti ng a d bea r ba iti ng which -
,

fo r m erly were con sidered fit specta cles even fo r l a di es t o

r ce with their pre sen ce wo uld be toler a ted The l w h
g a , . a a s

a l s o t o a cert a i nexte n t while opera ting a gai n st ga mbling

, ,

u t a check o n cert a i n other a m u s ements onc e common

p .

M e a ntime s ince th e begi nning o f t h e century the p o p ula

t i o n h a s nea rly t rebled . Th e S po rt s a n d a m usements
w h i ch were formerly pop ul a r with th e citizen s o f L o n don ,

or an y o t her o f t h e gre a t citie s a r,e now a v a il a ble o n ly t o

a f ra ction o f them ; a n d should th e i n quiry which Strutt

p r o po s ed t o him s el f ever b e m a de in the c a s e o f t h e l a rger
num be r it is to be fea red tha t it would be fo und th a t
,

th e y h a ve no sports o r a m usements tha t c a n properly be

cl a s s ed a s a thletics a nd th a t th e pa stimes they d o i ndulge
,

i n a re n o t s uch a s co n tribute to the crea tion o f the m ews

s a ua i nc orp or e sa uo
”
. Whether a nythi ng c a n be done to
re m edy thi s de fect or no t is a diffi cult q uestion uponwhich ,

w e m us t not del a y here . If a n ything c a n be done it will

be nece ss a ry to begin with the youn g w h o as experience
, ,

h a s s hown if without a n
, y tr a ditio ns o r h a bit s o f pl a yi n g a t
g a m e s o r o f pra cti s ing exerci ses req uire to be ta ught a nd
,

i ns truct ed in them be fore they will ta ke to them o r rega rd

them a t a ll in the light o f a m us ement and recrea tion .

Ho w whenonce st a rted a nd a ccepted by a comm uni ty

,

a s p a rt o f their d a ily occ up a tio n s they m a y flouri sh a n

, d be
the so urces o f hea lth a nd enj oyment a nd s oci a l disti nction ,

the his tory o f a thletics a t o ur p ublic school s a nd universities ,

an d th e experien ce O f m a ny who rea d th ese lines will

a m p l y testi fy .
 CH P A TE R V.

U NIV ER S ITIES A ND PUBLIC SC HOO LS.

Develo pm ent of a thlet c s i due t o th eir pl

ex a m
es -
A n nual c ontest s
—
Public sc h ools G e n ero us t ra dit i o ns— jo y o f g a m es— No n — la ye r s
p
— Fa g g ing — O bj ec ts t o be kept invi ew— Ho use m a t c h e s— G a m e s
th a t h a ve di ed o ut— G no w invog ue a de q ua te a s ph ys ic a l
ex erc i se—
a m es

n
U i v ers it y i
l fe— Pa stim es—M a ny m en take but little
ex e rc i se—R e a din g m e n— A dvi c e .

THE development o f modern a thletics a nd their popul a rit y

,

with the genera l public is due ina ve ry l a rge degree t o t h e

,

e x a mples s et by the Univers itie s a n d P ublic School s Th e .

generous riva lry exhibited in m a tches a nd ra ce s between

the represent a tives o f these bodies h a s a ttra cted genera l
a ttention ,
not only beca us e o f th e excellent pl a y a nd
e xcellent phys ique o f thos e who ta ke p a rt in them but ,

a ls o owing to the very co n ditions o f the contest inwhich ,

the s truggle is fo r th e honour a nd glory o f s chool o r

college or university witho ut a ny po ssible a dmixt ure o f
,

s ordid or selfi sh motives to c as t the sh a dow o f s us picion

uponthe boua fi a es o f the competitors

’
They a re s truggles
.

inwhich the n a tion a l s o ul h a s a j oy a nd a pride a n d th a t ,

not unreason a bly if they h a ve tended a nd do tend t o

,

eleva te a nd p uri fy the phys ica l exercise a nd recre a tion o f

the n a tion a l body The infl uence th a t is thus exerci s ed
.

h a s increas ed enormo usly o f l a te ye a rs No o ne wh o is in

.

th e Metropoli s d uri n g the week o f the Un iversi t ies Bo a t

ra ce c a n fa il to se e the s ign s o f the widesprea d intere st
t a ken in it even by people who proba bly h a ve never s een
,

a bo a t in their lives The colo urs in the shop windows

.
-
,

an d the bits o f ribbon o f light o r d a rk bl ue tied o nt o the

 PH YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION .

c a bm ns whips a re out wa rd a nd vi s ibl e signs o f a popul a r

e
’

d e light inthe a n nua l ra c e a delight which certa i nly ha s its

,

v a l ue if it s e rves t o e n coura ge a m a teur rowi ng a nd t o ,

m a ke yo un g a nd a ble bodied men wh o wa nt a vigorous

-

a n d he a lth gi vi n g p astime turn their thoughts to Fa ther

-

T h a mes The U nivers ities cricket m a tch a t L ord s a n

.
’
d ,

t h e i r a thletic co n tests a t L illie Bridge a nd the E ton a nd ,

H a r row cricket m a tch h a ve in their mea s ure t h e sa me

,

e ffe ct popul a ri s i n
, g the p a s times o f which they a re a nnua l ,

a n d a s it were rep re se n ta tive exhibition s , .

The p ublic sc hool s a re the nurs eries o f the best o f the 3 Public
“ hw ’
na tiona l p a stimes C ricket a nd foo tba ll a nd where there
.
, ,
s'

i s a river a s a t E to n rowi n
,
g ha ve their n a tura l a bodes
, ,

a m id s t the vigo ur the kee n ,

ness the energy a nd the fresh , ,

ne s s o f yo uth which is ever renewed Here they ha ve .

t h eir bes t a n d most whol e s ome tra dition s fo s te ri n g the G ner u e o s

"m u “
s p i rit o f genero us a n d un se lfi s h em ul a tio n the s pirit o f
m
,

f a i r ne ss a n d hon esty the s pirit o f sel f sa c rific e a nd p a triot

,
-

is m ,
which form a nd ed uc a te noble a nd m a nly ch a ra cters
c a p a ble o f s ervi n g their co untry a nd o f doi ng good to their
fe llow m e n Here a ls o they h a ve their bes t time if n
. ot ,

th e ir perfection in a phys ica l poi nt o f view They a ssist

,
.

g rowth a n d
,
develop the phy s ic a l power whi le n a t ure is

b uildi n g up the fra m e work a nd nerves a nd m uscles o f the

body tow a rds its m a t urity Here a l so they h a ve their
.

gre a test delight a nd most memora ble rec ord s inthe ind ivi
d ua l li fe Wh a t is there th a t c a nequa l the joy o f a good Joy f g a m es
. o .

r un dow n a t footb a ll e n di ng in a victorious goa l a midst ,

th e sympa thetic a ppl a use o f s chool fellows ? Nothing

c a ne ffa ce it It is a bright spot inth e old m a ns re c o lle c
’
.

ti o n o f h is boyhood Wh a t c a ncomp a re with the glory a nd

.

s en s a ti s fa ctio no f getting a wicket in the L ord s m a tch

’
p re t ,

o r th a t runby which the a dvers a rie s s core which promi s ed

’

th em ce rt a i nvicto ry is pl a ced ina minority o f the o ne re

q uired ? Wh a t c a n surpa ss in pl e a s ure the sensa tion o f
e a s yi n g under bridge a fter a h a rd ra ce while y o u wa tch the ,

l a st t wo or three strokes o f the House four o r the pa ir or t h e

s c uller o f whom y o u were s o m uch a fra id a t the st a rt

[ H . E
 A TE LE TICS ; OR ,

N ou-
play e rs Most boys com e to a public schoo l from o n
. e o r o th er o f

th e in n umera ble p riv a te school s in the co un try A s w e .

h a ve a lrea dy sa id the individ ua l brings with him a cert a i n

,

a mount o f formed h a bit an d proclivitie s which m uc h

,

i nfl uence th e use th a t he m a kes o f the time he h as fo r

p l a y i n t h e la rger world t o which he is th us introd uc e d .

It might be suppo sed by a n y o ne w h o did not k now t h e

truths o f public sc hool li fe th a t most boys were keen t o

pl a y B ut stra n
.
,
ge to sa y a ve ry l a rge n umber o f boy s , ,

perh a ps the m ajority would if left to them selves never pl a y

, , ,

a t a ll a t a n y g a me which req u ired a ny per s o na l exerti o n .

A s a m a tte i o f fa ct a la rge perce n

'

ta ge do nothi ng b ut
“
lo a f a s it is Ca lled bei ng unwilli ng to submit to t h e
, ,

di scipline a nd the fa tigue o f ga mes in commo n It is ,

.

C i c ket fag
r owing to thi s th a t cricket a nd footba ll fa gging a re in forc e
i n n d
g g
ul f
a
c
t
m o
a t some o f t h e p ublic s chool s which e nsure th a t th e ,

in
so r
y o o
. younger boys sha ll a t le a st be pre sent a t the ga mes s o
m a ny times a week Thi s m a y in some ca ses be a h a rd
.

s hip a n ,d as a rule we pre fer the doct ri n e o f libert y i e , . .

,
’
th a t a boy s pla ytime should be as fa r a s poss ible a t h is
o wndi spos a l Still there is no doubt th a t a grea t m a ny
.

boy s who h a ve a fterwa rd s become good pl a yers a t crick et

o r footb a ll h a ve by their own a vowa l been sa ved fro m
, ,

becomi ng do-nothings a nd m uffs by thi s compul so ry

”

di scipli ne o f school a thletics E a ch public scho ol h a s i t s.

o w nrules as reg a rd s thi s pr a ctice which though divers el y , ,

interpreted by the i ndividua l s wh o h a ve h a d to s ubmit to i t ,

h a s in ea ch c a se the sa n ctiono f tra dition a nd a uthority o n

its s ide a n d ca n
,
not lightly be i nterfered with .

C h ief obj c t to e
The gre a t object o f tho s e w h o h a ve to do with s cho o l
h e i h m an
a thletics s ho uld be to fos ter th a t which is m a n ly a nd
c r s ,

lin ess,
g n e e
o ity
r s un , self generous an d free in them the love o f fa irne ss a n , d th e
i hns ess .
pra ise o f p a tie nce o f coura ge a nd o f skill a nd to repres s
, , ,

va ni ty a nd va ing lory a nd more th a n a ll a ny bruta lity o r

, , ,

mea n ness in them The more th a t the individ ua l s ink s

.

him sel f a nd h is own excelle nce int h e thoug ht o f the goo d

o f h is ho us e or o f h is s ide the better h e is likely to pl a y
, , .

Few thi ngs a re more di stressi ng to boys them s elves o r t o

 A THL E TICS ,
’
OR ,

in
perh a ps the jea lo usy o f cricket Still fo r a ll those w h o
$21?
1 .
,

n n n
1

uit as Ph y h a ve a y phy s ic a l vigo u r e a ch s e a s on h a s in the domi a t

q e ,

“ c a l u erfl ses g a me s a mple a m useme n t a nd physica l e xerci se a nd bri ngs ,

with it the riva lries which a fford opport unities fo r d ist inc
tion Witho ut a ny form a l system o f gymn as tics boys w h o
.
,

p l a y a t the s e g a me s fi n d e xerci se in them fo r the wh o l e

m uscul a r system Arm s le gs m uscles o f b a ck a nd ch e s t

.
, ,

an d a bdom e n a ll get their sh a re o f work a n

,
d recre a ti o n i n
the na tura l movement o f the yo ung a nim a l H e a rt a nd .

l ungs a l so h a ve ple nty o f work to do a nd inm o s t c a s e s ,

a re ben e fite d by th e ta sk s impose d upon them For .

a ctivity a n d gra ce o f movemen t fo r he a lthy mi nd i n ,

hea lthy body there is n o thi ng h um a n th a t c a n co m p a r e

,

with the be st specime ns o f p ublic scho o l li fe a s they p a s s

the threshold from boyhood i nto m a nho od .

3 .U niversity S uch a n o n e p a ss i n g to the u niver s ity fi nd s hi m s e l f

stra n gely a t a loss respecti ng h is recre a tion It no l o ng e r .

is a m a tter o f co urs e n o r d o e s he fin
,
d eve rythi n g to h i s
h a nd a s he h a s beena ccusto m e d to fi nd it a t scho o l H e .

h as to t a ke h is o w n li n e If he is a cricketer a nd it is t h e
.
,

s ummer t e rm he h a s not m uch di ffi c ulty i n fi n

,
di ng t h a t
p a stime with h is college cl ub If he is a no a rs m a n he w il l .
,

s oo nfi n d h is wa y to the Is i s or the C a m a n d be welco m e ,

inh is c o ll e ge b o a t B ut if he be neither o f th e s e he w i ll
.
,

beta ke him sel f to ra cque ts o r ten ni s if he c a n a fford it o r ,

el se he will t a ke to ridi ng or wa lki ng o r bicycli ng a s

e xerci s e . A footba ll pl a yer h a s more cha nce no w t h a n
fo rmerly inthe a ut um nte rm B ut with the exce pti o n o f
.
,

t h e cricket a n d t h e rowi n g a m a nh a s to t a ke s om e tro ub l e

,

for him sel f to get recrea ti o n a n d eve rythi n

, g is m o re for m a l
an d view e d in a s o mewh a t more s erious light th a n a t
s chool . Rowing o f a ll the pa stimes in fa vo ur a t t h e
,

univers ities a ff o rd s the mo s t regul a r a n

,
d prob a bly t h e
bes t physic a l exerci se a nd cert a i nly the mo s t eco no m i c a l
,

in mo n ey n d time A very l a rge n umber f n bey n d

M n
a y en m
a . o m e o ,

t k but “m e
a e
a s hort w a lk t,
a ke no exerci s e a t a ll worth the n a me a n d ,
“ e a se r
n r fo r it B ut by thi s time m e n
.

a re o t a s a r ule the b e tt e .

a r e th e ir o w n m a s t e r s s o fa r a s the a doptio no f a ny li ne o f
 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA T1 0 1V .

re c r e a tio nis c o ncerned a nd ea c h m ust c hoo se fo r h i m s el f:

,

Y e t it ca n not be t o o stro ngly im p res se d upo nthose w h o

w h e ns till young fee l the dis like o f m a ki ng a ny exertion ,

t o o l a z y t o d o t his o r t o g o t here th a t hea rt a nd lung s ,

an d brai n as well a s m us cles o f a rms a n d l e gs h a ve a n

i nt e res t a li fe interest it might fit ly be ca ll ed int he ir no t
, ,

yi e ldi ng to igna vi a Simil a rly to a ll re a di ng m e n a nd R a ding

.
.
, ,
e m e n
.

e s p eci a lly tho s e w h o a re worki n g fo r a n exa mina tion we fig ht ,

;
w o uld sa y ,
Yo ur bra i n ino rder th a t it m a y do it s work d ate
, ,
.

w ill require a co n ti nual sup p ly a nd th a t a l a rge s up ply o f

, ,

go o d a rte ri al blo o d Wha t ar e y o u doing a bo ut your

.

h e a rt a n d l ungs They a re dese r ving o f a ll c a re o n your

p a rt wi th a View t o t hi s e xa mi na tio n which is yo ur imme
di a te obj e ct in View The y wa nt exe rci se a nd fre s h a ir to
.

in vigora te their moveme nts a nd t o oxi dis e th e bl o o d with ,

o ut which y o ur brai n e ffo rt will be co nd ucted und e r

e nfe ebling co nditio ns And then a g a i n wh a t a re y o u
.
, ,

doi ng a s re ga rd s yo ur bra in Ho w m a ny ho urs a d a y

a re y o u dem a n ding wo rk from it It n eed s recre a tion a nd
re po s e j ust a s m uch a s a ny ti ss ue th a t is wa s te d by
phys ica l exe rtion Ta ke the n o ut d o o r e xercis e a s viole nt
.
, ,
-
,

as y ou c a nplzy s ic a lly afl or a
’
regul a rly every d a y Spe nd
'

.
,

a s m uch time as y o u c a n in t h e ope n a i r Do nt let your ’

.

room get clo s e a nd stuff y Be ca re ful as to di e t Y o u

. .

ough t to be in a ki nd o f tra i ning as y o u a re in fo r s evere ,

phys i c a l competitio n tho ugh y o u thi nk it is only inte llec

,

t ua l Do the refore th a t which is fa ir by yo urs el f inrega rd

. , ,

t o phy sic a l exerci s e a n d be q uite a s sure d th a t yo ur me n

,
ta l ,

e ffo rt will be better a n d brighter un der go o d physica l ,

c o nditions th a nif y o u ignore them a nd illtre a t yo ur bra i n

,

by m a king it do work fo r y o u while yo ur mode o f li fe is

a b s ol utely e n feebli n
”
g it .

Rea di ng m e n wh o h a ve na rrow chests a nd especi a lly ,

those w h o a re short sighted a nd i ncli ned t o stoop should

-
,

go t o the gym na si um a nd pe rfo rm under th e direction s o f ,

t h e i ns tru ctor th e,
light exerci s e which will t e nd to se t
them up a nd open the chest They sho uld be sides thi s if .
, ,

they do not pl a y a t a ny ga mes never fa il to ride if they ,

54 A THL E TICS ; OR ,

ca na fford it o r e l se ta ke a bri sk wa lk o f no t le ss th a n s a y
, , ,

four miles o ut a n d b a ck every d a y Or el se they s ho uld

.

g o o ut by tr a in o,
r drive o ut
, s ome good di st a nc e,
a nd w a l k
ba ck A nd in their wa lk they sho uld m a ke it a r ule no t to
.

t a lk a bout their work . L et the bra in h a ve a ch a n ge t o

c onversa tion a bout other thi n gs to some o ut door i nte res t
,
-
,

t o the bot a ny t o the geolog y o f the co untry they a re

,

tra versi ng a t a ny ra te to some va riety which will give th e

,

fibres th a t h a ve been kept a t serious work th a t repose a nd

recrea tion which is their d ue L e t them not forget t h a t
.

c orpus sa n
”
“
um is q uite a s necessa ry to m eus sa ua as
,

if the whole m a nis t o

”
“
m eu s sa ua is to c orp us sa uum ,

be a t hi s best fo r th e work to be do n e inli fe .

 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R E CREA TION .

CH P A TE R VI .

R O WING .

Num ero us bo oks but nty rec ords— A nc ie nt— Medi e va l— Modem
sc a
Firs t reg a tta in En g la n d — E a r y c lub s
l — Public sc h o o ls a n d un l
ver si ti e s —U n i versity ra c e— S c ullin g c h a m p i o n sh i p
— H e n ley Re
g a t ta — A m a te u r c lub s— D e c li ne i n p ro fe ss i o nal ro inw g
— B o a t s,
c h an g e s in b ui ld O u tri gg e r K e elle ss C o x s wa in le s s fo ur s
S lid in g se at - In struc t i o n in ro win g E to n pa pers S tr oke
S c ull ni g
— C a n o e i n g
— S w i m m i ng .

A S h as been a lrea dy sta te d o f the three most popul a r ,

pastimes cricket a nd fo otba ll will be dea lt with in a nother

,

ha ndbook Rowi ng therefore a lone rem a i ns to be tre a ted

.
, ,

o f here It is obvious th a t ina work o f the pre se n

. t kind it R wing nu o ,

’ m us ” m ks
would be impo ssible to do j ustice to a subject tha t would gn f
require fo r tha t p urpose a trea ti se to itsel f Alrea dy the .

a rt o f rowi n g h a s a lit e ra ture o f its o wn a s the li st given ,

”
be low will testi fy If we m a y be a llowed t o do so we
.
,

would here wi sh to express o ur obliga tion s to the a uthors

enumera te d fo r i nform a tion c ulled from their pa ges a nd
m a de use o f in these .

It i s rem a rk a ble h o w sca n ty until q uite rece nt times a re B ut s a nty

, ,
c
ec o rds
the reco rd s o f Ro wi ng a na rt which a t ce rta i ne poch s h a s
r ’

p l a yed no i ns ig nific a nt p a rt in t h
’
e world s hi s to ry It w a s .

the o a r th a t brought Phoen ici a n letters a nd civiliza tio n t o

W o rk s o nrowing Pri n c i ple s o f R o wi n g a n d S t ee r ing a well

kn o wn p a m ph let publish ed a t O x fo rd
,
R ec o rd o f th e U n . iversity
Et o nB o a tin e Hum fre y
’
B o a t R a c e M r Tre h em e
’
, .
g.B o o k M r B la k , .
-
.

B o a t in n x fo rd a n rid e B o a t
’
‘
g a t O x fo rd M r K , o lly s O . d .C a m b g
M r M a c m i c h a el Un iversity O ar s Dr M o rg a n
’ ’
R a c es ,
. . B oa t
, . .

R a c in g
’
,
M r B ri c k w o.o d T r a in ing i
.n T h eo
‘
r y a nd P r a c t ic
.
e
’
M r , .

M c c la ren R o win .
g A lm a na c k ’
A c c o u n t o f th
. e
‘
R e g a t t a ,
’
K i nch,

Hen ley .
 A TE L E TICS ; OR ,

Greec e It was the o a r th a t propelled t h e Hellenic fleet

'

to Troy .It wa s the o a r th a t sa ved E urope from Pers i a n

despoti sm It wa s the skil ful use o f the o a r by free citizens
.

which wa s the glory o f Athen s in her prime Ho w is it .

tha t we know so little a s to deta il tha t no t even t h e ,

a cumen o f a B o e c kh or the bold conception s o f a Gra s er

, ,

h a ve been a ble t o restore to us fo r certa i n th a t thi n g o f ,

“

”
li fe the Attic trireme ? We should like to know t h e
,

di sposition o f the ro we rs o nboa rd tha t s ple ndid fleet whi ch

st a rted in it s pride fo r Sicily when o a rs a t a give n
,

s i g n a l s mote the brine a n d 1 0 0 long ships ra ced as fa r a s

,

E gi n a. We sho uld like to know a bo ut the sa nita ry

a rra n gements ventil a tio n etc a bo ut the sh a p e o f the o a rs
, , .
,

an d the a n gle a t which they touched the wa ter Or a ga i n .

,

to pa ss to R o m a n ti m es we s ho uld like t o h a ve so m e
,

s a ti sfa cto ry ide a a s to h o w the va s t q uin q u i re m e s a n d

h e x ire m e s were p rope lled ; so me glimpse o f the a rra n g e

ment o nbo a rd th e ir vessel s o f th a t m a ss o f h um a n bei ng s

who rowed a nd peri shed i nthe grea test sea fig h t o f a ll ti m e -
,

in the b a ttle o f Ec no m us .

Anc i ent
. Boa t ra ci ng w a s no t uncommon a mong the Greeks a s
-
,

Professor G a rd ner h a s :sh o wnina n excellent pa per o n t h e

subject .
”
An y o n e w h o wo uld wi s h to fi nd a pretty n a m e

fo r h is bo a t will do we ll to look a t the li st o f Greek n am e s

o f ve ss el s h e h a s gi ve n Th a t boa t ra ci ng w a s a l so comm o n
.
-

a mo n g the Ro m a ns wh a t a dmire r o f V irgil will fa il t o

'

be iieve ? B ut a mo n g the Rom a n s a s a mong the Greek s , ,

the a rt o f rowi ng deteri o ra ted a s it beca me no t a joyous ,

p a stime fo r free me n but the crue l toil o f s l a ve s

, .

Me diasva l . In medi ae va l time s the V e n eti a n ga lleys use d the sa m e

mea ns o f p ropul si o n B ut the a rt o f buildi ng vessel s fo r
.

th ree o r more b a nks o f oa rs h a d beenlost a nd neither th e ,

p a i nti ngs in the d uca l p a l a ce a t Ve nice representi ng ,

the flee t tha t fo ught a t the ba ttle o f L epa nto nor th e ,

pa triotic e nth us i a s m o f Admira l Fi nca ti nor the lea rne d ,

to mes o f M Ja l c a ni nduce us to believe th a t we se e in th e

.

long low red cra ft o f Ve n

, , ice a nythi ng resembli ng i n ,

J o urna l o f Hellenic S tudies 1 88 1

’
, .
 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TIOIV .

e xte rn a l sha pe o r i ntern a l a rra ngement the trireme o f th e ,

d a y s o f Ph o rm io or Ip h ic ra t e s .

It a ly however wa s th e home o f rowing a t a time when

, ,

w e h a ve n o record o f it h e re ; a n d the very word rega tta

w hich we h a ve a dopted shows th a t we o we something a s
rega rd s the p as time t o the countrymen o f C ol umbus a nd
M a ri no Fa liero .

W ith the exceptiono f the well known story th a t gra ces -

m o s t o f th e C hildren s E ngli sh Hi story books concerni n

’
g ,

E dga r the Pe a ce a ble wh o w a s rowed in gre a t sta te a long

,

the river Dee from h is p a la ce in the city o f West C hester t o

t h e C h urch o f St John a n d b a ck a ga i n by eight ki n
. gs , ,

h i m sel f the n
,
inth a cti ng a s cox swa in lit tle or n o thi ng is
, ,

hea rd o f rowi ng in E ngl a nd ti ll the yea r 1 4 5 3 when John ,

Norm a n the then L ord M a yo r set the ex a mple o f goi ng

, ,

by wa ter to We stmi nster This we a re told m a de him .

pop ul a r with the w a termen o f the da y a s h is ex a mple wa s ,

followed a n ,
d th e use o f ple a s ure bo a t s by th e citizen s
bec a me comm o n .

Next in importa nce to thi s event comes the founda tion Modern
,
, .

i n 1 7 1 5 in hon
,
o ur o f the a ccess ion o f the Hous e o f
H a nover by Dogg ett the comedi a n o f a ra ce fo r a coa t
, ,

an d b a dge to b e rowed fo r by w a termen a ppre n tices fro m

O ld Swa n Sta irs nea r L ondo nBridge to the White Swa n
, ,

a t C hel s e a a n n ua lly o nth e Ist o f A ugust This ra ce still

, , .

c ontin ue s tho ugh n

, o t ex a ctly o n the O ld term s The co a t .

an d the ba dge with the white h o rse o f H a n over pre se rve

t h e memory o f the donor a n d o f the event in hono ur o f
,

w hich the ra c e w a s in stituted .

Mr B ric kwo o d in h is well k nownwork tell s us in a note Fi t g tta

.
- rs re a
Eng an
l d
th a t the first rega tta o n the Th a mes wa s held in fro nt o f
m ‘

R a nel a gh G a rdens o nJ une 2 3rd He does no t give ,

the a uthority B ut we fi nd in Strutt the followi ng : O f l a te

.

yea rs the proprietor o f Va uxha ll G a rden s a nd A stley t h e

, ,

rider give ea ch o f them in the course o f the summ e r a new

, , ,

w herry t o be rowed fo r by a cert a in n umber o f wa termen ,

two o f which (s ic ) a re a llowed to row ino ne boa t a nd these ,

c o nte sts a re extended to t wo o r three h e a ts o r tri a l s be fore

 A THL E TICS ; OR,

’
th e su cc essful c a ndid a t es a re determine d S t rutt s bo o k .

wa s first publ ished in 1 80 1 so th a t we h a ve here a n o t e

,

f
o pa ir oa red ra ces be fore the end o f th e l a s t century
- As .

Ra nel a gh Ga rden s was a riva l in stitution to Va uxh a ll a nd ,

Astley th e rider a lso a c a terer fo r public e nte rta inme nt it

, , ,

s eem s proba bl e th a t the fi rst reg a tta o f Ra nel a gh in 1 7

75 , ,

h a vi ng m a de a succ essful dé but ca used a repet iti on a nd ,

popul a ri sed the a m usement .

Early am ateur It is clea r th a t a t the begi nning o f the present cen t ury
c lubs
.
there were a n umber o f metropolita n a m a teur cl ubs i n
e xi stence .The river before o ld L ondon Bridge w as p ulle d
,

down a nd before stea mbo a ts ploughed it s surfa ce m us t

, ,

h a ve been fa r more suita ble fo r row bo a ts th a n it i s no w -

.

B ut the doings o f the cl ubs a n d the ve ry n a m e s o f a ll b ut

a few h a ve peri sh e d los t inlong nig ht unwept unkn o w n

,
“
, , ,

fo r w a nt o f ba rd divi n M r B ric kwo o d cites the n

”
e . . am es

o f th e Sta r t h e Arrow a nd the Sha rk cl ubs ; t o

”
,
”
,

which w e c a n a d d from th e ora l testimony o f a na nc i e nt

m a riner the Siren so me members o f which a bout th e
,
”
, ,

yea r 1 8 1 4 rowed a ra ce from P utne y Bridge to K e w

,

B ridge went o nto Rich m ond a n

,
d dined a n d thence dr o v e ,

ba ck to town .

O ur in form a nt a dded th a t m a tches fro m Westmin st e r t o

Kew a nd Putn ey to Kew were not un usua l a t the ti m e .

The length o f the ra ce s eem s to us excess ive B ut t h e .

boa ts were l a rge a nd held their wa y well the o a r bl a d e s ,

-

n a rrow a nd the ra te o f s troke slow a nd fo uli ng no t o nly

, ,

a llowed but pra cti sed a s a m a tte r o f course Th e y .

genera lly rowed inwhite d uck tro users a nd white o r stri p e d

shirts o r guern s eys .

R o win g a t O f the p u blic s chool s a nd u niver s ities E ton s eem s t o ,

a ve been the firs t to ga i nfa me ina q ua tic s

ubli c h o ols
p
an
c s
d um ver
h It pos s es s e d .

a fleet o f long bo a t s cert a inly in 1 8 1 I if n o t be fore ,In .

th a t yea r it h a d o ne teno a r three eight oa rs a nd two s i x

-
,
-
,
-

oa rs The record o f Westminster begin s in 1 8 1 3 a nd w e

.
,

h e a r o f a ch a lle nge from E ton in 1 80 8 B ut the s ch o o l .

a uth o rities o f thos e d a ys do n o t s eem t o h a ve viewed t h e

p a sti m e with friendly eyes a h d o n thi s a nd o n o t h e r

,
 A THLE TICS ; O R ,

U NIV ER S ITY RA C E S — c o nti nued .

N B —In a dditio nt o t h e a b
o ve , t h e Un iversit ies h a ve c o nte nde d t o e t h e r fi ve t im g es a t
g g g bl
. .

He nley R e a t ta int h e sa m , e h eat fo r th e G ra nd Ch al le n e Cup , a n d th e fo llo win ta e

sh o ws t h e wi nners onth o se ooc a s onn
s

Y ea r . Ti m e . Wonby
1 84 5 Ca m b idg
r e 8 m 3o s. 2 len t h s g
O
. .

1 84 7 x ford o 8 4 a le n t h s g
O
.

1 85 1 x fo rd o 0
7 4s 6 le n t h s g
O
.

1 85 3 o x fo rd o 8 3 x i fe e t
b dg g
.

1 85 5 Ca m ri e 8 32 8} le n th s .

Also a t th e Na tio na l Th a m es Re g a t ta o nJune 2 2 , 1 82 4 , O x fo rd bea t Ca m b idg r e.

F ro m th e a bo ve re c o rd i t will be seenth a t O x fo rd a re no w fo ur m a tc h es
a h e a d, fo rty -o ne h a vm g beenro wed.

ET O N A ND W ES T M INS T ER R AC E S .

Y e a r. Fro m Winn er .

Putney by of a m ile
nd ba c k
a
.

M a idenh ea d Queens Eyo t

’

by of a m ile, 4 5 in
an
m
d ba c k
.
B ridg e

S ta in len
’
1 8 36 es B ridg e se veral bo a t s g th s .

New "M d no tim e g iven K ing

1 8 37 Da tc h et B ri dg e
gfii {
.

Willi a m IV present . .

1 84 2 K ew EyO t Putn ey by 35 se c s in34 m in . s , .

l 84 3 Putn e y M o m a ke i n2 4 m in s by 4 5 sec s .
,

84 s K e w Eyo t Pum ey in2 6 m by I m 5 s

.
, . .

84 6 Putn ey M o rtlak e 3 le ng t h s .

in 2 5 m i n s 5 0 sec s
Putn
’
B arke r s Ra il ey
. .
1 84 7
by I m in 30 sec s . .

1 86 0 Putn ey C h iswic k Eyo t by 5 0 sec s .

1 86 1 Putn ey B ridg e C h iswi c k Eyo t by 7 o r 8 leng th s .

1 86 2 Putn ey B ridg e C hi swic k Eyo t in1 3 m in s 5 sec s . .

}
2 0 0 yds a bo ve

{ S tar a nd G arter by
.

86 4 2 7 se c s .
C h iswic k Eyo t

1 On ly fo ur st ea m e rs a llo we d sinc e t h is y e ar
g
.

3 B o th c re ws used sli din se a ts fo r t h e fi r s t t i m e. 3 O x ford p ung

s r a noar .

b g
Ca m rid e lo st a ro wloc k so ona fter sta rtm g
o

.
 P H Y S ICA L E X E R CIS E A ND RE CRE A TION .

The s c ulling m a tch fo r th e ch a mpion ship was first rowed S c ulling

M p o m h 'p
in 1 8 3 1 wh en it wa s won by C C a m p bell o f Westmi n
l '

, . s ter ,

wh o ret a i n ed it fo r fi fteenyea rs wheni t wa s wrested from

,

him by R C oombes o f Va uxh a ll a s m a ll m a n not sca ling

.
,

9 s tone ,
b u t o f s urpri s ing power fo r h is s ize who held it till ,

1 85 2. O f l a te ye a rs the C olo n ies h a ve l a id cl a im to it

w ith s uccess a n d it h a s bee n in the keeping o f H a nl a n
, ,

o f Toronto ( who is deservedly con sidere d the finest sculler

i nthe world ) ever s i n , ce 1 8 79 .

H e nley Re ga tta w a s fo unded in 1 8 39 a nd h as ever s ince H nley Re

,
e

m
been rega rded a s the pri ncipa l a qua tic event o f the yea r g a ’

a fter the ra ce betwee nthe two U n ivers ities a t Ea ster .

H ere a bo ut the begi nni ng o f J uly is h e ld the grea t a m a teur

g a theri ng which s eem s yea r by yea r to ga i nin pop ul a rity
, .

H ere every cl a ss o f rowi ng m a y be obse rved e ig h ts fo urs

'

, , ,

p a irs a nd s c ullers C ollege eights fro m the univers itie s

,
.
,

fro m the gr e a t metrop o lit a n cl ubs a n d from the school s

, ,

an d s cullers from a ll p a rts come to c o n t e nd a nd lend a nim a

,

tiont o river a nd river b a nk with fl a shi ng o a rs a nd co a ts o f

-

m an y c o lo urs A s a sp ect a cl e fe w things a re m o re ench a nt

.
,

in th a nHe n ley in fi n e we a ther a t the time o f the Rega tt a

g .

O f l a te ye a rs the crowd o f s pect a tors o nthe w a ter h a s been

e xce s s ive s o th a t the co urs e h a s bee ne n
,
cro a ched upon to a n
e xte n t opera ti ng very unfa irly upo n crews sta rti ng o n the
B uck s s ide This a nd the question o f the com er which
.

give s a na dva nt a ge to crews o nthe B e rk s side on most d a y s

a re two subjects which a git a te t h e rowi n g mi nd a t the
present da y whe never thoughts a re turned to the comi ng
Rega tt a .

The L ea nder C l ub fo unded proba bly a bout 1 8 2 0 is the A m a teur

, ,
lub
oldest o f the exi sti ng metropolita n cl ubs The L ondo n
C s“
.

Rowi ng C l ub w a s fo und e d in 1 8 5 6 a nd such h a s been ,

d uri n g the l a st thirty ye a rs the incre a si ng pop ul a rity o f

rowi ng a s a p a stime th a t the metrop olit a n a nd sub urb a n
,

clubs a lone numbe r over forty a t the pre sent time .

Next to He nley the most importa nt re ga tta is the Metro D c line o f e

polit a n Am a teur Rega tta esta bli shed in 1 8 6 6 The fggg fi

M I
.
°

Tha mes N a tion a l Rega tta fo r Wa termen c a me to a con

 A THL E TICS ; O R

e l usion intha t sa m e ye a r a n d though a Tha mes R eg a tta

,

wa s est a bli shed in 1 86 8 to supply its pl a ce it c a n no t be ,

s a id to h a ve flouri shed even if it still s urvives

, Not even .

t h e prizes give nby the gre a t libera lity o f Me ssrs C hi n ne ry .

fo r sc ullers h a ve been a ble to re suscita te pro fe ss ion a l skill

an d power which used to be a ble in sc ulling a n

, d rowi n g to
hold its o wn a ga i nst the wo rld Stea m h a s to a certa i n
.

exte nt contributed to thi s re sult a s the w a terside p o pula,

ti o n no lo nger c a n m a ke a livelihood by conveya nce o f

p a ssengers in rowi ng boa ts Hence there a re fe wer
.

pro fessi o na l w a termen th a ninformer times B ut this will .

h a rdly a cco unt entirely fo r the decline o f pro fes s iona l

rowi n g w h ich is a s co nspic uous as is the increa s ing po pu
,

la rity o f the p a stime with a m a teurs .

It would be superfl uo us here to follow the hi story o f

a qua tic event s a n y fu rther a s i nfo rm
, a tion reg a rdi ng them
is so e a sily a cce ss ible in the bo o k s a lrea dy quoted B ut .

t here h a ve been cert a i nch a n ges in the build o f boa ts a nd ,

i n the fitti n gs o f them a s well a s in the sha pe o f oa rs

, ,

which a re noticea bl e a s a ffe cti ng the speed a nd in so m e ,

degrees the method o f pro pul sion The se a re des erving

, .

o f a ttentio n .

Early bo a ts
.
The boa ts o f the e a rlier time were l a rge a nd roomy cra ft ,

an d wo uld be con sidered b a rge like by the a m a teur o f t h e

-

pres ent da y Some h a d a ga ngboa rd d o wn the centre It

. .

wa s n o uncomm o n thi n g fo r the c a pt a i nto shove o ff from

s hore or o ut o f lock s ( ra ce s a ctua lly went thro ugh the
lock s t h e bo a ts w a iting fo r e a ch other if insight) a nd then
, ,

to rundown the middle o f the bo a t a nd ta ke h is pl a ce a t

t h e s troke o a r The bo a ts were there fore very m uch
.

broa der in bea m a nd sho rter in length tha n modern

c r a ft
.

The upper strea k wa s in o ne li ne with the rowlock s let ,

in to it gig fa shion The first ch a nge wa s the c utti ng down

- .
-

o f th e upper a n d seco n d stre a k s be tween the rowl o ck s with ,

a View t o red ucing the weight Then fo llowed the inve n

.

tio no f the o utrigger by C la sper a bout the ye a r 1 8 4 2 first ,

a do p ted in the University ra ce o f 1 84 6 Thi s inve ntion .

 P H Y S ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R E CR E A TION .

nbl ed th e bea m to be contra cted whil e the length o f th e

e a ,

o a r inbo a rd rem a ined the sa me

-
Gra d ua lly the o utriggers
.

were leng thened (h a vi n g a t first been only a bout eigh t

inches long) a nd the bea m co n tra cted until a ra ci ng eight ,

to ok the form o f a na rrow ship 5 7 to 6 0 feet long a nd a bout

two fe et wide a t the bro a des t pa rt These were a ll clinker “
.

”
built tha t is in strea k s overl a pping ea ch other a mod e
, .
,

o f build still us ua l in wh a t a re c a lled gig bo a ts E fforts were -

.

bei ng m a de by boa t builders to a d a pt the C a rve] b uild

-
”
,

so as to give a perfectly s moo th exterior t o th e w a ter a n d ,

by the yea r 1 8 5 5 m a ny college eights a t Ox ford were o f

this build which wa s becomi ng common A ll these bo a ts
, .

h a d a keel B ut in the next yea r 1 8 5 6 a keelless bo a t Keell

.
, , ,
boa t.
built w ith a thin ceda r skin fitted on to strong ribs by ,

Ma tthew T a ylor fo r th e Roya l C hester Rowing C lub

, ,

ca rried eve rything before it a t Henley Rega tta a nd beca m e ,

the p a ttern o f co nstruction fo r ra ci ng boa ts o f the present

da y . Keelles s bo a ts were used by both the Univers ities in
the 1 8 5 7 ra ce a t P utney .

The o a rs o f th e olden time were sq ua re in th e loom O ars , .

with a s qua re b utto nto preven t them slipping o ut o f the

rowlock The bl a des were long a nd m uch na rrro wer th a n
.

tho se o f the present da y a nd the stro ke w as rowed a t a

,

gre a ter a ngle to the wa ter Gr a d ua lly a s the boa ts ha ve

. ,

decrea s ed in size a n d the o a rs m a n h a s bee n bro ught down

nea rer t o th e level o f th e wa ter the bl a de s ha ve been m a de
,

shorter a n d broa der The usua l ty pe o f bl a de no w is

.

a bout three feet in length a n d s ix i n ches o r even more a t

, , ,

the extreme end which is the wides t pa rt A n improve

,
.

m en t rem a in s to be a dopted by which the whole bl a de will

be immersed a t once th us ta king the whole o f its pro
,

pelli ng a rea into pl a y without a ny slip a s is a t prese nt

”
,

the ca se The norm a l length o f oa rs is from three feet s ix

.

inches t o three feet ni ne inches i nbo a rd eight feet seven -

,

i nche s to nine feet o ut boa rd the ba l a nce o f the o a r o ut

-
,

boa rd depending o n thes e proporti on s Sc ulls fo r ra ci ng .

purpo s e s a re ge nera lly a bo ut ten feet long with five i nch -

bl a des a nd a re used overh a nded th a t is to sa y with th e

, , ,
 A THL E 7 1 CS ; OR ,

h a ndl es verl a pping when the scull s a re pe rpendic ul a r to

o

the sides o f the boa t .

C ox swa in
less O f l a te ye a rs fo ur o a rs which till th e yea r 1 8 73 used to
-
,
mm
c a rry a cox swa ina t the reg a tt a s h a ve bee nrowed witho ut ,

c ox swa in s ; the stee ring being e ffected by a n ingen ious

a ppa ra t us whereby one o f the crew t urn s the rudder eithe r

t o the right Or le ft by the pressure o r inc lin a tion o f either

foot . It c a n not be sa id tha t the steeri ng o f fo ur oa rs h as
been improved by the tra nsfer o f the yoke lines from th e -

h a nd s to the feet nor is it likely to be sa ti s fa ctory until by

,

s ome proce ss o f evol utionthe jolly yo ung wa term a n o f

“

t h e fut ure is provided with eyes in the b a ck o f h is he a d .

B ut some improveme n t no do ubt will be m a de in the steer

ing gea r the a d a pt a tion o f electricity to which is a proble m
,

not unlikely to be solved by some scie ntific a nd pra cti ca l

oa rsm a na t no dista nt d a te .

S lidi n
g
-sea t
. B ut o f a ll the improveme n ts in the bo a ts o f modern
d a ys the most rem a rk a ble is th a t o f the s lidi ng se a t a n -
,

Americ a n invention first p ublicly used in 1 8 70 Thi s .

en a ble s the rower to shi ft h is position d uri ng the stroke

from a poi n t a s nea r to the thwa rt a ga i nst which he works , ,

a s the be n di ng o f h is k nes upwa rd s while h is feet a re firm

e
,

a ga in s t the stretcher will a llow to a poi n

, t a s fa r o ff from
,

t h a t work a s the stra ighte n i ng o f h is legs a nd fl a tteni ng o f

h is k n ees will ca rry him Thi s in the ca se o f a m a n o f
.
,

six feet in height is as n , ea rly a s possible fif teen i nches ,

horizonta lly mea sured Thi s is the extreme but a s th ere

.

i s in the extreme forwa rd pos itio n a lo s s o f p o wer t o the

body in the b o a t owi ng to the cr a mpi ng o f th e m uscles
, ,

an d in the extreme b a ckwa rd po s itio n a loss o f powe r in

the a ction o f the o a r in the w a te r a nd a di fficulty in ,

recovery crea ted these extreme s a re a s a r ule a voided a nd

, ,

a m a rgin a llowed a t either e n d red uci n g the a ctua l lengt h

,

o f slide t o from twelve to n i ne or even s ix i nches a c ,

cordi ng to the j udgment o f the i ndividua l or the tra i ner

of th e c re w s
'

Intheold type o f boa ts whe n the oa rsm a n wa s s ea ted

,

h igh a bove the wa ter he co uld a t the beginni n

, g o f th e
 PH Y S ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA T1 0 1V . 6;

s tro k e a ctua lly li ft him sel f o ff h is sea t a nd let th e whol e ,

weigh t o f h is body tell o nthe h a n dle o f the o a r a nd th e

stretcher s im ulta neo usly A s the a ngl e a t which the o a r
.

touch ed th e wa ter owing to the improvem ents in boa t

,

buil d i ng beca me more a cute th e weight o f th e m a n was

, ,

brought more a nd more on to th e sea t a nd less a n d l ess o n

to th e stretcher Hence when in a ccord a nce with the true
.
,

principles o f th e stroke a m a nsought to a pply h is weight

as w e ll a s h is s trength to the h a n dle o f the o a r it was sti ll ,

a na t tempt t o sus pend hi m sel f between th e h a ndle o f t h e

oar a n d th e s tretcher le a ving as little o f h is weight on th e

,

s e a t a s po ss ible B ut it is obvious th a t owing to h is

.
,

pos itio na t a fixed di sta nce twelve o r thirteen inches from

,

h is work thi s s us pen s io n o f the body could only opera te

,

during the first few inches o f the stroke ; th a t is when h is ,

body w a s well forwa rd A s soon a s the body nea red th e

.

perpendicul a r line th e weight resided o nto the sea t a nd ,

the rem a inder o f the stroke wa s a ccompli shed by m uscul a r

contra ctio na lone Alrea dy towa rd s the end o f the da ys
.

o f fixed se a ts there was a tendency to s e t the work nea re r

to th e sea t a n ,
d s om e o f the fa stest crews a t Henley
were rowing with work a t 1 1 or even If
a very fa s t stroke i s rowed it will n a tura lly be s horter in
,

th e wa ter th a n a slow o n e ; an d a s the first h a l f o f th e

stro ke is the mo s t importa nt p a rt o f it th a t di st a nce was
,
s ought o ut which owing to the pos ition o f h is body in
,

rel a tion t o th e h a ndle o f th e o a r a nd the stretcher would ,

ena ble the m a nto employ h is weight a t the beginning to

th e be st a dva nt a ge Alrea dy the prolonga tion o f thi s
.

a dv a nta geous po s ition by s liding b a ck on a fixed s e a t

lubrica ted fo r th e purpose h a d been pra ctised by s ome

sc ullers a n d some oa rs men but fo r obvious reason s it wa s
,

only pa rti a lly s uccessful Sill it wa s a move in every se nse

.

in the right directionfo r th e continua tion o f the m usc ul a r

effort by which weight a nd strength could be a pplied t o
,

th e wa ter a n,
d the m uscul a r effort o f the legs m a inta i n ed
fo r a longer time Thus much m a y be sa id as to th e
.

physica l a spect o f th e que stion up to thi s point but there

[.H F
 A THL E TICS ; o n ,

is a lso th em e ch a n
ica l which wa s enga gin
, g the a ttention o f
c lever o a rsmen o nthe other s ide o f the Atl a n tic .

Mech a nic a lly spea king in rowing the wa ter is th e ful

, ,

crum the bo a t is th e weight to be moved the o a r is th e

, ,

lever a n
, d the m a n a pplies the power The levera ge is .

most powerful when a pplied a t right a ngles to the weight

but in the problem to be s olved owing t o the motion o f the ,

o a r itsel f thro ugh the w a ter a n d the mot ion o f the bo a t

,

t hro ugh the wa ter the moment a t which thi s c a nbe the ca s e
,

is extremely tra n s ient C ould a ny sa ti sfa ctory m ech a nis m

.

—
be devi sed by which the weight th a t is the thowl a ga in st
which he rows— c ould be moved forwa rd d uring the s troke ,

while the oa rsm a n wa s still in the po sition to exert h is full

p o wer a ga in st it we might expect a grea t increase o f s peed
,
.

Thi s however is a structura l problem not yet solved B ut .

the slidi ng sea t in s ome mea sure a n swers the purpose by

e na bli ng the o a rsm a n o r sc uller t o conti nue h is phys ic a l
e ff ort by the stra ighte n i ng o f h is legs in s uch a wa y th a t h is
power a nd h is weight which is a s we h a ve show n mos t
, , ,

a v a il a ble a t the begin n i ng o f the stroke is opera tive in the ,

wa ter fo r a lo nger period d uri ng e a ch stroke tha n it co uld

be if he w a s o n a fixed se a t The ga in is m uch less th a n .

th a t o f a movi ng rowlock would be bec a use o wi ng to the , ,

ri si ng o f the knees when the slider is forwa rd a m a nc a nno t

obt a in a m uch gre a ter re a ch forw a rd th a n he could o n a
fix e d se a t It is whenthe body h a s moved up to wa rd s th e
.

perpe ndic ul a r a nd the w a ter h a s a lrea dy been got hold o f

, ,

th a t the a dva nta ge o f the slidi ng se a t begi ns A s the s lid e r .

-

moves ba ck the uncoiling o f the hum a n spring which is

, ,

bedded in the stretcher c a n go on wi th undimi nished forc e

,

fo r the di st a nce o f the slide when the pressure o f the leg s

,

c ea s e s a n d the weight o f the body is a g a i nentirely throw n

o n th e s e a t . The mech a nic a l a dva nta ge is here mostly
a fter the rowlock a n d th a t a s we h a ve a lre a dy st a ted is th e
, , ,

lea st va l ua ble p a rt o f the stroke especi a lly in a light bo a t , .

Still th e ga in is con s idera ble a s it e na bles more weight a nd

,

more strength to be a pplied to the o a r fo r a longer po rtio n

o f th e stroke .
 A THLE TICS ; OR ,

B ut these in sta nces though interesting a re no t rea ll y t o

, ,

be relied o n as determining the questiono f rel a tive a dv a n

ta ge fo r th e circum sta nces under which the ra ces in que st i o n
,

were rowed were di fferent a nd strea m a nd wind a re f a r

,

more potent in helping o r reta rding the pa ce o f a bo a t th a n

an y a dj us tment o f fi xed s e a t s o r s lider s c a n be .

To row in one o f the grea t ra ces o f the yea r is a legitim a t e

as pir a tion fo r a n y a m a te u r bu t be fore he ,c a n re a ch t h a t
excellence which would fit him fo r such a nhonour he m us t ,

h a ve le a rnt the a rt o f rowi ng from the beginni ng He m us t .

ha ve lea rnt it individua lly so a s to be a ble to a pply h is o w n

,

body a nd limbs correctly to the a ctua l work o f prop ul s i o n .

He m ust h a ve lea rnt it s oci a lly so to spea k a s a p a rt o f a , ,

crew so a s to be a ble to keep time a nd rhythm a nd e x a c t

,

ness in the a pplica tion o f h is power a t the right m o m e nt

with the stroke Those wh o tea ch rowing h a ve to tea c h i t
.

indivi d ua lly a nd collectively which a re two very di ffe re nt,

things . It would exceed th e limit s o f the present h a nd bo o k

t o a ttempt to enter into the det a il s o f in struction fo r e it h e r
Eto npapers
. individua l or crew We subjoin h owever cop ies o f th e t w o
.
, ,

s umm a rie s which h a ve form ed the ba s i s o f the te a ching o f t h e

’
Eton crew s who h a ve rowed fo r the L a dies C h a lleng e P l a t e
a t Henley d uri n g the l a st twenty yea rs .

NO TE S ON T HE STROK E .

’
IA
. f p r) (pkva pijo a e 3x aw m
o ;
'
dw cfids
’ ’
ek s w o Bé p m s ;
q p
dro
'
k ‘
m 7
): 8vvr10 0 p a c,
'

i nem a s M -
a h di 7 m do a ka m m o s
'
c m

An
’
b y dr tiwa r ;

pa w
"
i i n y dp
c t at o hq p e
’

mi n ce - ,
f
’
erra drw
‘
e
n y
’
Bak s
'
dr a g — A r Ra n . . 20 2.

The moment th e o a r touches th e body drop the h a n d s ,

s m a rtly stra ight down then t urn the wri s t s sh a rply a n

, d at
on ce shoot o ut th e ha nds in a stra ight line to the f ro nt ,

i nclining the body forwa rd from the thigh joints a nd -

,
 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION . 69

s im ulta neously bring up the slider regula ting the ti me by

,

t h e s wing fo rwa rd o f the bo dy a cco rdi n g to the stroke L e t .

t h e c hes t a n d s tom a ch come well forwa rd the shoulde rs be ,

k e p t b a ck the i n s ide a rm be st ra ighten ed the in side wrist ,

a li ttle ra i se d th e o a r gra s ped i nt h e h a nd s but n

, o t press ed ,

up o n more th a n is necessa ry to m a i nta i nthe bl a de i nits

p r o pe r s tr a i ght li n e a s it goe s ba ck the h e a d kept u p t h e ,

e y e s fixed o nthe outs ide s ho ulder o f the m a n be fo re y o u .

A s the body a n d a rm s c ome forwa rd t o t heir full e xtent ,

t h e wri s ts h a ving beenquickly turned the h a n ds m ust be

,

ra i s ed s h a rply a nd the bl a de o f th e o a r bro ught to its full

,

d e p th a t once A t th a t moment without the loss o f a

.
,

th o us a ndth pa rt o f a second the whole weight o f the body

,

m us t be thrown o nt o the o a r a n d the s tretcher by th e body ,

s p ringing b a ck s o th a t the o a r m a y ca tch hold o f the wa ter

,

s h a rply a n
,
d be driven through it by a force un w a vering
an d uni form . A s s oon a s the o a r h a s got h old o f the wa ter ,

an d the beginning o f the stroke h a s been e ff ec ted a s d e

s cribed fl a tt en the knee s a n
,
d so usi n
, g the m uscles o f th e
,

legs keep up th e press ure o f the begi n ni ng uniform

,

through the ba ckwa rd motion o f the bo dy L e t the ar m s .

be rigid a t th e beg i nning o f the s trok e When the body .

re a ches the perpendic ul ar let the elbo ws be bent a nd

,

dropped close pa st the sides to the rea r the sho ulders —

dropping a nd d isclosing the ches t to the fron t the b a ck if ,

a nythi n g curved inwa rds ra ther th a n o ut wa rds but not

, ,

stra i ned in a n y w a y The

. bod y in fa ct s ho
, u ld a s s ume a
,

na tura l upright s itt ing posture with th e shoulders well

,

thrown ba ck Inthi s po sition the o a r should come to it

.

an d th e fea ther commence .

—
NR It is importa nt to remember th a t the body shoul d
never stop still Inits motion b a ckwa rd s a nd forwa rds it
.

should imita te th e pend ul um o f a clock When it h as .

ceased to go forwa rd it h as begun to go ba ck .

There a re it will a ppe a r from cons idera tion o f th e

,

above directio ns a bo ut 2 7 di sti nct points a r tza dz a s it were

' '

, , ,

o f th e stroke No o ne should a ttempt to c o a ch a crew

.
 A THL E TICS ; o n
,

with o ut striving to o bta in a pra ctica l in sight into th eir

na ture a nd ord er o f success i o n .

L e t a c oxs wa in a l so remembe r th a t in tea ching men t o ,

ro w h is object s ho uld be to te a ch t hem to econ

,
omi s e t hei r
s tr en
g tlz by u s ing properly th e ir w eig ft t Their weig h t i s .

a lw a y s in the bo a t a long with th em their strength if m is ,

a pplied ve ry s oon ev a po ra tes

, E W . . .

ETO N, Feb . 1 2 , 1 8 75 .

NO TE S ON C OAC H ING .

’ ’
-
T w o ra 8 i 5 i l
'
t a r r a w va ur é i v o i e fo p é i vr es
l d
‘
y vo w p m 1 r
y p
y
c 1

i fvvex o vrt s n w e ipeo ia v — T HUC Y D V II

‘
m
'
. . .

Inte a ching a crew y o u ha ve to dea l with

A C rew collectively ;
.

B C rew individ ua lly

. .

A . C O L L EC TIVE
1 Tim e.
—a O a rs in a nd o ut to gether
~ .

B Fe a ther
. s a m e height —
,
keep it dow n .

7 Stroke s.a me depth,

— c o v e r th e bl a de s ,

but not a bove the bl ue .

2. S wi ng— a Bodies forwa rd a nd ba ck togethe r

. .

6 Slider s together . .

7 E ye s in the bo a.t .

Work Beginning—
together h rp —h a rd
3. , s a .

T rn the wri t— o u an ff f h
B u .s o f s d o o t e

fe a ther sha rp but not t o o s oon

, ,
.

Ri se of the h a nd s — sh a rp j ust
y
c .
,

be fore stroke begi ns .

8 Drop
. o f the h a nd s— sh a rp j ust a ft e r ,

it end s .

G enera l E xhort a tio ns Beginning 1 Smite " “

Keep it l o ng " a nd the like— to be given a t th e righ t

”

moment no t used a s mere p a rrot cries

, .
 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TION .

B . IN DIVIDUA L — Fa ults o f P osition1.

2 Fa ults o f Movement . .

N B Thes e conce rn Body H a nds Arm s —Le gs

— . .
— — ,

an d someti mes Hea d a nd Neck .

1 . P oint o ut when y o u eas y o r when y o u come in o r , ,

best o f a ll in a gig S h ow a s well as say wha t

,
.

i s wrong a nd wh a t is right .

N B — Mind right Dec zj

fli t ex em pla r
'

vz tz zir
'

. .
y o u a r e .

i m z ta bz le
'

2 . To be pointed o ut d uring the row a nd corrected .

Apply the p ri nciples ta ught in E W s pa per on

’
. .

the stroke begi nni ng with h o w a nd worki ng to stroke

, ,

interspers ing exhorta tions (A) a t the proper time .

N . B . Never lza m m er a t a n
-
y o ne i ndivid ua l I f one o r t wo .

a dmonition s don t bring him right w a it a bit a n

’
d , ,

thent ry him a ga in .

F or co a chi ng p urpose s no t too fas t , a s troke a nd not too

s o l w . About 30 per min ute is right .

B e fore y o u
t rt se e th a t your men h a ve got their
s a ,

s t r e tchers right a nd a re s itti ng stra ight to their wo rk .

HE TEA C H ES B ES T W HO , W HIL E HE IS TE A C H ING ,

R EM EM B ER S T HAT HE To o HA S M UC H To L EA R N .

E W . .

E TO N, M a rc k ut, 1 8 75 .

Those who desire to lea rn more from books upon the A ddenda .

s ubj ect sho uld c o n ,

s ult the Pri nciples o f Rowi ng a nd Steer
in n n
’ ’ ’
a d Mr B ric kw o o d s tre a ti s e on Bo t R ci g -
g ,
. a a .

It is a ll impo rt a n t to begin t o lea rn to row o n a fixed

-

se a t a n d to un
,
d e rst a nd the correct po sition fo r h a nd s legs ,

an d bo dy when first t a ki n g a se a t in a bo a t a nd the re a son ,

fo r e a ch These concern the hea lth a s m uch a s th e

.

s ucce ss ful m a n i p ula tion o f the o a r The position s should .

a ll be n a tura l a n d uncon stra i n ed A ll trick s such a s sid e .

,

j erking o f the knees t urni ng o f the he a d o n one side , ,

7: A THL E TICS ; OR ,

looking a t th e o a r during th e stro ke a rching o utwa rd s o f ,

th e ba ck turning o ut o f th e e lbo ws e tc should be a vo i d ed

, , ,

by th e l ea rner a nd c o rrec ted by the tea c her .

FIG . L —R O W ING . I
F X ED S EA T— FO RWA R D .

C on s idering th e stra in which is put o n th e m us c le s

d uring the stroke, it is most impo rta nt th a t a t the e nd o f
the s troke a nd d uring th e recovery no more m us c ul a r

TIG . 2 —RO WING

. . I
F X ED S E T
A — B A CK.

power should be exerted th a n is necessa ry fo r th e brin g i ng

forwa rd the body a nd th e o a r into the po sition fo r th e next
begi nning D uring thi s tim e of m uscul a r rel a x a tion t h e
.

chest should be exp a nded the shoulders kept from c o n

,
 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECR EA TIOIV .
73

ve rgi ng i nwa rd s th e a rm s shot o ut in a stra ight line

,

fro m the body with h a nd s ri sing t owa rds the level o f th e

,

sh o ulder. Thus a g oo d in spira tion c a nbe ta ken fi lling ,

FIG .
—
3 RO WING
. . S L IDER— FO RWA R

th e l ungs a nd supplying its full sha re o f oxidi sed blood to

th e he a rt which will a lso be le ft free fo r its expa nsio n a nd
,

PIG .
4
—R O WING
. . S IDER — B A C K .
L

contra ction quickened by the exerci se o f rowing if th e

, ,

che st is uncontra cted a nd the ba ck stra ight .

It c a nnot be too strongly in si sted o nwith beginners th a t

no t only the m uscles o f a rm s a nd legs h a ve to be got into
74 A THLE TICS ; OR ,

r owing c ondition in order to do the work sa ti sfa ctorily but ,

th a t hea rt a nd l ungs a lso ha ve to be ha bitua ted to do t heir

s h a re which is n
,
o sm a ll p a rt o f the work .

Intea ching a beginner nothi n g is more prej udici a l th a n

,
”
t o keep him going too long a t a time Frequent eas ies .
,

an d expl a n a tion s a n d pra ctica l ex a mples the co a ch s howing

, ,

him by ta ki ng the o a r him sel f wh a t he h a s done wrong

, ,

an d how to d o right help a n d en c o ura ge him better th a n

,

an long l a bo ur will d o A s he be c o mes more h a n dy t h e

y .

e ffo rt c a n be pro longed with a dva nt a ge a nd fa ults ta lked ,

a bo ut a fterwa rd s There a re two very common fa ults in

.

c o a ching e speci a lly where a s is o ften the c a se a t p ublic

, ,

school s a n d the universities those who undert a ke to te a ch ,

h a ve them selves ve ry imperfect knowledge o f the a rt .

They sa y too m uch they thi nk to o little a bout the ca use s

,

o f fa ult s a n d a re co n
,
tent with telli ng the i ndivid ua l t o
c orrect them witho ut letti n g him know how to do it It i s .

mo st importa nt to get men o r boys to use the ir bra in s

in rowing a s well a s their a rm s a nd legs We re member a .

s a yi n g th a t w as in o ld d a ys h a nded downin o ur C ollege

,

B o a t C l ub a nd a ttributed t o a fa mous a nd most c o nsc ie n

,

tious o a rs m a n(who h a s now ta ke n h is sea t o n the j udici a l

bench ) : I never row a stroke without thi nking if there is
an ything wro ng with it Thi s should be the h a bit o f mi nd
”
.

i n the o a rsm a nwho wi shes to excel B ut it is not e a s ily .

cre a ted by the bewild e ri ng di scipline to which m a ny

begi nners a re subj ect We remember seei ng on the Isi s
.

s ome ye a rs a g o o n e fine a fte rn

,
oonin the begi nni ng o f th e
s ummer term a l uckle ss fo ur bei n
, g co a ched presum a bly ,

with a view to the summer r a ces Th ey h a d grea t we a lth o f .

i nstructors Two the y c a rried in th e bo a t a roomy gig

.
, ,

with them bes ide the cox swa in a nd two were runni ng o n ,

the ba nk All were shouti ng a t them a t i nterva l s It

. .

would be very di ffi cult to le a rn or to m a i nta in a c o n

s c ie ntio us res olve to correct one s fa ults un
’
der the circum
sta nces It is a n a xiom th a t o n
. e an d on e only s ho uld , ,

tea ch a t a time a nd th a t the crew sho uld underst a nd wh o

,

it is to wh o m they a re to listen .
76 A THLE TICS ; OR ,

to d o t hi s w itho ut e nd a ngering h is ba l a nce or c hecking

h is p a ce .

We h a ve dwelt upon ro wing inits rel a tion t o ra ci ng

c ra ft chiefly be c a use it is inthes e t h a t the highes t e xerci s e
,

no .
5 . r rx r n su T vo n
— n
wa n .

of th e a rt is to be found thos e wh o d o no t . B ut fo r
a s pire to ra ce there is no more h ea lthy exerci s e th a n
,

rowing none more full o f plea sure a n

, d va riety E ve n .

no . 6 .

th ese will desire to know how to row a nd sh ould t ry t o ,

lea rn the a rt so a s to be a ble to a pply it in pra ctic e

,

without exhibiti ng unga inly form o r l udicro us e flo rts To

'

, .

row correctly is to row with eas e sa ving there by m uch ,

 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R ECREA TION.

unneces sa ry l a bo ur a nd m uch di scom fort Plea sure boa ts

,
.

an d th e ir fitti n gs a re no w fo r the most pa rt so much

be tte r a nd lighter th a n thos e in which o ur fa thers rowed

th e ir long ra ces fro m Westmin ster to Kew tha t the ,

e x e rci s e h a s become m uch more i nviti ng tha n it w a s in

their d a y The ra ilway s a ls o give fa cilities fo r rea ching
.

no . 8 —SC U LL ING
. . S LIDER— B AC K .

w a ter on the Th a mes a nd other s trea m s where bo a ts a re

,

pl e nti ful a nd the cha rm s o f river sc z nery i nexha ustible

, .

W h a t better recrea tion c a n a ny o ne wea ried with bra in

w ork a n d the c a res o f b usiness des ire ?
 A THLE TICS ; OR,

C anoein
g. T hough th e reg ul a r oa rsm a n m a y a ffect to look down
upon c a noeing yet Mr John Mc G reg o r in h is pop ul a r
,
.
,

books h a s shown h o w in a little vessel o f the ki nd grea t

,

di sta nces m a y be tra velled a nd grea t enj oyme nt be ,

obta i ned Fa r therefore be it from us to spea k with a ny

.
, ,

thi ng but res pect o f ca noei ng A s a m uscul a r exerci s e we

.

prefer rowing a nd sc ulling but still fo r those wh o d o no t

, ,

the next best thi ng a s fa r a s exerci se o n the wa ter is

,

co ncerned is to pa ddle a ca noe

, .

S wim m ing . The d a nger o f up setting which is hereby sugges ted

, ,

m a kes us inclined to sa y o ne word with re fere nce t o a n

a cc o mpli shment o f gre a t impo rta nce to tho s e w h o ta ke

their p a s time o n the w a ter viz swimming , More peo pl e

.
, .

k now how to swim now tha n formerly but still m a ny o f ,

thos e who h a bitua lly frequent the river do no t .

The swimming ba th s no w es ta blished in the M etropolis

a fford opport unities fo r le a rni n g the a rt o f which m a ny ,

boys a n d yo ung men might a va il them s elves The rul e .

esta blis hed a t E ton in the yea r 1 84 0 by the exertio ns o f ,

tha t grea t a nd good m a n George Selwyn a fterwa rd s ,

Bi shop o f New Z ea l a nd a nd Bi shop o f L ic h fie ld s uc

c ess iv e ly under which boys before they a re a llowed to g o
, ,

o ut inbo a t s h a ve t o pa s s in swimming h a s beene ffect ua l

, ,

there in th e preventio n o f fa ta l a ccidents o nly o ne ca se ,

h a vi ng occ urred si nce tha t time though swa mpi ng as m a y , ,

be believed is very freque nt Every yea r o na n a vera ge

, .
, ,

a bo ut 1 5 0 boys le a rnto swim a n d p a ss the test Though it .

wo uld not be po ss ible to enforce a ny such rule except a t a

s cho ol yet the succe ss o f the sy stem th a t h a s be en th us in
,

force fo r more th a nforty yea rs suggests the idea th a t a go od

work might be do ne if p ublic swimming ba th s co uld be
s till further m ultiplied an d i f s ome enco ura geme n
, t were
givento l a d s t o pa ss a simila r tes t M a ny o f th e c a ta s .

t ro ph e s which n o w t urn pa rties o f ple a sure i n to pa rties o f

m o urn ing would be p revented thereby a nd m a ny a li fe ,

sa ved.
 C HAPT E R V II .

TR A INING .

Nec e ssity of B o ok s o n Hi sto ry O bj ec t a nd pra c t cie Diet

Ex i
er c se S t a le ne ss B a th ing Dre ss M enta l i n
o c c up a t o
l —
S e p G
e o ing o ut o f tra ining.

WE h a ve a lrea dy referred necess ity o f prepa ri ng Nec essity o f

t o th e
no t o nly the externa l m uscles o f the fra me fo r a ny severe
e ff ort like a ra ce but a l so the grea t i ntern a l orga ns he a rt
, ,

an d l un gs which supply the power a nd living energy by

,

wh ich the e ff o rt is m a de a n d m a inta ined .

Dr M o rga n in h is va lua ble work entitled U nivers ity B oo ks

.
,
.

O a rs h a s tre a ted the wh o le q uestiono f tra ining fo r ro wi ng

,
”

with the k nowledge which co uld be brought to bea r upo nit

o nly by a medica l m a nwho w a s a ls o him sel f a n a c c o m
l i s h e d o a rs m a n He h as show nhow groundless wa s the idea
p .
,

once com m on th a t rowing ingenera l a nd more especia lly

, ,

rowi ng in the University ra ce was the c a use o f diseas e , ,

an d prem a t ure de a th to tho s e who ventured to ta ke pa rt

,

—
in such a violent exercise such a suicida l contest O ut o f
2 94 old Univers ity oa rsme n he di scovered th a t but a bo ut

s ix per ce nt were even sa id by them selves or by oth e rs

.

t o h a ve been i n j ured a nd in most o f these c as es ca reful

,

i nquiry showed th a t neither rowi ng nor the ra ce was t o

bla me The interesting book la tely publi shed by Mr
. .

Tre h e m e giving the record o f the University Boa t Ra ce

, ,

fully bea r s o ut thi s concl usion .

While therefore we m a y fea rlessly uphold th e ch a ra cter

U niversity O ars, ’
by J o h n Ed . M o rg a n, MD . . M ac m illa n .
 A THL E TICS ; OR ,

of ro wing a s a hea lthy pastime it will no t be o ut o f pl a ce

,

here t o point o ut tha t in rowing a s in a ll a thletic ex o r ,

ci ses tra i ning is n e cessa ry if a ny gre a t a nd severe c a ll is

,

to be m a de upon the m uscl es a n d orga n s o f th e bo dy .

H istory
. The hi story o f tra ining a s known to a m a te ur oa rsmen o f
t h e pre se n t da y is inte res ting as showing the persi stency o f
a mi s ta k e n notion in m a tters o f diet a n
, d exercise when ,

once it h as been a dmitted Thirty yea rs a g o crews in .

t ra ining were the victim s o f a system ba sed upon a fa ll a cy ,

an d s uffered m uch di scom fort in religio usly co n forming to

th a t which wa s no better th a n a groundless superstition .

An y a mo u nt o f u nder done me -
a t with s ta le bre a d b u t ,

h a rdly a ny vegeta bles ; a severe restriction a s to th e

q ua ntity o f liquid while a s to qua lity stro ng beer was
, , ,

prescribed a s strengthening a nd nothing els e believed in ;

,

h a rd running inthe morning a nd o na na vera ge s ixteen miles

,

o f riv e r work inthe a fternoon

- s uch in re spect o f diet a n d
e xerci se was the fa te of oa rsmen a t the universities ,

an d we e lieve a l so i n th e Metropolita n cl ub s th a t t he n

exi st e t o ugh proba bly they were less under the dominion
o f a bsurd rule s All thi s a rose from a mis ta ken noti on a s
.

to the na ture o f tra ini ng It wa s a system copied from th e

.

tra ini ng o f profess io na l w a termen a nd then still further

ex a ggera ted B ut a wa term a n in those d a ys except h e
.
,

was in tra ining h a rdly ever to uched me a t

, Beer no doubt .

he got but not o f the best V egeta bles except pot a toes
,
.
,

an d perh a ps onion s he ra rely sa w

, His tra i ni ng to get .
,

into condition if he wa s ba cked fo r a ra ce wa s a period of ,

unusua l l ux ury fo r him a n d he was n, o t very p a rtic ul a r

a bout h is mea t being well do n e And so it ca me a bout .

th a t when i n quiry wa s m a de by a dmi ring a m a teur oa rs

men o f Bob C oombes or C ha mbers a s to wha t they did in
the wa y o f diet the inform a tion received was rega rded as a
,

recipe a nd it s pra ctice ord a ined by rule A little re flection

,
.

might ha ve told us th a t the wa term a n s a ntecedents a s to

’

diet were no t th e sa me as a n a m a te ur s a nd th a t the

’
,

tra ini ng o f th e la tter should be with a di fference “

A fter .

s ufferi n g m uch from boil s etc some o f us did reflec t a nd a

,
.
, ,
 P H YS ICA L EXER CIS E A ND R E CR E A TION .

more ra tion a l sy stem wa s introd uced i nto th e tra ining o f

University crews a bo ut twe n ty six yea rs a g o Since th a t -
.

ti m e th e whole subject h as bee n thoroughly trea ted by

co mpetent a utho rities a n d no o ne need no w be ignora nt o f
,

t h e right pra ctice o f tra ining or o f th e s o und principl es ,

upon which it is ba sed The bo oks o f th e l a te Mr

. .

M L a re non Tra ining in Th e ory a n d P ra ctic e a nd o f Dr

‘ ‘ ’
, .

E d wa rd Smith o n Pra ctica l Dieta ry give a ll nece ssa ry

’
,

i nform a tion o nt h e subject .

The m a i nobject o f tra ining is good hea l th a n d fitn e ss O bjeet a nd

d
fo r a pa rtic ul a r kind o f h a rd work Diet a n d exerci se a n d m fifi .
b

s leep a n d clothi n g h a ve to be co nsidered in rela tion to it .

While referri ng to the work s a bove mentioned a n y o n e

w h o wi she s t o m a s ter the subject in its deta i l s we m a y ,

here give a few genera l rules which will be found useful to

a ll w h o love vigoro us exerci ses or c a re to excel in a thleti cs

of an y kind .

Inthe se a s in g re a ter things the poet s word s a re true

’

S elf -
revere nc e , self kno wledg e,
- self-c ontro l
Th e se th ree a lo ne lea d life to so ve reig n
po we r.
”

Th e first m a x im is Be tempera te in a ll things

,
“
Do .

no t if o ut o f condition a ttempt th a t which requires pre

, ,

a ra t io n a n d tra ining M any a m a n h a s been fooli sh

p .

enough to be d a red to do a thing which h a s cost h im

“

m uch more inli fe a nd perh a p s in de a th th a n it wa s worth

, , .

To ro w or run a severe ra ce t o a ttempt a n y fe a t with ,

weights o r in gymn a stics while m uscles a nd i nterna l

, ,

orga n s a re utterly unprep a red fo r the stra in is the a c t o f ,

the m em z nsa na l The se a nd the like a re the things which

“ ”
'

c a use stra i ns a nd spra in s a nd va ricose vein s a nd rick s ,

an d an euri sm s a nd ca rdi a c dil a ta tion s a nd other horro rs , .

Therefore let a ny one who h a s a ny rega rd fo r a sa num

c orp us
”
be so fa r ca re ful o f him sel f a s to a void ca lli ng
upon it fo r e ff orts o f the ki n d if it h as been living a seden ,

t a ry life w itho ut a n opport u nity o f ge tting into conditio n

'

y ,

o r if it is co n va lescent from a nill ness o r if it is sufferi ng ,

fo r the mome n t from a cold or sore throa t or co ugh , , .

[ H 2 4]. G
 A THL E TICS ,
‘
OR ,

The n ext po int is diet L e t mea l s be regul a r a nd simpl e

. .

A s a rule do not e a t or d ri n
, k be tween them If y o u wis h .

to g e t i nto co ndition a void thi ngs th a t a re not e as y o f

,

d ige stio n A s a rule a t me a l s e a t be fore drinki n

.
, g Let .

bre a k fa st h a ve it s tea a nd brea d a n d butter a n d egg o r - -

,

fish boiled o r chops or ste a ks etc a n

, d a little m a rm a l a de
, .
,

to finish with a l if y o u ple a se but do not m a ke it t o o he a vy

,

a me a l . L e t l uncheo n h a ve but a s p a re portion ; h a l f a -

pi nt o f goo d wholesome bitter beer o r if a cc ustomed to it , , ,

a gl as s o f s he rr
y( better witho ut wi ne i f not yo ur h a bit i n , ,

the middle o f th e d a y ) a nd brea d a nd butter a nd if needed

,
- -
, ,

s ome go od je lly We a re suppo s i ng t h e h a rd exercise t o

.

be ta ke n in the a fternoon L e t di n ner h a ve it s d ue

.

va riety Fi sh (boiled not frie d ) fresh m e a t ple nty o f

.
, , ,

b o iled ve get a bles rice s a go ta pioc a a ny light puddings

, , , , .

F or de ssert a couple o f fig s o r a n ora nge a n d some d ry ,

bi sc uit a nd one gl a ss o f goo d so und wine m a y be a llowed .

At di nner dri nk not more th a n two ordi na ry gl as se s o f

beer or cl a ret a n
, d w a ter if pre fe rred Avoid things fried .

i n butter or dripping Avo id a ll gre a sy thi ngs a ll ra w

, ,

vegeta ble s sa l a ds a nd the like A few wa tercresses a nd

, ,
.
,

i ns ummer a few str a wberrie s m a y be a ll o wed a t bre a k fa s t .

Ex erc ise. A s to exerci s e the a moun t nece ssa ry m ust be determined

,

by the na ture o f the co ntes t in view If y o u a re going t o .

ro w a ra ce it is nece ssa ry to t a ke r un ni n g or a t a ny r a te , , ,

sh a rp w a lking exerci se s o a s to gi ve the m us cle s o f the

,

legs their to ne a s well a s to improve the co ndition o f he a rt

,

an d l ungs Thi s work should be d one inthe m o rni ng but

.
,

not overdone a nd it should begi n with short dist a nce s

,

an d gra d ua lly be i n cre as ed a s the powers a re developed .

V a ry the p a ce a nd a fter runni ng w a lk q uietly b a ck home

, ,

so a s to let he a rt a n d l un gs settle d o w n to norm a l work

a fter the e ff ort o f q uicke n ed motion .

The a mount o f ro wi ng to be do ne m ust be determined

by th e tra iner If it is a four o r a n eight h e h as the
.
,

double b usiness o f i ndivid ua l a nd collective te a ching to d o ,

an d c a nso va ry the work o f l o n g bo a t a nd gig pra ctice a s-

t o a dj ust the nece ssa ry a moun t a ccordi ng to the require

 A THL E or ,

o ne o f th e c rew a t h is a bl ution s c a lled o ut in horror Eh , , ,

m o nwh a t a re y e doi n Washing Ma t wa s the repl y

” ”
, g? , , .

“ ’
Wa shing ? Y e ll kill y rse lls l’
a llowed in t h e morning a n
”
B a thing sho uld o nly be
d th e nbe l imited to a pl unge
, ,

a short swim a n d o ut a ga in
, .

Dress .
Men in tra ining should a s a rule wea r fl a n nel next t o
their skin a nd ta ke c a re th a t their boa t i ng j a cket is well
,

li ned a nd wa rm C a tchi ng cold a fter h a rd exerci se should

.

by a ll mea n s be a voided a nd gua rded a ga i nst .

M enta l ex er After th e morni ng exerci se a n d bre a k fa st a n d a short ,

i nte rva l occupy the mind with re a ding a nd m a ke it a rule t o

, ,

d o wha t menta l work y o u h a ve t o d o to the best o f your a bili

ties Men a re a p t to g e t sta le o wing to their whole menta l
.

a s well as their phy sic a l energie s being se t o nthe ra ce a n d ,

th e prep a ra tion fo r it Thi s is a grea t mi sta ke Give th e

. .

bra i n it s due sh a re o f exerci se a n d y o u will ro w a ll th e

.

better fo r it The mi nd a t l a st gets sic k a nd wea ry o f the

.

mon o tony o f exi ste nce in tra ining a nd it most as suredly ,

a ffect s the body a n d thi s o ften ha ppen s bec a use men h a ve

,

no t got sel f control to a pportion their time so a s t o gi ve

-

m en
”
s ra m : i ts fa ir s h a re o f the d a ily work If they wo uld .

d o thi s con scientio usly they wo uld find them selve s le ss ex

c it a ble a n d less nervous a s the da y a pproa ched more s el f ,

possessed a nd quietly confident in h a vi ng done their bes t

,

fo r the honour o f their a lm a m a ter or their cl ub L a stly .

,

a s rega rd s sleep — m e n sho uld get to bed n o t l a ter th a n

1 0 to P M an d ri se a t
. . A M to 7 A M Some men . .

require more sleep tha nothers but a ll should rest between ,

those hours Inthe country where the a ir is goo d sleep

.
, ,

wi th your window ope n but not so a s to h a ve a dra ugh t

,

pa ssing a cro ss your bed .

And a s y o u ha ve gone i nto tra ining so in going o ut o f ,

tra ining h e not precipita te Athletics h a ve h a d m uch

,
.

l a id to their ch a rge very unj ustly owing t o the folly o f ,

those wh o by rea sono f l a cking the m an s sa n

”
,
a h a ve a fter , ,

t h e ra ce is over m a ltre a ted the well tra i n

, ed a nd r a m m t -

c orp us by a sudde npl unge into the vortex o f un whole s ome ,

not to sa y vicious livi ng , .

 C HAPT E R V III .

H ER
OT PA S TIM ES —THE VO L U NTEER S ER V ICE .

A rc h ery— Th e ri fle —C a d et —V o lunteer c o r-ps in to wn— Drill

c o rps
—
h a lls S ta nd ing c a m p s insum m er .

B ES IDES rowi ng a nd cricket a nd footba ll a nd bicycli ng O th e pas .

r

"m es
there a re other a thletic pa stimes which m a y be mentioned
here tho ugh sp a ce forbid s us to enter a t length i nto their
,

d es cription . Fe ncing a nd boxi ng a nd wrestling which ,

w ere in vogue with o ur fa thers a re les s genera lly pra c tised

,

by th e youth o f th e present da y On the other ha nd w e .

h a ve seen the i ntrod uction o f la crosse a nd o f la wn tenni s ,

an d the reviva l o f gol f inthe so uth Archery a s a p astime

.

is perh a p s h a rdly so pop ul a r a s it use d to be a n d h a s in ,

t h e coun try a redoubta ble riva l in l a wntenni s .

It sh o uld n o t be forgotten th a t a rchery a t o n e time wa s A r h e y c r

p a rt o f ed uca tio na nd under the speci a l protection o f

.

a ,

Act s o f P a rli a me nt by which the p ublic school s were bound

,

t o exerci se the yo uth in the use o f the bo w The Shoo ti ng

.

field s a t E to n a nd th e B utt s a t H a rrow bea r witness to

thi s a ncie nt pra ctice .

T he rifle h a s superseded the bo w a s the n a tio na l wea po n Th e use o f th e ,

an d the vol unteer corp s a t the school s in some mea sure but
”fles ‘

no t a s yet a t a ll a dequa tely fulfil the i nte ntio n o f the sta t ute
,

o f Hen ry V III It is well th a t the three poi nts o f Pers i a n

.

e d uc a tio n sho uld n o t be n eglected a mo ngst us Boys .

s ho uld s till be ta ught t o ride a n d to shoot a s well a s to ,

s pe a k th e truth . Ridi ng is most des ira ble fo r them where

there is the oppo rtunity a nd it c a nbe a ff orded
,
.

T o le a rn the use o f a rifle sho uld be po ss ible t o a ll V lunteer ,

o

through vol unteer c a det corps esta bli shed in a ll the l a rge 52m ]?
 A THL E TICS ; OR,

s chool s At some school s the vol unteer corps is a lrea dy

.

a ne st a bli shed in stitutio n a n d there c a nbe but one opini o n

,

as t o its use fulne ss .

If j udicious ly m a n a ged drill a n d rifle shooting a n

,
d th e ,

other milita ry exercises th a t c a nbe introduced such a s fi e ld ,

engineering bridge-buildi ng sig n a lling a nd t h e like c a n

, , , ,

a ll be m a de intere sti n g a nd in structive to boys a nd young

men Indeed a pa rt from the co nsidera tion o f its ed uca
.
,
"

t io na l e ffec t we thi n
,
k th a t the young men o f th e prese nt
ge nera tion a re ha ppy in h a ving such a n in stitution a s th e
vol unteer service O pen o nthem wherei nd uty a n d plea sure
, ,

exercis e a nd recrea tion a re well h a rmo ni sed a nd combi ne d

,

by the p a triotic spiri t In the Metropoli s especi a lly a nd ,

inmost grea t town s the vol unteer corp s g i ve opportun

,
itie s
to youn g men fo r bodily exerci se o f the be st po ss i ble
kind More i ndeed might be done i n thi s dire ction a nd
.
, , ,

th e service m a de even more pop ul a r th a n it is by givi n g ,

freque n t opportunities fo r physica l exerci se e spe cia lly i n ,

the wi nter time to members o f corp s indrill h a ll s speci a lly

,

fitted fo r the purpose a nd in the summer m uch more might

,

be a chieved by th e esta blishment o f sta nding ca mps (s ta ti va )

fo r exerci se ea sily a cces sible by ra il t o the grea t be n efit o f ,

th e youth o f l a rge citie s a n d to the a dditio n

, a l sec uri ty o f

th e co untry . B ut thi s o f course wo uld req uire help fro m

th e n a tion a l fun d s a nd c a n only be expected when t h e
,

need is recogni sed a nd its sa ti sfa c tiond em a nded by stro ng

,

an d e nlightened pop ula r op inion .

 C H A PT E R IX .

E X E R C IS E FO R C H IL DREN— —
WO M EN PERSO NS O F M A TURE
Y EA R S .

G am es— x r i —
Fo rm a l e e c se s W a lki n g
— E x e rc i se s fo r g i rls— D a nc ing
—R o wing
— Im o rt a n
p c e o f ph y s ic a l ex erc i s e fo r w o m e n— E x erc ise

t o be ke pt up by o lder
p ers o ns .

THE title o f o ur H a ndbook is Athletics o r Physic a l

E xerci se in rel a tion to Hea lth a n ’
d it remind s us th a t , ,

tho ugh in dea li ng with the question o f a thletic s we h a ve

bee nle d chiefly to s pe a k o f them a s the p astimes o f boys
an d yo un g men we should be wro ng in thi nki ng tha t we
,

h a d de a lt compl e tely with the subject if we omitted a ll

me ntion o f them inrel a tion to the rem a ini ng five sixth s o f -

t h e popul a tion .

C hildre no f bo th sexes a re in need o f phy s ica l exerci se C h ildrens ’

.

g m “
Thi s th e y n a tura lly sup p ly fo r them selve s in pl a y A s they .

gro w a nd ga in strength they need w a tchi ng in their pl a y

,

fo r the prevention o f trick s a n d h a bit s which if a llowed to , ,

g a in up onthem prod uce ill results physica lly They should

, .

be t a ught to sit up a nd hold them selves up not ina ny con ,

s tr a ined po st ure but s imply a n

, d n a tura lly The ro unded .

s ho ulders s lo uchi n
, g ga it he a d poked forwa rd s toes turned
, ,

in inwa lki ng a re a ll ca p a ble o f correcti o n when ta ken in

,

time The grea t d a nger whe n exerci ses o f a ny form a l Form al m

. e .

“
ch a ra cter a re required from children is o f l a ying to o m uch ,
53 5 °

stre s s upon o n e or other se t o f m uscles a n d fo r too long at a ,

time The exerci ses if a ny should be o f the simple st kind

.
, , ,

an d with freq uen t ch a nge s a nd interva l s o f re st Simil a rly Lo ng walks

,
.

long wa lk s sho uld be esche wed M a ny o f us c a nremember .

n
the tyra nny o f a wa lk in childhood ; loitering a llowed a
o —
 A THL E 7 ICS OR ,
'

wa lk there a nd a s it seemed a very long wa y ”rar e a nd a

, ,

s till longer wa b a ck a g a in ; while perh p s we were colded

y a s

fo r l a ggi n g beh ind when exha usted na ture wa s a lrea dy

,

d icta ting the ch a nge from exerc ise to rest but the grim ,

necessities p a id no a tte ntion to her l a ws In the country .

thi s is ba d e n oug h ; but in the country there a re wild

flowers a nd objects o f interest fo r children ; wherea s in
L ondo n p a veme n
, t a nd a rea ra iling s a nd shops a nd the n
, , ,

the pa rk or the sq ua re a nd the n shops a nd a rea ra ili ngs

, , ,

an d p a vement a n d so ba ck a ga in l To e a ch governe ss a n
, d
n urse be a ddressed the i nvoca tio n Be merci ful as thou a rt ,

s tro n g incomp a ri son with t h e little legs a nd tender growt h

o f tho se who s e phy sic a l exerci se a n d recrea tion tho u h a s t
inc ustody L et n
. ot the s kippi ng -rope a nd t h e hoop be
forgotten Fo r older girl s a n
. d yo un g women there is a
need o f physica l exerci se a nd recrea ti o na s well a s fo r bo ys ,

but it is perh a ps di fficult to suggest a n y defi nite li ne whic h

wo uld combi n e a m useme nt with exerci se a nd suit a ll girl s ,

Da ncm g . a like . D a ncing is excelle nt a nd sho uld form pa rt o f eve ry

,

girl s phys ica l tra i ning B ut then it is counted a s a lesso n

’
.
,

an d is co n ducted i ndoors It wo uld be a grea t thi ng i f in

.
,

the summer d a nci ng o n the greenswa rd were a ga in in

,

fa shion a n , d gr a ce ful moveme n t a nd soci a l recrea tion o f th e

ki n d were permitted in the light o f the sun B ut we fe a r .

th a t we ha ve p a ssed a w a y from the d a ys o f such simplicity .

We a re a fra id th a t th e young l a die s o f the present da y a s

a rule s it indoors to o lo n g Sitti ng up la te a t night they
.
,

do no t ca re to g o o ut o r ta ke exerci se in ope na ir We .

h a ve nothi ng to sa y a ga i nst needlework but thi nk tha t ,

novel rea di ng a s a n indoor occupa tion is respon sible fo r

-

m a ny we a k e ned he a rts a nd feeble lungs How m uch .

better if they h a bitua lly went to bed betimes a nd rose

ea rly a nd were a ccustomed to outdoor pa stimes suita bl e
,

to their a g e a nd strengt h "

—
Girl s sho uld run y e s even run ra ce s together ; sho ul d
,

pl a y l a wnte nni s o r 1a cross e a nd if they ha ve the ch a nc e ,

they sho uld certa inly l e a rn to ride Where there is a .

river a n
, d there is the opport unity girl s sho uld le a rn to swi m ,
 P H YS ICA L E X E R CIS E A ND R E CR E A TIO N .

a nd lea rn t o ro w . Rowi ng is a n excelle nt pa stime fo r Ro wing

. .

them i f co n
,
d ucted in suita ble boa ts wi th light o a rs o r sc ull s .

B ut the refl e ctio n s o f Fa ther Th a me s if a udibly rend e red

, ,

w ill s a y : Bewa re young l a dies o f round ba ck s a nd o f

, ,

c ro o ked a rm s a t the begin n ing o f the stroke a nd o f un

g a i nly turni ng o ut o f elbows a t the end o f the sa me To .

r o w gra c e fully is t o ro w well fo r wh a t is req uired in yo ur

,

c a s e is no t a very grea t a mount o f work in the wa ter but the ,

g r a c e fu l pe rform a nce o f th a t which i s within yo u r p o wer ”

.

The re a re these a nd no doubt m a ny other ga mes a nd

,

a m us eme n ts which girl s a nd young wome n c a ne nga ge in

t o the stre n gtheni ng o f their phys ic a l powers a nd t o t h e
improvement o f their genera l hea lth L ooki ng to the fut ure Im p t ne
. or a c of

thi s is a nimporta n t question as it ca n not be sa id with rega rd gg fi

,
i l“ e s "

to t h e he a lth o f th e fem a le se x th a t the present h a bi ts o f li fe wo en

,
m .

lea ve nothi ng to be desired To quote the words o f a most

.

e minent surgic a l a uthori ty Wh a te ver a rguments m a y be

us ed fo r a thletic ga mes fo r men a n d bo ys they a re as
,

a pplic a ble fo r wom e na n d girls subject only to wh a t m a y

,

be deemed a rea s on a ble s election o f ga me s The o ne se x .

need a s m uch as th e other both the bodily a nd menta l

tra i ni ng which a re supplied by o ur a ctive sport s especi a lly ,

by those which a re pra ctise d inthe opena ir a nd which a re ,

v ery impe rfectly s upplied by a n y sy s tem o f drill o r a n y se t

,

o f gym n
”
a stic exerci se s suppo sed t o be s cientific .

T h e ge n era tion s to be born however hea lthy a nd a ctive

,

their fa thers m a y h a ve been by rea s o n o f go od phy sica l

e xerci s e a n d hea lthy tra ini n g will not be otherwi se th a n
,

be nefici a lly a ffe cted by their mothers h a ving h a d simil a r

a dv a n ta ge s inpa stimes suita ble to their se x . They c a n not
b ut be i n j ured by the h a bits o f li fe a nd o f dress which
i nd uce fee ble ne ss a nd w a nt o f vigo rous energy a nd to o often ,

a nun hea lthy tone o f mi nd a s well a s o f body .

B ut let us n o t be mi sta ke n
. We do no t here a dvoca te in
an w a the a pi n g o f wh a t i s m a sc uli n e by th e other se x
y y ,

b ut ra ther such re a so n a ble enj oyme n t o f physic a l exerci se

an d recre a tio n a s fo r them a l so m a y ed uc a te a n d m a inta in
m en tem s a n a m i nc o rp or e sa n
”
e.

94 7 2 8 3 A
 A THL E TICS ; OR ,

We h a ve a lre a dy s poken o f the a thletics o f m a t ure r

yea rs a nd therefore would only a d d here tha t the con
,

t in ua n c e o f s uch ope n a ir e xerci s e a s wa lkin

-
g ridi
,
ng,a n d
even a fter the ex a mple o f the E mperor Augustus o f running
, ,

an d j umpi n , g a s l a te a s possible in li fe is more likely t o

,

keep up the physica l energy a nd t o defer the deca y o f th e

,

powers tha n the giving up o f these things owi ng to th e

, ,

i ncreas ing love o f e as e a nd di sincli na tion to a ctive e ffort ,

which a s yea rs g o o nis sure to sup ervene B e young a s

.

long as y o u possibly c a n Get as m uch fresh a ir d a ily a s

.

u s ibly c a n If yo ur oc c up a tion is s ede n t a ry a nd

y o p o s .
,

yo ur bra in is h a rd-worked recollect tha t m uscul a r exe rtio n

,

is rest a n d recrea tio n a n

, d re stora tio n fo r it a n d fo r th e
d ig e stive org a n s up on which it is dep end en t fo r its vig o ur.
 through wa nt o f reco gnition o f this truth ? It will be a
m a tter o f reflection to the future hi s tori a n o f the E ngli s h
people whe nhe h a s to trea t o f the ed uca tion a l legi sl a tio no f
,

N g l ted by the l a st forty yea rs th a t while s uch enorm o us e ff ort s were

e ec
,
l g isla tio n
being m a de a nd such l a vi sh expe ndit ure i ncurred fo r the
e .

in struction o f chil d re nin the three R s h a rdly a voice w a s

’
,

ra i sed in fa vour o f improving the physica l conditi o ns und e r

which thi s menta l im p ro vement w a s intended to t a ke pla ce ,

j ust a s if the mind o f the poor h a d been remembered but

,
,

their bodies forgotten .

N d o f o pen
ee O f l a te ye a rs we s eem t o be a w a king to the fa ct th a t
sp c es
a .
open spa ces a nd pl a ces fo r physic a l recre a tion a re need ful ,

but legi sl a tio nh a s do n e little but th a t whi ch co nflicts with

this need by e na bli ng the enclos ure o f sp a ces th a t used t o
,

be free whereby common s a nd wa ste l a nd s h a ve been t a ke n

,

a w a y from common use a n d the ve ry l ungs o f thi s ove r

,

crowded country co ntra cted It is o nly by the wisdom o f .

wea lthy corpora tion s such a s th a t o f the C i ty o f L ond o n

, ,

an d by the m un ific e nc e o f individ ua l s th a t a nything h a s ,

beendo ne to preserve or crea te spa ces a va il a ble fo r pop ul a r

recrea tion B um ba m B e eches a nd E pping Fo rest will pl a y
.

a m uch gre a ter p a rt in the recrea tiono f L o n do ners in ti m e

to come whe n the a dva nta ge o f s uch recre a ti o n is m o re
,

fully understood B ut there a re m a ny other ope ncomm o ns

.

an d pieces o f wa ste l a nd evenmore a cces s ible which migh t ,

be m a de a va il a ble fo r the a thletics o f th e future to t h e ,

grea t benefit o f the poorer cl a sses .

There a re two wa ys in w hich physica l tra ini ng might be

brought home to the m a sses to their g rea t a dva nta ge a nd
,

improvement .

E e i es t
x rc s a First in rega rd to Boa rd school s A certa i na m o unt o f
, .

drill a nd o f gymn a stic exercis e such a s we ha ve re c o m,

mended inthe c as e o f priva te school s might a dva nta geous ly ,

be i ntrod uc ed A nd wherever it wa s po s s ible a pl a y

.
,
‘

ground or se p a ra te pl a yground s fo r boys a nd girl s should

, , ,

be provided Round these should be the runni ng o r

.

wa lki ng pa th s with the dis ta nce s m a rked a nd th e re should ,

a l s o be the p l a c e m a rked fo r the bro a d j ump a n d a s tron g ,

 P H YS ICA L E X E R CIS E A ND R E CR E A TIO A
’
.

va ulting ba r a nd pa ra llel ba rs provided All these might .

be m a de a long with th e d rill a nd exte nsionmotion s p a rt

, ,

o f th e c o urse o f ed uc a tiona l tra ining re d ucing o r v a ryi n g ,

the hours o f sedenta ry w ork a nd givi ng t h e nee d ful cha nge ,

t o bra in a n d m uscles Th e g irl s s hould a l s o be ta ught t o

.

d an ce with suita ble mea sures a nd rhyt h m which might ,

be a ccompa nied by s i ngi ng or i nstrumenta l m us ic Thi s .

m ight be m a de m uch more th a nis im a gi n

,
ed a t pres ent ,

a n in s t rume n t o f culture a nd civili sa tion We believe .

th a t the a ctua l sta nda rd o f menta l work would be improved

an d not lowered by thi s combin a tion .

Seco ndly a s to ga mes These a re more difficult to G

,
. d ith a m e s,

i ntro d uce a nd c o ordi na te Neither boys no r girl s will pl a y

-
.
“ m as es

at ga mes except such a s a re tra ditiona l a nd h a bitua l

a m on gst them It is m uch m ore di ffi cult to get footba ll
.

an d cricket a n d the like pla yed by boys who h a ve not bee n

i niti a ted in them by the ex a mple o f thos e immedi a tely
a b o v e th e m in a g e th a n mo st people wo uld thi n
, k It is .

recorded th a t sh o rtly a fter the found a tiono f a gre a t p ublic

s c h ool in the pre se n t century the hea d m a ster a distin , ,

u i sh e d s ch ol a r s ub s equently ra i sed to epis copa l dign ity

g ,

o b s erved th a t tho ugh the boy s were a tte n

, tive a nd w ell
b e h a ved inschool work fl a gged a n d th a t d uri n
,
g pl a y hours ,

t h e y were li stless a n d doi n g noth i ng He sa w w ha t w a s .

wa n ti ng He ca lled h is m a sters together a nd goi ng to th e

.
,

c ricket fie ld took o ff h is co a t a n
-
,
d we nt ba t in h a nd to the
,

w icket s on e o f h is m a s ters bowled to him a n d s oon severa l ,

o f the upper boy s c a me to join in the g a me By degree s it .

w a s est a bli shed a n d bec a me pop ul a r a n d fe w s chool s ha ve ,

rod u ced better s chol a rs or better cricketers s i n ce tho e

p s

d a ys. Still th e cricket w a s not spo nt a neous a ny more tha n ,

the s chol a rship in its or igi n

,
.

It would however we a dmit be h a rdly poss ible t o i n

, tro
,

d uce such ga mes a s cricket a nd footba ll by mea ns o f t h e

Boa rd scho ol s but it is po ssible th a t by the form a tion o f
,

a thletic cl ub s fo r boy s a n d a t h letic cl ubs fo r youn g m e n B y a nd ’

o s
, ,

in co nnectio n with mi ss ions a nd other i nstitutions th a t Zffitfif ffifi s.

m ight be incli n ed to le nd their a id fo r s uch p urposes the ,

 P H YS ICA L E X ER CIS E A ND RE CREA TIOIV .

bes t ki nd o f ga me s might be pop ul a ri sed a mo ng th e

worki ng cl a s ses Every possible opportunity o f securi ng
.

o pen s p a ce s th a t wo uld be a va il a ble for s uch recre a ti o n

sho uld be s eized a n d utili sed a n d s ome fa cilities should b e

,

provided by legi sl a tion fo r the p urch as e o f such a rea s fo r

t h e good o f the pop ul a tion L egi s l a tionh a s a bridged th e
.

S p o rts a n d ga mes o f th e pop ul a ce rightly by i n terferi ng

with brut a li si ng pa stimes It ought per c ontr a to a ss i s t i n
.

the development o f hea lthy a thletics a mong them which ,

w o uld do m uch to civilise a nd to improve the m both

mora lly a nd physica lly .

We sh o uld the nperha p s fi nd th a t gra d ua l deteriora tion

o f the ra ce a rre s ted which h a s red uced the a vera ge m a le o f

some o f the m a n ufa ct uri ng dis tricts to 5 feet 1 4 0 in in .

st a t ure a nd 1 0 6 lbs in weight w hich compa res but ill with

.
,

the 5 feet in a n d 1 99 lbs o f some o f the country

. .

districts in thi s i sl a nd ‘
The phys ica l a nd menta l a nd
.

mora l conditio ns o f the m a ss es o f o ur l a rge town s is a n

e ver i ncrea si ng s ource o f a nxiety to those wh o look below
-

the surfa ce especia lly a s with the d ecrea s e o f phys ica l

,

vigour they do not become less proli fic but ra ther th e ,

reverse m ultiplyi ng the inherita nce o f con stitution a l d e

,

bility intheir p a le fa ced fl a ccid a n

-
d degenera te proge n
,
y .

The yea r o f gra ce 1 884 will be a yea r worthy o f a white

m a rk inthe n a tion a l c a le nd a r if the Interna tion a l He a lt h
,

E xhibitio n while it promotes the knowledge o f a nd the

,

desire fo r better sa nita ry a rra ngements in houses bette r ,

h a bits in dress a nd better diet should a l so be a ble in

, ,

a ccord a n ce with it s m o tto to pop ul a ri se a nd by i nd uci ng

, , ,

legi sl a tive a nd phil a nthropic c o opera tion to m a ke -

,

poss ible fo r the people a ll those a thletic ga me s a nd

exercises w hich i ndividua lly a nd soci a lly a re effi ca cious i n
, ,

t h e recre a tio na n d re freshme n t o f the m en: sa na z nc orpor a

'

sa n
”
.e
Vzde Dr M o rg a n ni i y O 8
’

.
, U ve rs t a rs, p 4. .

1 0 8 0 0 8 : P R INTED BY WILLIA M G UO W “ A \ D 80 8 8. m m , S TA NFO RD S TR EET

A ND CHA R ING C ROSB
 OFFI CI AL PUBLI CATI ONS .

Th e fo llowin Ha n upo n s ubje c ts c o

dboo k s t e to t h e
In t erna ti o nal ea lth E x h ibitio na re a lrea dy p u li s h e d, o r in
a c tive p repa ra tio n

HEAL T H IN T HE V IL LAG E . B y S ir HENRY W . A CLAND, K C B ., F R S . . . .

NU R S E R IES A ND
HEAL T HY
SO BED R OO M S , INC L U DING T HE
-
Y
L ING -IN-R OOM . By M us G . L AD T NE.

HEAL T HY A ND U NH EA L T HY HO U S ES IN T OW N A ND C O U NT R Y .

WILL I A M EA ss u FLS et c wi th a nAppendix b Ro o m F IE LD 8 1L

J -
. . . .

ail
, , ,

inn C E. . . wa rm

HEAL T HY F U R NIT U R E A ND DEC O RA T IO N. By RO BERT W . Em s,

F S .A . A rc h i tec t
. . Illus tra ted.
HEAL THY S C H O O L S By C a m us E PAG ET M R C 3 . .
, . . .

HEA L T H IN T HE W O R KS H O P B y J AMES B L Ax EMA N, . . Esq .

, HM . . S en
ior
Me tro nIn p lit
sp ec t o r o f Fa c to ries Ho m e O ffi c e
o a , .
[ No w R ea dy .

O N V ENT IL A T IO N, W A R M ING , A ND L IG H T ING FO R DO M E S T IC

US E B y Ca pta inDO UG L As G AL TO N. C B , F R S
. Illus tr a ted . . . . . .

PHY S IO L O G Y O F DIG ES T IO N A ND T HE DIG ES T IV E O R G A NS .

y Pro fes so r A R T HU R G A NG IIE M D . F R S Ill ust ra ted .

W ORK
. . . .

DIET IN R E L A T IO N TO HEA L T H A ND
,

. By A . w . B i ns ,
M R C HS
H &c . .

O N T HE PR INC IP L E S O F C OO K ING . B y S EPTIM US B ER DNO RE [ No w R u dy .

F O O D A ND C O O K E RY PO R INF A NT S A ND INV A L IDS . B y M is s

WOOD Prefa oe uvm
wlT ER
with a . B . k m dy.
W A T ER A ND S U PP L IES , A ND U NF ER M ENT E D B EV E
RA G ES B y Pro fesso r A TT PIEL D Ph D F R S
S AL T A ND O T H E R C O NDIM ENT S
. . .
' . . .

B y J J MANLEY, M A m ay . . . . . .

A L C O HO L IC DR INKS . B y JO HN L W THU DIC HUM, M D , F R C P (Lo ud . . . . . . . .

“
O U R DU TY ”
IN R EG A R D T O H EA L T H . By G . v PO O R E, M D
. . .
,

[ No w R ea d y '

DIS EA S E A ND IT S
.

INF EC T IO U S PR EV E NT IO N. B y S HIR EY F . L
M UR PHY M R C P [ Now R ea dy
NTA L
. . . . .

A C C IDE
T R EA TM ENT.
M A . M B , F R .O S
. . . . .
INJU R IES . T H E IR R E L IEF A ND
Ho w To Px n
.
vnNi A c DENT s B EC O M I NG NO R : S ER IO U
Illus t r a ted.
' '
S
.
IM M E DIA T E
B y JA N Es C A N r u n
-

[ No va R ea dy
,

A M B IJL A NC E O R G A NIZ AT IO N, E QU IP M E NT, A ND T RA NS PO R T .

I S urg e o n-M a o r G M D Ill us t ra ted [No w R ea d H EV A T T , M D
E j
B A
D
. . . . . . . . .

C L ANS ING S T E ET S A ND W A Y S IN T HE M ET R O PO L IS A N
L A R G E C IT IES y W IL L IA u BO O T H S C OTT , M Inst C E
. . . . .

F IR ES A ND F IR E B R IG A DES . B y C a p ta inE R E M. S HA , C B Illus tra ted. Y W . .

N " It :
L EG A L O B L IG A T IO NS IN R E S PE C T T o DW EL L ING S ?
I TH E
POO R B y HA R RY Do n, M
. B a rris te r-a t —
La w ; wi th a Pre fa c e by A RT HUR C HE N. Q C , M . O . . . P
[ N” R a d y
W O R K AND
S C HOOL S
k
NFLU EI CE
:
OF
.
A R T . T H E IR
B y JO HN C L S PAR E , . . S OR
Pnn
IG I N , H I S T
c ipa l of th e Na tio n
O R Y
a l Art
,
Tra in g
i n S c h o o l, S o ut h

AT H L ET IC S , or, P HY S ICA L EX E R C IS E A ND R EC R EAT IO N Pa r t I

y R e v E WA itt
. .

M A . EtonColleg e Illus t ra t ed
. .
[ Now R ea d)
, . . .

A T HL ET IC S Part IL B y HonE L Y TTE LTO N, M A , an

.

. d G ERARD F C O B B , M A . . . . . . .

[ No w R ea d
DR E S S , A ND IT S
E . W . G o o wrN, F S A.
. .
R EL AT IO N T o HEA L T H A ND C L IM A T E B
[ New R ea dy
? .

F E R M E NT A T IO N.
S o rbo nne Illus t r a ted
y
B y Dr. DUCLA UX , Pro fesso r o f B io log ieal Ch e m i str a t th e
. .
[ No w R a dy
W O R K. Pa rt I. With C a ta log ue a s
.

PU B L IC H EA L T H L A B O RA T O R Y
A pe n d ix W W A TS O N C HEY NB F R C S
PU E L IC H gA L T H L A B O R A T O R Y W O R K. Part IL B y W H C O R F IE LD,
‘ . . . . .

S
,

. .

M A . and C E CA S A L E I G FC S . H .

L O NDO N W A T E R S U PPL Y
, , , .

B y C o lo nel S ir FRANC IS B O LTO N, C E , a ssi s ted . . .

by th e En gi neers o f th e LondonWa ter Co m pa nies .

L O NDO N : WILLIAM C L O WES 8: S O NS, L IM ITED,

INTER NA TIO NA L H EA LTH EX H IB ITIO N , 1 3 C H A RING
, C R OS S .
 LO NDO N
PRINTED BY WILLIAM C LO WES AND SO NS, L IMITED
S SS
,

O R D S T R EET
TA MF A ND C HA R I NG C RO .
 CO NT E NT S .

CR IC KET, FO O T BA L L, LA W N T ENNIS , A ND HEALTH .

PA G E
Introduc to ry I

V a lue o f x r i
e e c se— Ma n ner inwh ic h ex erc i se o pera tes o nth e
—
body G a m e s fulfil re q uisite c o n dit io ns be tte r th a na wa lk

Ex erc ise fo r wo m en — Th e ir d re ss— Da ne rs a tte n d i n

g g c e r

ta in g a m e s— To life a n d lim b Fro m c o lds— Lia bili ty to

—
s ra i n
p s— To e x c e ss R e view o f o bj ec tio n
— s — Public rec rea
t Io ng ro unds G
— e rm a ng y m na stic s— Diet

C Y C L ING .

De nt n
fi i io — B ic yc h n g
— F a t ig ui n g n a tu re o f e a rl y a t t em pts

G ra d ually be c o m e s ea sier M usc ula r e ffo rt s Th eir i n

— — fluen ce
— Tric yc ling — Hyg i enic v a lue o f C yc ling g ener a lly— Pure
a ir — fl n
In ue c e o f C y c li n g o n t h e m e n t a l fa c u lt ie s— P re sen ce

o f m ind — O eb j c t i o n s t o C y c li n g
— A c c id e n t s— T r e a t m en t of
in — i — —
j uries Clo th ng Diet O utriding stre ng t h Inc re a sed use —
o f C y c in
l g
— I t s a dv a n t ge
a s— C yc l i ng fo r la d ie s — In d i re c t
a dva n ta g e s o f C yling
— C o nc lus io n
 CRICK E T, F O O TB A L L ,

e nough to p a y a ll expen ses a nd something to sp a re ; o r ,

th a t so m a ny speci a l tra in s ra n from Birmingh a m to

Gl asgow ca rrying specta tors o f a coming foo tba ll m a tch
,
.

These fa cts o nly prove wha t we a ll a dmit th a t there is, ,

plenty o f interest ta ke n in ga m es B ut even no w those .

wh o ta ke intere st a re proba bly a m inority o f th e n a tion

an d those wh o pl a y a re c e rta inly a minority o f tho se wh o
t a ke intere st There is a gre a t dea l o f c ricket a nd footb a ll
.

in big town s ; but compa re th e n umber o f m e n young

enoug h to pl a y with those who do pl a y a nd the proportio n ,

will be seen to be ridiculous N ow the M a rylebone C ricket .

,

C l ub is compo sed o f members who a t least ta ke i nterest in

cricket a nd a very la rge proportion o f whom a re under
,

forty five yea s o f a g e

- The cl ub is known t o be l a rge
r .
,

a ffl uent a n d bu
, sy It sends eleven s a bout the country wh o
.

help loca l cricket committees to keep things going by a rra n g

ing m a tches yea r by yea r On th e Metropolita n cricke t .

ground L ord s sc a rcely a d a y pas se s from Ma y to Se ptem be r

,
’
,

without a m a tch being pl a y ed A nd yet wha t does a ll th a t .

a mount to ? I n1 8 8 3 o ut o f a llth a t n umber o f members

, ,

only three hundred a nd four di fferent indi vid ua ls pl a yed fo r

the cl ub a ltogeth er a nd o nly one hundred a nd eightee n o n
,

the ground itse l f This fa ct certa inly shows wha t a fuss c a n

’
.

be m a de by a l a rge n umber over only a few performers I .

h a ve no t been a ble t o a s ce rta in th e n umber o f men wh o

pl a y fo otba ll a t the Ova l during th e sea son but should ,

co n jecture one thousa nd a s the outs ide limit E stim a tes .

o n thi s s ubject m ust be very rough but thi s figure ,

wo uld represent the n umber o ut o f a popul a tiono f a bo ut

eight h undred tho usa nd m e nin the prime o f li fe k nown to ,

pla y once a week O f cours e there a re m a ny more ground s

.

round a nd nea r L ondon but t a ki ng a ll together there c a n

,

h a rdly be more tha n four thousa nd L ondoners pl a yi ng

footb a ll o n a n y given S a t u rd a y d uring the s e a s on in or ,

a bout the town Proba bly in other town s things a re m uch

.

the sa me a nd in t h e country Dr J essop tells us tha t a

, ,
.

I am indebted to Mr Perkin
. s, sec reta r y of th e c lub, fo r th ese
fig ures .
 LA WN TE NNIS A ND HE A L TH .

re t e ffort is req uired to k e ep up a cricket cl ub a t a ll a n d

g a ,

footba ll prospers a t pre s ent ve ry littl e better In short .

,

tho ugh cricket a n d footba ll a re both c a lled n a tion a l ga mes ,

c a n it be proved th a t more th a n one pe r ce nt O f men .

bet weentwenty a nd forty pl a y a t eithe r ?

B ut this ca lc ul a tion if so it c a nbe ca lled does n
, o t touch ,

the va st n umbe rs o f womenyo ung e no ugh t o ta ke exercise

by ga mes inth e O pen a ir N 0 o ne a s y et proposes tha t
.

they sha l l figure to a n y extent a s c ricketer s or footb a ll

p l a yer s but why
, w hen i t i
,
s theore ti ca lly a dmitted th a t ,

a mes a re good fo r men sho uld we s uppose th a t women

g ,

c a n d o with o ut th em L a wn tenni s is a n excellent a n d

ricele ss invention fo r th o se wh o c a npl a y i t ; but the ga m e
p
i s to o expen s ive to be within re a c h o f the m a jori ty a n d do es ,

no t s ee m likely to e xtend itse lf t o th e middle a nd lower

cla sse s L o oking then a t th e e ntire popula tion o f the
.

co untry it is ha rdly too m uch to sa y th a t the pra ctice o f o ut

,

o f door ga me exerci se is c onfined to a s m a ll minority o f o n

- -
e

se x ,
tho ugh no o n e denie s th a t the need o f it exi st s fo r a ll .

B ut it m a y be sa id th es e rem a rk s only mea n tha t one

, ,

form o f exerci se is pra cti sed by so me while other form s ,

a re in vogue a mong oth e rs such as rowing a n , d bicycling .

O f course ded uction s m us t be m a d e fo r ea ch o f these

pursuits a nd no o ne contend s tha t a m a nsho uld enga ge in
,

them a ll B ut th e most libera l estim a te o f the n umber o f

.

those wh o derive hea lth a nd a m usement from th ese two

form s o f exerci se still lea ves a n enormous proportion o f
,

men a nd nea rly a ll women wh o a re content either with

, ,

no th ing o r with a wa lk whe nthey c a n get o ne Fo r the

, .

present then let us lea ve o ut o f con sidera tion tho se wh o

think tha t they c a nbe hea lthy without a ny exerci se a t a ll ,

an d confine ourselves to th ose w hose only form o f exerci se

is a d a ily wa lk For while very m a ny people would sa y
.
,

tha t they a ppreci a te fully the necessity O f o ut do or e x e r -

ci se they a dd th a t it is no nsen se to urge them to pl a y

,

ga mes : they ta ke a good wa lk a s Ofte n a s they c a n get

on e an
,
d a wa l k is goo d n o t only fo r the m uscle s but ,

fo r the mi n d ; they c a n ta lk o ut wa lking a nd ve ry likely ,

B 2
 CRICK E 1 ; F OO TB A L L ,

lea rn m uch m ore tha n by pla ying ga mes Moreover , ,

profession a l work m ust be co nsidered S o m a ny hours .

a d a y a re s pe nt a t the co unter o r i nth e m a n ufa ctory a n d ,

the rem a inder would be gon e be fore a footba ll ground

could be rea ched L i fe is no t a ll pl a y : we m ust work
.

L a stly th ey urge infirmity a n

,
d sti ffness It is a ll very .

well to tell us to pl a y fo otba ll but we a re thirty ye a rs o ld

,

o r more . Before we h a d pl a yed fo r five min utes we

s ho uld be ill a n d severa l o f o ur joints severely S pra ined
,
.

A wa lk is quite go od enough fo r us there is no n ecessity

”
fo r us t o cripple ourselves .

Now to clea r up the sepa ra te points conta ined inthi s

,

s t a tement is th e object o f thi s p a pe r It will be necessa ry

.

()I t o di sc uss the v a l ue o f exerci s e gener a lly ()

2 t o s ho w
th a t ga mes ful fi l th e requis ite condition
,

s better th a n ta kin g

a wa lk (3) to indica te h o w th e d a ngers a ttenda nt o n

,

pl a ying ga m es c a nbest be m et .

()
I Tlze Va lue o f Ex erc i se.

I m ust prefa ce my rem a rks under thi s hea d by sa yin g ,

th a t I a m not goi ng merely to give the results o f my o w n

experience but to rely fo r my medic a l in form a tion o n t wo
,

un impea cha ble a uthorities Dr Andrew C ombe a nd Dr

, .
, .

J a mes C a ntlie .

The m a nner in which exercise O pera tes upon the bod y

m a y be briefly de scrib e d t h us Something h a s to be done ,

an d i norder to do it a ce rt a in limb o f the body h a s to be

se t in motion The will o f the individ ua l a cts upon the
.

sp i n a l cord in some wa y a pp a rently not yet cle a rly k n

, own ,

an d the s p i n a l cord comm un ica tes with the right set o f

m uscles by mea n s o f nerves Th a t is t o sa y o ne ne rve
.
,

co nveys the order so t o spea k to a m uscle to contra ct a nd

, , ,

an o ther c o n vey s a messa ge ba ck from the m uscle to the

sp i n a l cord a n ,
d from thence to the bra i n givi n g i nform a ,

ti o n a s to how the m uscle is performing its ta sk a nd ,

w h e ther it requires more s tim ul us o r not Th e e ffect o f .

t hi s tr a n s mi s s ion o f the mes sa ge from the bra in to a

 CR ICK E T, F OO TB A L L ,

d i re ctly tim ulus to the kidneys liver a d stom a ch

as a s , ,
n ,

which orga n s lie just below th e di a phra gm Hence in .

,

ex erci se it is not so m uch th e sha king o f th e bo dy which

helps th e liver a s th e quickening o f the brea thing from a n
,

unconfin ed che st .

These th e n a re th e two grea t results o f e xerci se

, ,

pers pira tion a nd stim ul us to th e digestive orga n s Mo st .

people h a ve a goo d word to sa y fo r th e l a tter but it ,

s eem s t h a t t h e intim a te connection be t ween free p e rsp i ra

tion a nd hea lth is not genera lly understood A n obse rva nt .

m a n who h a s onc e t into t h h bit o f t a ki ng e erc i se

,
g o e a x

th a t m a kes him swea t soon fi nd s wha t a wonderful secret ,

it is o f hea lth a nd h a ppiness both to body a nd mi nd ,

.

Swea ti ng is a wa y o f getting rid o f wa ste m a teria l in the

body which m ust be g o t rid o f somehow It is a chucker
, .
“

o ut ,
so to spe a k a s if the body were a ,
lod gi ng house -
.

The co a dj utors O f the ski n in thi s benefici a l work a re th e

l ungs the liver a nd th e kidneys The more work the s ki n
, , .

does the less rem a in s fo r those orga ns t o do ; the m ore

,

vigorously a nd ea sily will they perform their o wnta sks o f

—
getting rid o f w a ste be it ca rbon wa tery va pour o r wa ste , ,

food Hence swea ting relieves th e i ntestines B ut more

. .

th a n th a t it clea rs th e hea d as a nyone knows wh o work s

, ,

h a rd up to th e time o f ta king exerci se a nd begin s a ga in ,

a fterw a rd s Ho w m a ny gloomy humours a nd broodi ng

.

c a res h a ve been dispelled by its geni a l work ing " Ho w it

clea n ses a m a n s view o f li fe a nd lea ves the body in a
’
,

tra nquil puri fi ed cond ition rea dy fo r men ta l l a bo ur o r

, , ,

nouri shment o r ca lm sleep , .

The se a re some o f th e benefits o f h a rd ex ercise which in ,

rea lity so few peopl e understa nd C losely a llied to them .

i s th e s tim ul us to digestion a fforded by the quick res pira

tion Perh a ps it is needl es s to dwell long upon this
.
,

though to o ne who reflects o n the n umberle ss s orene sses ,

a cerbiti es a n d d a ily tri a l s which fa ll to the lot n

,
o t on ly o f ,

the dyspeptic but o f a ll wh o h a ve dea lings with them a nd

, ,

thi nk h o w thi s inca lcul a ble a dditi o n to m a n s woes might

’

be les sened if the e ffect o f movi n g the di a phr a gm wer e

 LA WN TE NNIS A ND HEA L TH .

thoroughly known it be com es di fficult to pa ss th e subject

,

by difii c ult a l so to im a gine why we worry a bout so m a ny

subjects o f infi n itely less importa n ce .

B ut s pa ce forbid s eloq ue n t la ngua ge eve n on this theme .

We h a ve no w to show (2 ) Ma t g a m es f ntfil t/te requis ite

c on s better th a nta ki n
d i tion g a w a lk .

M a ny o f us a re a wa re tha t a good ga me is a plea sa nter

thi ng th a n a wa lk but few o f us kno w th a t it is f or t/za t very
, ,

rea so n more he a lth -g iving

, E nough h a s been sa id to show
.

the intim a te connection be twee n m uscles a nd nerves L e t .

us li s ten then to Dr C ombe . The s imple fa ct th a t the

.

m usc les exi st for the p urpo se o f fulfilli n g the comm a nd s o f

the nervous syste m might o f itsel f lea d to the in ference
, ,

t h a t a hea lthy men ta l stim ul us o ught to be con s idered a s

a n e ss e n ti a l co ndition o r a ccomp a niment o f e x erci se .

Hence the superiority a s exerci ses fo r the yo ung o f so c ia l

an d inspiriting ga mes which by their joyous a n
, d boi sterous
mirth c a ll forth the requi site nervous s tim ul us to p ut the
m us cles into vigorous a ction an d hence the utter in
effi ciency o f t h e d ull a nd monotono us da ily wa lk ”
Here .

then is the secret If the will forces the m us cles to work

.

while the nerves a re not n a tura lly stim ul a ted fa tigue ,

i ndeed will result but fa tigue a lon

,
e is not the objec t o f
exerci se Even if the two grea t benefits s poken o f a bove
.

a re s ec ured it will be a t the ri sk o f depre ss ion a n

,
d ex h a us
tio n O therwis e a n ho ur o n the tre a dmill would be a s
.

s a l ubrio us a s a g a me o f footba ll but without h a vi n g tried

,

tha t form o f exercise I c a nsa fely sa y th a t it is not Hence

, .

a wa lk in a new co untry or with a plea sa nt comp a n

, ion is ,

by fa r more wholesome th n d ll one a lo g a well k nown

a a u n -

roa d s in c e when interest is felt the nerves a re n a t ura lly

,

s tim ul a ted t o se t the m usc les i n motion H undred s o f .

s torie s a re told o f the incre a sed po wer o f m uscles under

nervous stim ul us It is doubtful if even Dr W G Gra ce

. . . .

c o uld h a ve run ya rd s o na boili ng hot da y in August ,

we a ri ng hea vy p a d s a nd ca rrying a ba t h a d there not been ,

twenty two men round him trying ine fi ec tua lly to get him
'

o ut. B ut the delight o f ba filin g their be st ende a vo urs a nd ,

 CR ICK E T, FO O TB A L L ,

the recurring sa ti sfa ction o f doi ng wh a t he liked with th e

ba ll m a de such a neffort a mere constitution al to him sa ve
, ,

th a t h is a ppetite wa s keener inthe eveni ng a nd h is sleep ,

more sound tha nit would h a ve been a fter a ny wa lk

, .

My a uthority tell s al so the excellent story o f a nE ngli sh

m a nwh o fa ncied him sel f t o o ill to stir but wa s preva iled ,

upon to tra vel from L ondon to Inverness to co n sult a n

emi nent physici a n His expecta tion o f a c ure en a bled

.

h im to be a r th e journ ey n orthwa rd s a nd h is wra th a t ,

findi ng tha t the eminen t physici a n did not exist susta i ned
him a ll the wa y home so well th a t o n a rrivi ng he w a s ,

nea rly c ured P lenty o f pe ople know these things a nd

.
,

yet they wonder why a mile wa lk a long a d usty roa d ,

t a lking sta l e goss ip should ti re them more th angetti ng a

,

h undred run s .

This then is th e fi rst rea son which we sh ould d o well to

, ,

remember G a me s give a nervous stim ul us ; a nordi na ry

.

wa lk doe s not B ut there is a nother reas on somethi ng like

.
,

it
. If a n y doctor were a s ked wh a t the chie f c a us e s o f
ove rwork were he would sa y first excitement a nd second
, , , , ,

mo notony Moreover it seem s to be ge nera lly held by

. ,

emi nent men th a t work p ure a nd s imple which is neither

, ,

very monotonous no r very exciting never yet did a ny o ne ,

s erious d a m a ge Th a t being so is it no t a bsurd to sup

.
,

f —
pose th a t a w a lk with a riend which is perh a ps bette r
th a n a wa lk without— c a ngive the required relief so we ll
a s a ga me which a bs orbs the thought s a n d interests fo r the
time ? The questio nis wh a t d o the friend s t a lk a bout ?
,

An d t o o Ofte n it m ust be a n swered they t a lk a bout the

, ,

s a me work which h a s been a b s orbi n g them a ll thro ugh the

morni ng or i ndeed a ll the week They repea t jokes which
, , , .

h a ve a ll the O ld sa vour O f the counti ng house or the mill o r -

, ,

the bricky a rd a nd if mon o tony is th a t which m a kes their

Work d a n ge rous to th e m their very recre a ti o no nly a dd s to
,

the d a nger i nste a d o f dimi ni shi ng it If thena wa lk with a .

, ,

frie nd eve n a lo n g a country high ro a d is to be c o nd e m ne d -

o nthe se gro un ds how m uch more the di sm a l pera mbul a tion

,

m a de by som e busi ness men from R ussell Sq ua re to Gower

to CR ICK E T, F OO TB A L L ,

a ll . Mi ss Co bbe a n d a few d o ctors ha ve fro m tim e to ti m e

upli fted th eir voices with ve ry sm a ll succe ss
, Why dont ’
.

girl s t a ke e x erc ise P Without a n y de s ire t o o vers t a t e t h e

c a se we m ust a cknowledge tha t c omm o n s en se o n thi s

,

subject is n o t very common yet Provis ion h a s h a rdly

.

been m a de to m ee t th e need a nd th e o nly rea so n th a t I

,

c a nsugg es t is thi s Girls a re fa r m ore unco mpla ining tha n

.

boys The B ritish bo y wh o is be ing overworked h a s

.
, ,

shown a fi n e power o f e nte ring a protes t which s oo ner o r ,

l a ter win s him h is O bject Permi ss ion h as been given to

.

boys to pl a y bec a use a fte r a certa in ti me n

, o on e c a nm a ke

t hem d o a nyt hing el se With girls the ca se is di fferent

. .

They do wha t they a re to ld ; a nd where di so bedience would

m a ke them hea lthy t hey obey th a t they m ay bec ome wise
, .

Whether they a tta in this l a tter o bj ect h a s a lwa ys bee n a

m a tter o f dispute .

B ut th e quiet submis sion with which (compa red to bo ys)

the joys o f robust hea lth a re surrendered h as sure ly its , ,

origin pa rtly in t heir dress C on tras t the two s exes

. .

There is very little t o g ive a n y s i g n t o a m a n child -

th a t li fe is no t a ll a merry g o ro und till the moment - -

,

when he fi rst be gi n s th e elements o f gra mm a r a n d th e

definition s o f p a rts o f s peech Fro m th a t mom e nt a n .

in fluen ce h as been brought to bea r upo n him a g a i nst which ,

he wa ges a vigorous a nd unremitting wa r B ut a little girl .

is e a rly led to beli eve th a t li fe is indeed a burd e n from th e ,

moment tha t sh e begin s to set up her fi gure with corset

an d sta y a burden which n
, o prote st will ev er lighten ,

but which sh e a n d a ll her sisters in civili z ed E urope a re

desti ne d t o be a r to the gra ve .

Nothing could more effectua lly tea ch a lesson o f unc o n

d it io na l submi ssion t o th e ill s o f little hea lth th a n this“

e a rly impri sonment a nd to it we m ay ascribe the fa ct th a t

,

women a re found to cl a m o ur fo r votes a nd fo r science

lesson s but to think tha t a wa lking tour a nd a h ea rty
,
-

brea kfas t a re better le ft to the other se x .

I h a ve however through the kindn ess o f the Vice

, ,

Princip a l o f Newnha m C ollege C a mbridge been fur , ,

.
 LA WN TE NNIS A ND HE A L TH .

nis h e d with some rem a rks o n thi s subject which I tra n

scribe :
“
C ert a i nly my opinio n is very clea r a s to th e g rea t
a dv a n ta ge o f good hea lthy a ctive exercise fo r girl s a nd fo r
, ,

wo men a nd a s to the nee d fo r more o f it tha n th ey usua lly

,

get A nd I thi nk th a t a ctive ga mes a nd a thletic exerci ses

.
,

while a s necessa ry fo r girl s as fo r boy s need more ,

p rotection in the c as e o f g irl s ; with boy s t hey s eem to

flo uri s h na tura lly th e e xcite m ent o f m a tch es a nd th e

,

po ss ibility o f a tta ining excellence m a king it unlikely tha t

,

their interest sho uld fl a g ; while with girl s from t heir m uch ,

more va ri a ble hea lth m a tches a re a di fficulty a nd from

, ,

their sm a ller m usc ul a r stren gt h it is h a rder fo r them to

a tt a in excellence ; a n d a ltogether they a re more likely to
be physic a lly somewh a t indole nt o r a t lea st to h a ve less
,

un fl a g g in g energy a bo u t t heir g a me s ; a l s o girl s a re a s a ,

rule poorer tha n their brothers a nd so less a ble to meet

, ,

expen ses which a re no t con sidered necessa ry a n d they a re ,

more depe ndent th a n their brothers a nd so less a ble to joi n ,

with o utsiders a nd ta ke wa lking tours etc

, , .

S o it is m uch to be hoped th a t a ctive ga mes a n d

exerci ses will be di stinctly promoted where girls congrega te ,

an d e speci a lly in the High School s which a re now t a king

so l a rge a sh a re o f their tra ining Pla yground s should if
.
,

possible be provided fo r a ll school s fo r the young

, It is .
,

no doubt true th a t very h a rd bodily exertion is not good

,

with very h a rd menta l exertio n a n d it is obvio us th a t

,

bodily exertion m a y very eas ily be overdon e B ut in the .

,

c as e o f girl s these thi ngs seem to m a ke us forget th a t

, ,

sn fi e ien t phy s ic a l exerci s e i s n o t only ple a sa n t t o mind a n d

body but essenti a l to their hea lthy development
, .

Gymn a stic s a re excellent fo r young girl s Older girl s .

might use them m uch more tha n they do though no doubt ,

with grea t c a re There is a sc a rcity o f a ctive (a s di stinct

.

from potteri n g) ga mes suita ble fo r girl s i e which a re no t , . .

to o ro ugh a n d to o viole n t but l a wn tenni s is inevery wa y

excelle nt fo r them wheth e r to pl a y a m o ng them se lves or
,

with m e n Thi s ga me is o f very g rea t use a nd plea sure to

.
 CRICK E T, F OO TB A L L ,

s tudents o f N ewnh a m a n d Girton they pl a y it a ll the yea r

ro und a n
, d never seem t o we a ry o f it ; it is very stro n gly
to be recomm e n ded to a ll y oung women wh o lea d a
s eden ta ry li fe Fives is a nexcellent ga m e fo r girl s a mong
.

them selves a n d it is a g reat pity th a t it is n

, o t more used

by them .

A s to dress th e o n e essentia l p o in t is th a t it sh ould be

,

quite loo se ; it should be o f some woollen m a teria l a nd ,

not m a de hea vy wi th to o m a ny fo lds a nd trimmi ngs .

A ny over skirt sho uld not rea ch t o th e knee s The most

-
.

suita ble a n d com forta bl e co st ume th a t I k n ow o f for l a wn

tenni s s k a ting mounta in wa lking etc is a gymn a si um
, ,
-
, .
,

co stum e with th e a dditiono f a pl a in a n

, d fa irly full skirt .

Shoes o r boots should o f c ourse h ave either no hee ls o r

, ,

o nly lo w s q uare o n es .

The wi sdom o f these rem a rks is surely beyond dis pute .

If they o r a n y s imil a r w a r n ings fa i l o f their e ffe ct t h e ,

rea son m ust be th a t the p ublic a re tired o f them Those .

o f o ur co untrymen who se e th e import a nce o f such m a tters ,

not un frequently pre a ch a bout them to th e ri sk o f becoming

”
wea ri some to the genera l
“
B ut th i s only me a n s th a t
.
,

wa rnings a re disobey ed bec a use they a re so obvio usly tr ue

a s to be d ul l .

The hyg ienic interests involved inwomen wea ring sen

s ible boo ts a re n,
o doubt unimport a nt comp a red with those

which a re imperilled by fooli sh fa shion s o f sta ys B ut .

they a re serio us eno ugh Tight boots c a use chilled feet

.
,

an d chilled feet m a y c a use a n ything B ut the rea l truth .

is th a t tight boot s prevent wa lking m uch m o re runn , ing ;

an d there fore thi s s tra nge desire fo r a supposed orn a ment
i s ind ulged a t the co st o f a nen forced s edent a ry li fe It is .

a mi s t a ke t o think th a t the o utcry o nt hi s subj ect h a s

prod uced m uch effect Proba bly the most trustworthy

.

witness o nthe fa shions o f l a dies boots th a t could be found

’
,

would be one who p ursued the una mbitious c a lling o f a

chiropodi st One who enjoys a l a rge pra ctice in L ondon
.

h a s given it a s h is Opinion th a t though it is le ss co m mon

,

to find heel s m a de in the ce ntre o f the foot th a n it was yet ,

14 CRICKE T, F O O TB A L L ,

lea d m a ny peopl e either to a b sta in from g a mes a lto

gether o r el se to le a ve them o ff ea rly in li fe They a re
, .

obj ections fo unded o n the d a ngers incidenta l t o pl a ying

such ga m es as cricket a n d footba ll .

The d a ngers m a y be ra nged under four hea d s .

a ) The d a ngers to li fe a n f
( d limb rom a ccidents .

()6 T h e d a nger s o f ta king cold from over -he a ting .

()
c T h e li a bility t o s pr a in s f ro m o ve r exertion -
.

’
()
a T h e li a bili ty t o exce s s when
, g a me s a re c ombined
with severe intellectua l e xertion .

()
a need n o t det a in u s ve ry long I t i s per fectly t.rue
th a t where fo otb a ll is rea lly fashion a bl e there there will
s ooner o r l a te r be ba d a ccid e nts T he excitement o f the
.

fra y le a d s to violence violence lea d s to b roke nli mb s a n

— d ,

a s we know s ometimes t o los s o f li fe

,
It is n o use bli n
. king
o ur eye s to the fa ct o r q ua rrelling a mong o urs elve s a s t o
,

which form o f footba ll is most d a ngerous We m a y ha ve o ur .

o wnopinion o nthe point but th ere is n

,
o re a son t o p ubli sh it .

The true d efence o f footba ll a ga i nst a l a rmi sts is to compa re

th e n umber o f it s fa t a l o r serious a ccidents with tho se whic h
occur in the h unting fie ld o r a mong a lmost a ll plea s ure
-
,

seekers A lpine climbers o

, ,
r cover shooters o r sa ili ng boa t
-
,
-

p a rties a nd so forth D a nger seem s to a dd z est to a n

'

.
,

En
’
gli shm a n s recrea tion Anyhow the verdict O f a ll wh o
.
,

pl a y footba ll is th a t the ga in is well worth the peril a nd ,

th a t verdict is pretty genera lly a ccepted .

()
5 The d a n ger s o f t a ki ng cold from over h e a ting In -
.

order to dea l with thi s subject we m ust con sider the

question o f ga rments a nd cha nging .

To ch a nge clothes a fter ha rd exerci se becomes a lmost a

necessity to those wh o h a ve once a dopted it a s a genera l
pra ctice a nd yet it a ppea rs t o be only o f recent intro d uc
ti o n L et us ta ke a n in sta nce Most people would a llow
.
.

th a t the inm a tes o f o ur big p ublic school s a re as a dva nced

i n a ll th a t rel a te s t o a thletic s a,
nd the com f ort o f a rra nge
ments connected with them a s a ny portion o f th e ,

comm unity B ut twenty five yea rs a g o though E ton a nd

.
-
,

H a rrow sent their represe nta tives to pl a y their a n nua l

 LA WN TE NNIS A ND HEA L TH .

’
m a t ch a t L ord s clothed in spotless fl a nnel th e rem aining
, ,

members o f the school s were not indulged in the sa me wa y .

The ga rments were worn by th e se lected pl a yers fa r more

fo r o rn a men t tha n a s a hygienic necessity a nd the ,

rem a i nder lea rnt cricket in cloth th a t o n some future d a y,

they might shine before the p ublic inwhite fl a nnel Aga in .

,

people in ch a rge o f prepa ra tory school s a lwa ys h a ve been

extremely ca reful inm a tt ers rel a ting to hea lth a nd wh a t ,

ever prec a utions a re genera lly rec o mmend ed by doctors fo r

those who ta ke pa rt in ga mes we fi nd observed by these ,

people with the utmost a ttention so th a t in wh a t is ca lled ,

s a nit a tion the usa ge s o f t h e o uter world a re reflect ed with

s ufficient a cc ura cy in the re gul a tio n s o f a high cl a ss pre -

p a ra tory sc hool No w in o ne o f these e sta bli shments a t

.

Brighton as l a te a s 1 86 8 so little wa s this impo rta nt

, ,

questionunderstood th a t t h e child re n were only a llowed to

,

d o nfla n ne ls o n ra re o cca s ions a nd ordina rily pl a ye d fo ot

,

ba ll in tho se ga rments inwhich they were to a ppea r a t

din ner ; if the wea ther wa s a nyt hi ng but mild t hey were ,

no t a llowed to t a ke o ff their j a ckets d uring the ga m e a ,

pre c a ution which a s we sha ll see m ust h a ve defea ted its

, ,

o wn object Hence we m a y concl ude tha t th o ugh the

, ,

benefit o f wea ri ng fl a nnel clothi ng d uri ng ha rd exerci se is

a ppreci a ted by a ce rt a in n umber now twenty ye a rs a g o it ,

w a s a fa ct un known to a lmost a ll It is true tha t fla nnel .

h a s bee nfo r m a ny ye a rs inE ngl a nd commo n ly worn next

the ski n but the preva ili ng opinion seem s t o be tha t
exerci se i nordi na ry ga rments c a nbe i nd ulged in a nd th a t ,

no h a rm will result even if the undercl o thi ng is no t

ch a nged We m ust ex a mine thi s opi nion c a re fully a s it is
.
,

very widely held or a nyhow a cted upo n

, , , .

It m a y be s a id a t o nce tha t it is a comm o n ca use o f colds ’

.

It is well w o rth while to co n s ider it in thi s light bec a use ,

co ld s in the hea d a re a stoni shi ngly frequent a nd a re ,

co nsta ntly the begi nni ng o f worse evils B ut in them selves .

Th e pre sen t writer is in c lined to spea k do g m a ti c a lly o nth e subj ec t

o f a vo iding c o ld s , a s h e o nc e pa ssed six c o ns ec uti v e y ea rs a nd a h a lf

i
w th o ut a c o ld inth e h ea d, wh ic h seem s to be a ra re ex pe r e i nc e .
16 CR ICK E T, F O O TB A L L ,

they are n o sm a ll a ddition to the ill s o f li fe They blea r .

the eyes o f the body a n d impede the working o f the mind

,

an d if as th e ir freq uency lea d s m e to think they Often

, ,

spring fro m preve n ta ble c a use s som e thi n g will be ga i ned ,

if thos e ca uses are ge n era lly known No w a c old in th e .

hea d is o n e form o f chill A chill is the effect o f in suffi cient

.

circ ula tion o f th e bloo d inth e skin which throws a dis ,

proportion a te m ass o f bloo d inwa rds This excites secre .

t ion in som e i ntern a l orga n le a ding to more o r less serious ,

d i sorder No w everybo dy knows th a t it is unwise to keep

.

wet socks o n th e fee t Th e rea son is simply th a t wet .

sock s a re proba bly cold to th e skin a n d check the circ ul a ,

tion o nth e feet If th e wet sock s a re no t cold they will

.
,

do n o h ar m A m a nm a y g et wet through a nd if he wa lks

.
,

directly he will be sa fe no t bec a use he is dry but beca use

, , ,

he is wa rm L et us then consider the effects o f p e rsp ira

.

tion a nd th e preca ution s t o be observed The momen t

,
.

perspira tion begins th e tempera ture o f the bo dy is lowered

, .

H ea t p asses o ut a n d hence a ll se n sible peopl e t a k e c a re to

,

wra p up th e skin a fter perspiring B ut a nd thi s is th e

— .

point— when exercise is ta ken a nd th e body h as swea ted ,

an d th e clothes a re n o t ch a nged then a chill is so to , ,

s pea k solicited
,
It is flying into the fa ce o f d a nger ;
.

beca use the g a rmen t next the skin is moistened the ,

moi sture cool s a nd in a few min utes even fl a nnel m a y

,

become quite cold to th e skin j ust a s if the body were ,

enc a sed in ga rments wetted wi th ra in Hence th e first .

an d mo st necessa ry prec a ution a g a in st c h ills is to ch a nge

the under clothing a fter exerci se It is true th a t thi s
- .

c a nnot be done by everybody but it is equa lly true ,

tha t when it c a n be done it ought t o be done Tried ,

therefore by thi s test outdoor ga mes a re benefici a l a ga in st

, ,

cold s The simple prec a ution o f ch a ngi ng the shirt a fter a

.

ra pid i nnings a t cricket a nd be fore going o ut to fi eld wil l

, ,

obvi a te a ll ri sk Tow a rd s t h e end o f the sea son a nyon e

~
.
,

who h a s to fi eld o ut in the a fternoon ought to wea r a very

thi n zephyr under th e shirt Thi s does no t m a teri a lly .

i ncre a se the h e a t but it prevent s th e evening breezes from

,
18 F OO TB A L L ,

s pra in h imself somewh ere A g rowin g bo y fi nds h is

.

m uscles stronger ea ch yea r as th e footb a ll season comes

round He resum es foptba ll sa y in O ctobe r a nd runs
.
, ,

an d p ush es as h e h a d do n e in th e preceding Feb rua ry .

B ut the e ff orts o f the pre c e d in g seas on which thent a xed ,

h is s inews to the utmost a re n, o w m a de with ea s e a n d he ,

incre a s es them t ill h e h a s a ga i n rea ch e d th e limi t o f h is

s tren g th .B ut a g rown m a n c a nnot do th is Di sus e .

d uring the summer h as ca used h is muscles to d egenera te

s lightl y from thei r form er s t a te o f e fli c iency B ut the wi ll .

to kick a nd j ump a nd h ustl e is a s vigorous a s ever His .

memory o f former t ri umph s urges him to a sudden

v iole n t e ffort a n d in sta ntly th e un
, prep a red thews protes t .

One o f them gives wa y a n , d h e h as to lie up fo r a s ea s on ,

an d lea rn tha t h e h a s pa ssed the a g e whe nh is m us cle s

ga i n stre n g t h o f their o wn a ccord ; a n d th a t if he is t o
in cre as e their e ffi ciency he m ust prepa re t hem a nd tra i n ,

them a s he would a horse Thi s is the re ason why spra i ns

.

a re so commo n a t the beginning o f th e footb a ll s e a so n

a mong yo ung m en a n d a neminent surgeon told me that

a t t h e be gi n f
ning o the l wn tenn is season a va s t n umber
a -

o f c a s e s c a me un der h is notice o f m eno f five a nd forty o r

,
- -

less with a ll the vigour o f youth but none o f its ela s ticity
, , ,

who h a d inca utiously resumed l a wn tenni s a nd ca me to ,

h im wondering why their knees h a d given wa y .

Aga in nothing is commoner th a n to he a r men o f six o r

,

s eve na n -
d twenty decl a re th a t footb a ll is a c a pit a l ga me
-

fo r boys but th a t they m us t give it up a s they feel them

,

s elve s getti ng too o ld . An d so it comes a bout th a t while

s ome men enj oy th e benefits o f fi ne o ut o f doo r exerci s e
- -

t ill thirty fi ve o r forty yea rs o f a g e others a pp a rently q uite

-
, ,

a s he a lthy feel obliged t o give it up a t t wenty six

,
Their -
.

work h owever refuses to be given up a n d in con s equen

, ce
they lose tone by degrees a nd ca nnot understa nd why
,

it is tha t the d a il y wa lk does not supply the pl a ce o f

footba ll on S a t urd a y a fternoon Something m ust be wrong
.

here It is highly improba ble th a t while s om e men c a n

.

pl a y footb a ll up to forty o r even fi fty there s hould be a ,

 LA WN TE NNIS A ND HE A L TH .

necess ity fo r others t o g ive it up so on a fte r t h ey h a ve

lea rnt h o w to sh a ve The secret which to th e one cla ss is
.
,

fa mili a r a n d to th e other q uite stra n ge is tha t a ll violent ,

w o rk req uire s a little prepa ra tion If t h e l ungs are to be

.

t a xed then the tra ini ng m us t be gra d ua l a s everybody

, ,

k nows If the tra i ni ng is omitted the s tra in o f suddenly

.
,

running contin uous ly for a n hour is very serious a nd

a c utely p a i nful ; it often prod uces s ickness a n d thre a te ns ,

the va lves o f th e hea rt a nd the un fort un a te victi m o f thi s

,

i mprudence t hi n ks th a t th is is a s ign th a t he is t oo o ld to
pl a y fo otba ll H e is no t to o o ld h e is t oo foolis h He is
. , .

d a m a ging th e be a uti ful m a chine ry o f h is body by tre a t

ment to which a n y g r oo m wo uld sh ri nk fro m s ubject ing a

h ors e . B ut t h e nec ess ity o f prepa ring the wind fo r

e xert io nis pretty ge n era lly re cognise d Wh at th enought .
, ,

t o be done t o pre pare th e m uscle s ?

P erha ps a mong the c ommon est s tra i n is tha t which
c a uses either a gra dually incre as ing pa in o n th e front o f
-

the thigh o r a sudden sna p o f a m uscle in the ba ck o f the

,

thigh j ust o n the o uts ide o f th e big prominent tendon

,

which runs fro m th e centre o f th e th igh to the ba ck o f th e

knee These two s tra i n s a re ca used by sudden kicking o r
.

run ning Th e first is well known a mong footba ll cra cks

.
”
,

si n c e th e m uscle whi c h is s tra ined is the rectus o r s tra ight

m us cle (running downth e front o f t h e thigh a nd a tta ched

t o the kneep a n ) which is suddenly contra c ted inthe a c t o f
,

kicking B ut it is a l so stra i ned by c on sta nt run ning o n

.

hea vy ground The p a incomes o ngra d ua lly but is s oon

.
,

s uffi ciently s evere t o e n force rest A l ump then forms

.

tow a rds the top o f the leg a bo ut the s ize o f a ra cquet ba ll

, ,

an d ve ry h a rd to th e to uch Thi s s ini ster obj ect h as

.

terrified m a ny a na thlete i n to thinking th a t crippledom fo r

li fe is now setting in B ut he n eed not be a l a rmed It is
. .

the e ffec t a pp a re ntly o f one m uscle ta king the pl a c e o f

, ,

a nother ; a n d a nyhow t here it s ta ys but the thigh wi th c a re

, , ,

s o o nbe comes as st rong as ever The best wa y to prep a re

.

th e legs fo r footb a ll is to exercis e them by kicking the a ir ,

i npriva te j ust b efore the g a me fo r the sp a c e o f s ome five

, ,

C 2
 CR ICK E T, F O O TB A LL ,

or ten min utes It is a s well no t to do so in a crowded

.

s treet a s the movement is highly ungra ce ful a n

, d might be ,

d a ngero us to p a ss ers by B ut it s hould be do ne some

-
.

where a s nothi ng is more e ffective in stre ngtheni ng th e

,

m uscles It is a pro ceedi ng a dopted I a m told by ba llet

.
, ,

d a ncers a nd a crob a ts every night j ust be fore they a ppea r ,

in public to delight vas t a udiences by their supple strength .

If thi s sho uld not prove suffi cie n t then the thigh sho uld be ,

tightly ba nda ged previous to pl a ying either with a nel asti c ,

b a nd a ge supported from the hips or by yellow pl a ster , .

Rubbing the m uscles is a l s o be nefici a l with the b a re ha nd , ,

a proce ss known a s s h a mpooi n g o r with green oil Those

, .

p a tterna thletes the a ncient Greeks used thi s subst a nce a s

, ,

a prep a ra tion fo r wre stli ng firs tly to temper th e e ff ect o f a

, , .

hot s uno nthe na ked body s econdly a s a defence a ga i nst ,

the cl utch o f the a dversa ry but thirdly as a l ubrica tionfo r

t h e m uscles The pra ctice was a dopted rece ntly by a
.

tea m which won the Associ a tion C h a llenge Cup .

The second kind o f stra i n mentioned th a t behind th e ,

thigh o ften a rises from run ni ng suddenly o nh a rd g round

, ,

s uch a s a run ning p a th The prec a utions a re t o some

.

e x tent the s a me a s those which sho uld be ta ken a ga i n st

more ordina ry stra i ns a nd a s a rule a pl a ster b a nd a ge
,

restores the use o f the leg ve ry quickly B ut a runner .

s hould n ever think o f pra cti s i ng on a ci nder runni ng p a th

a t full s peed fo r a d a y o r two ; a n d if thi s ca utionwere
Observed th e stra in would never occ ur a t a ll J ust th e .

sa m e rule hold s good a bo ut throwi n g the cricket ba ll .

Begin gently a nd incre as e by degrees Ag a in sudden

, .
,

stoopi n g often does ha rm A cricketer o n the wrong s ide

.

o f fi ve a n -
d twe n
- ty who wi shes to keep up h is fieldi ng
, ,

s hould pra cti s e s toopi ng fo r t wo min utes o ngetting o ut o f

h is b a th in the morn ing I h a ve known fives pl a yers
.

a dopt thi s method with s ucce ss as a me a n s o f ret a ini n

, , g
their suppleness o f limb .

a ) L i a bility to excess whe nga mes a re combined wit h

(
'

s eve re i ntellect ua l exertion .

There c a nbe no q uestio n th a t thi s is a rea l da nger ; but

as CR ICK E T, F O O TB A L L ,

uch tim ul a ted by them is compa red to others very

'

m s , ,

s m a ll indeed T hey a re m a inly to be fo und a t the U ni

.

ve rsit ie s where a s a gen

, , era l rule no m a n will try to do ,

rea lly h a rd b ra in work a fter rowing over h is cours e in ,

trai ning fo r a ne xciting ra ce ; a nd c ricketers who wish to

re a d fo r a n ex a min a tion do better to re a d e a rly in the
,

da y n,
o t a fter pl a ying a n d to give t hem selves plenty o f
,

s leep . B ut a c a ution is a ga in n ecessa ry M a ny people .

think their brai n s a re e xcited when they a re not O rdi .

na ry rea ding especia lly if it is inte re sting is only a very

, ,

gentle stim ul us to the nerves The h um a n mi nd h a s a .

wondro us power o f sel f de fence a ga inst intellectua l over

-

exertion It sa ves itsel f troubl e whenever it c a n but it

.
,

ea s ily fa lls a prey to excitement The p reva ili ng medica l .

opinion is th a t intellectua l work no t done a ga in st ti m e

o r under und ue excitement a n d free from monotony, ,

h a s never been proved to h a ve inj ured a hea lthy m a n;

t h a t is it lea ves plenty o f ne rve power to s p a re fo r
,

hea lthy h a rd exerci se Gen era l rules here a re usele ss

.
,

fo r some people use up bra in ti ssue m uch fa ster th a n

others even when not working under und ue pressure
, .

B ut the m ajority o f the h um a n ra ce ha ve very s l uggi sh

bra i ns a nd it is a preva iling error to co n fus e over pres
,
-

sure with mere over exertion If the pressure is removed

-
.
,

over exertion is very ra re indeed especi a lly if ca re is ta ke n

-
,

to a void monoto n y We m a y co ncl ude then o nthe whole

.
, , ,

th a t very little hea d work is seriously exh a usting to th e

-

nerve power o f the bra i n though m a ny people fa ncy th a t

,

their own hea d work is p a rtic ul a rly so a nd th a t the hea d

-

work which is d a ngerously exh a usting is so beca use o f grea t

e xciteme n t or prolonged monotony ; l a stly th a t no o ne ,

sho uld work h is bra in under the se condition s i f he c a n ,

help it ; b ut if he ca nnot help it then he sho uld be c a reful ,

tha t h is exerci se is proportion a te to h is strength .

Thi s concl udes a review o f the di fferent kinds o f o bjec

tion s to be urged a ga i nst grown up m e n t a ki ng p a rt -

ina thletic exerci s es s uch a s cricket a n

, d footba ll It w a s .

t hought po ss ible th a t inthose obj ection s la y the expl a n a

 LA WN TE NNIS A ND HE A L TH .

tion of the very s m a ll n um be r o f o ur fellow-c o un try m en

w h o rea lly c a n be c a lled ga mesters B ut when ca refull y .

ex a mi ned t h e obj e ctions base d o nthe d a ngers a ttenda n t

,

o nh a rd exerci s e a re s ee n to be very trifling a n d s uch a s ,

c a n be a n, d o ften a re o bvia ted by simple prec a utions

, .

H ence we a re drive n ba ck upon the sta tem ent with which

this p a per opened tha t we E nglish do no t as a na tion
,

unders ta nd th e va l ue o f ga mes Fo r to s um up quite .

,

briefly wh a t h a s beensa id th e wondro us bene fit to th e ,

he a lth o f a n individ ua l wh ic h results from d a ily regul a r

open a ir e xercis e is a fa ct which no m a n o f sound sense
-
,

c a ndo ubt which n

, o experience c a nc ontra dict a n d which ,

every scienti fi c cons idera tion o f th e l a ws o f o ur being

es ta blis hes a nd confi rm s These be ne fits depe nd upo n
.

th e fulfilme n t o f cert a i n c ondition s ; incre as ed circ ul a tion ,

q uickened respira tion a nd di stra ction o f though t ; condi

,

tions which a re fulfilled with more certa inty by ga mes

th a n by a n y oth e r form o f ex e rcis e in g ene ra l us e s uc h ,

a s a d a ily wa lk L a stly such diflfic ult ies as a ri se from

. ,

the viol enc e o f the exerci s e a nd which might be thought ,

a re a s on a ble dete rrent t o a grown up m a n who va l ue s -

h is li fe a re seen to be fo r the most p a rt im a gin a ry

, ,

o r e a s ily a voided Does it no t t hen become diffic ult to

.
, ,

expl a inthe fa ct th a t so few ta k e p a rt inga mes a nd th a t ,

o f tho s e few s uch a l a rge proportionlea ve them o ff inea rly

,

m a nhood ? It is surely diffic ult to e xpl a in on a ny other

hypothesi s but th a t which h as been g iven .

B ut fo r a ll thi s E ngli shmen m a y a dva nc e a plea fo r

,

t hem s elve s which h as n o t yet been a n swered a n d wh ich , ,

un fo rtun a tely doe s n

,
o t in m a ny cas es a dmit o f a na n swer .

They sa y tha t it is the na t ure o f time to fly a n d th a t by the ,

tim e their work is don e th e da y is gone Moreover it .

,

will a ppea r to t hese people tha t we prea ch doctrines

which ca nnot be put into pra ctice by nine men o ut o f t e n .

Athlete s a nd young fellows m a y no do ubt pro fit by good

homely a dvice a s to j ers eys a nd the like but c a nit be o f ,

an u e t o tell a b us ine ss m a n th a t he ought to s we a t ?

y s

L i fe hithert o h a s gone o nfo r h im without th a t op era tion

24 CR ICK E T, F O O TB A L L ,

being m uch in sisted On He is o n h is wa y to a g ree n

‘

O ld a g e a n
, d is perfectly content to conti n ue with clos ed
pores if h is incom e is tolera bly s ecure a nd h is childre n
, ,

a re s en t t o a good s chool The country clergym a n sa ys

.

s ome t hing o f t h e sa me kind ; s o doe s the l a wyer a n d a

s core o f others . It is a ll ve ry well fo r thos e who c a ndo
’ ”
it but we ca n t
, . Some gentlem a n wh o h as tra velled h a s
more to sa y yet He bid s me t a ke into con sidera tion the
.

va st a nd mighty e mpire o f Germ a ny b uilt up by men wh o ,

know not a scrimm a ge o r a lo ng da y s fielding o ut How

,
’
.

c a nit be nece ss a ry fo r us to m a ke s uch a point o f a thletics ,

when the most powerful n a tion in E urope does without

them ? These con sidera tio ns dem a nd a p a ra gra ph or t wo .

I would firs t then c a ll a ttention to a del us ionwhich is

, ,

very preva lent a nd which underlies m a ny o f thes e a sser

,

tion s It is tha t the h um a n fra me a da pts itsel f to a life

.

witho ut exerci s e j ust a s well as to o ne with exerci se ; t o

a co n dition o f not pl a yi ng ga me s j ust a s re a dily a s to a n
’
a thlete s li fe . Thi s is not so It is true tha t y o u m a y
.

deprive yo ur body o f exerci se a nd a fter a little time y o u

,

will ce a s e to feel th a t impera tive need o f it which a m a nin

perfect he a lth feel s if he is by s ome ch a nce deprived o f h is
a cc ustomed ga me B ut this o n
. ly mea ns th a t your body
i s in a lower con dition o f vita lity It is perfe ctly ea sy to
.

lower the tone o f the constitution without bei ng a wa re

o f it
. The n a tive o f a sl um in Bloom sb ury is cert a inly
less rob ust th a n a York shire ga mekeeper B ut he is no t .

remi nded o f thi s fa ct da y by d a y He feels the sa me a s

.

usua l a n
, d th a t is a ll he k n ows a bout him sel f The .

q ue stion s he o ught to a sk him sel f a re Wha t ki nd o f O ld ,

a g e i s a w a iting him Are h is children he a lthy ? If no t ,

is their s ickliness to be tra ced to their fa ther ? L a stly c a n ,

he do h is d a ily work a s efli c iently a nd ra pidly a s if he

were a hea l thier m a n Thi s l as t s urely touche s the poi nt .

No o ne c a ndeny tha t h a rd working m enh a ve oblig a tions

-

an d d utie s which m ust be fulfilled be fore they c a n a fford

t o con sult their own com fort A co untry clergym a nwo uld
.

be a s orry mini ster i ndeed who p ut o ff a vi sit to a dyi ng

 CRICK E T, FO O TB A L L ,

na tional ben efi t No w is there a n

.
y w o rk w h ich wo uld
no t be better performed if th e workm a n were to g row in
e nergy a n d mora l vigo ur Dr C ha rm ing hit th e m a rk .

’
when he sa id H ea lth is th e working m a n s fort une it
,

lightens th e efforts o f body a nd mind a nd e n a bles a m a n ,

t o crowd m uch work into a n a rrow sp a c e

”
He me a n s in .
,

short th a t a n
, y w o rk o f the higher kind such a s dem a n d s

a vigorous opera tion o f th e m in d j udgment forethought , , ,

a ss id uit y c oncen tra tion a n

, d so fort h would n
, o t only be ,

done more effi ciently but m o re ra pidly a n , d fa r more ,

ple a sa ntly if tim e were a lwa ys s ecured fo r re crea tio n

, .

An d th us inm a n
,
y c a ses th e a m o unt done would be t h e
sa m e the q ua lity wo uld be impro ved
, an d wi th it th e ,

genera l prosperity o f t h e indivi d ua l For a s it h a s been .

,

wi sely sa id it is n o t the work we do which e xh a ust s us but

, ,

the work we a re obliged to lea ve undone o r to do ba dly , .

It s eem s the n pretty clear th a t i f the e ffects o f hea lthy

,

exerci s e on a ll th e powers o f the hum a n being both ,

phys ica l a nd menta l were thoroughly understood th e

, ,

whole d ifli c ulty as to wa nt o f lei sure a nd opportunity ,

would in time be g rea tly modified The system o f s ociety .

would gra dua lly be a ltered to meet a g rowi ng need In .

the cours e o f time condition s o f life which excl ude a ll ti m e

,

fo r lei sure a n d recre a tion wo uld be looked upon as ,

s imply intolera ble e vil s wh ich every sensible m a n m ust

,

c o -opera te t o st a mp o ut B ut the beginning wo uld be

.

m a de by those thousa nd s a nd thousa nds o f people wh o ,

now h a ve opportunities but a re not a nxious to use them

, .

Above a ll we sh ould se e a di fferent li fe led by nea rly a ll

‘

women . If women knew th a t a free circul a tion is a s

precio us a boon fo r them a s fo r men th ey woul d revo lu ,

t io niz e s ociety : a n d yet wh a t a wo n derfully s imple truth it

is They as well a s countless n umbers o f h a rd worked men
,
-
,

wo uld m a ke opportunities Wha t is the use o f h is vote to

.

the county ho useholder if he will no t insist o n s ec uri ng

,

room fo r cricket a nd footba ll ?

It is very little use fo r a rtiz a n s to feel them selve s a

power in the Government o f the country a nd a ble to li ft ,

 LA WN TE NNIS A ND HE A L TH .

up their voices so tha t th ey sha ll be he ard un

, less th ey ,

k now wh a t they rea lly wa nt If the y were to in sist o n .

leisure a nd footba ll gro unds soo ner o r l a ter th ey wo uld g e t

,

them We a ll know tha t soci a l forces ar e irresi stibl e but

.
,

the fa ct rem a i ns th a t if society knew its inte rests it would

,

a lter it s o wn forc es Is it n
. o t a m el a nch oly fa ct t h a t we ,

h a ve st ra i ned a nd struggled a nd longed fo r thin g s which

,

a re a t bes t o f ve ry do ubtful a dva nta ge a n d ig n ore th e ,

pla in O ld truths tha t if we neglect o ur e xerci se o ur vita l

, ,

forc e will dimini sh a n d if o ur vita l force dimini shes th e

, ,

country will sink i n t h e sc a l e o f n a tion s ? Think fo r

in st a nce o f the fuss m a d e a bout ed uca tion If c ommon .

sen se h a d been a llowed a n pl a y a t a ll should we ev er

y ,

h a ve p a cked o ur littl e children into noi some room s filled ,

with th e reek o f cord uroys a nd h a ir o il a nd h a ve ra m m ed -

,

i nto their hea ds fo r th ree o r four con secutive hours the Bill ,

o f Right s a n
, d t h e ex a ct po s ition o f Hong Kong without ,

so m uch a s giving a tho ught t o their ga mes o r p roviding ,

them h a l f a na cre wherein t o runa bout a nd shout a nd

- -
, ,

dri nk the a ir o f hea ven ? Wh a t a m a rvellous s tupidity

is this " a n d yet it goes o n It is a s ea sy a s po ss ible
.

to find g rowing boy s a n d girl s o f a ll cl ass es working ,

nine o r ten ho urs a da y a nd their exercise left to t a ke

-
,

ca re O f itself It is thought tha t beca use a few dozen

.

a ri s tocra t s pl a y cricket to exce ss therefor e a ll boy s a n

, d
g irl s wi ll provide g a me s fo r them s elve s m a ke time t o pl a y , ,

an d sp a ce to pl a y in Th e truth is th a t in ed uc a tionn
.
, ea rly
everything is uncerta in Opinion s which di ff er a s widely a s
possible a s to the cl a im s o f di fferent studies di fferent
, ,

method s di ff erent orga niza tion o f school s a nd a h undred

, ,

other questio n s a re ra i si ng a h ubbub o f l asting wra ngl e in

, ,

which theory a nd pra ctice a re mixed in dim co nfusion .

One thing a lone is q uite certa in th e p riceless va l ue o f ,

ga mes fo r boys a nd girl s A nd yet the virtuous world o f

.

reformers a nd phil a nthropi sts h a s gone cra zed over a ll th a t

is di sp uted a n d obs cure a n d a re lea ving the o n
, e cert a inty

Out in the cold p a rtly in th e c ase o f o n

—
, e sex wholly ,

inth a t o f the other .

 CRICK E T, F O O TB A L L ,

B ut we m ust not forget Germ a ny It is a stubborn fa ct .

t h a t t h e Germ a ns a s a people a ppa rently t a ke very little

e xerci s e o f a n y kind a nd ,as a n a tiona re the firs t in E urope

in lea rning industry a nd milita ry power B ut t here is

, , .

nothing int hi s to wea ken the cl a im s o f hea lthy exercis e

upon o urselves Di smi ss ing the h ypothesis th a t tho ugh
.

t hey are nea r o f kin to us yet there is somethi n

, g intheir
con stitution which obvi a tes the necessi ty fo r exercis e— a
h ypothesi s improb a ble in its el f a n d i m pa ssible to prove
,

why s hould we assume th a t they h a ve rea ched the highest

pinna cle o f h um a n power P Wh o c a n prove tha t they
would not be benefited by i ncrea s ed a ttention to bodily
exerci se ? R umours rea ch us now a nd then o f vigoro us
e xertion s being m a de by the ce n tra l a uthority to i ntrod uce
E ngli sh ga mes he a dlo ng into their s chools a s a ni ngredient ,

wi thout which a ll their a dmira ble tea ching is m a imed a nd

defective .Serious diffi culties h a ve to be encountered .

To sta rt footba ll is no light m a tter even in a nE nglis h ,

p ublic school : but when no o ne k nows its delights or its ,

r ules it m a y t a ke a lo ng time i ndeed The ra pt ure O f a

,
.

s crimm a ge is a na cquired ta s te thoug h a re a l o n , e B ut .

previous to th e a cqui sition the co ntusions a nd violent

,

collision s might excite gra ve mi sgi vings a s to the be a uty

o f the ga me There fore we m ust not be surprised a t this

.

reform ta king time B ut there is every pros pect o f its

.

bei ng st a rted be fore m a ny yea rs a re o ut by mea ns o f ,

closer union o f the two co untrie s a nd the ex a mple s et by ,

E ngli sh residents in University towns B ut a p a rt from .

thi s we a re wrong in s upposi ng th a t the na tion a bst a in s

,

from physic a l exerci s e The milit a ry service e ns ure s

.

s ome opening o f the pore s by requiring re cruits to m a rch

,

thirty miles a d a y in full eq uipment ; a n d it i s a s common

a s poss ible fo r university s t udents to t a ke wa lki n g to urs
w ith kn a psa ck s a n d s pending s urpri singly little on their
,

d a ily food Gymn a stics a re a l so enforced by s ta te reg u

.

l a ti o n .It would in short be m uch truer to s a y tha t

young men in Germ a ny a lrea dy t a ke some exercis e a nd ,

a re likely to t a k e more a nd ,th a t the whole n a tion will

3o CRICK E T, F O O TB A L L ,

h ung ry . N o th in
g h as l o w e r e d men e ge more th a n
s
’
a v ra

th e n e glect o f this rul e A bis cuit a nd a gl ass o f be er a t

.

1 2 is worse t ha n use les s a n d wh a t is a n E nglishm a n i f h e

,

is n o t fed ? Inrea lly hot wea ther ea t a good l uncheon ,

as e xh a ustion m a y set inbetwe en 4 a n d 6 le a di ng to wh a t ,

is ca lled liver unstroke ; a compl a int which prevented

s -

M r A P L uca s from getti ng h is 1 0 0 a ga i n st the Pla yers

. . .

in 1 8 78 Rem embe r tha t th e sun does mi schie f o n th e

.

ba ck o f the neck not o nth e to p o f th e hea d unless th e

, ,

h ea d be ba ld which is sometimes th e c a se
, Ea t a m oder a te .

din ner n
, o t l a t er th a n A l m os t th e who le o f th e uppe r
an d middle cl a ss o f E ngl a n d over ea t th e m selves a t dinner -
.

One help o f well c o oked m e a t is e n

- o ugh with fi sh a nd ,

p udding No c ricketer should ea t m o re If h e obeys thi s

. .

c a ution h e will wa ke up with th e spirits p ure a nd vigorous

, ,

no t only to vita l but to ra ti ona l fa c ulties ”

Thi s quota tion .

l ea ds me to sa y th a t fo r a h ealthy m a n h ea d work in th e ,

morni ng is quite possible under these c ondition s He .

might rise a t 7 a nd work from , to 10 a n d perh a p s ,

a little a fterwa rd s
. Very few men will do more a nd
.
,

contin ue to g et runs Some will do a l ittle in the ev eni ng

.
,

but very little Still a n y. he a l t hy m a n,m a y work 2 5 ho u r s

in the morning a n d pl a y a ll d a y
, B ut he m ust g o t o bed
.

ea rly h e m ust drink next to no wine o vernight ;a nd he m ust

be very modera te in h is pipes If h is hea dwork is interes t .

in g,
it will even help h is cricket since if t hings
g o wrong , ,

he will worry less t ha n a nidle m a na n d worry a n d dejection ,

h a ve often lowere d the a vera ge in a nun a ccounta ble wa y .

At the beginning o f the se a son o r indeed o f ea ch d a y , ,

Mr C T Studd reco m mends the use o f Indi a n cl ub s to

. . .
,

tra in the wrists S a turda y pl a yers will do well to Observe

.

the a bove rules a s fa r a s their circum sta nces a dmit O f

, .

c o urse t hey a re prevented from a n y su ch reg u l a r li fe .

They c a ncountera ct irregula rity to some extent by a ha rd

wa lk the d a y before the m a tch a nd by Indi a n cl ubs o r a ny ,

other gymn astics work o ff th e e ff ects o f a high stool B ut .

a m a nwho s it s sti ll from Mond a y t o Frid a y c a nh a rdly

hope to score la rgely on S a t urda y .

 LA
‘

WN TE NNIS A ND HE A L TH .

T ra ining for fo otba ll is n o w th o ro ughly un derstoo d .

The rule oftenest broken is tha t which pl a ces lun ch eo n ,

chop pota to etc a n hour a nd a ha l f o r two h ours before

, ,
- -.
,
-
, ,

pl a y begins B ut o nth e whol e I ha ve nothing to a dd to

. , ,

wha t w a s sa id in the p a ra gra ph a bout spra ins .

Thes e simpl e direction s I know to be in th e m a in , ,

correct a nd they a re con fi rmed by more tha n o ne high

,

a uthority A n a thlete h a s little to d o n o wa d a ys but to

.

o b s erve tho se l a ws wh ich e veryon e would do well to

,

o b serve did the condition s o f h is li fe permit

, It will be .

s een h o w m uch mod ifi ed the modern idea o f tra ining is .

Non s en s e a bout ra w eggs a nd red stea k is s eldom h ea rd

, , .

The cricketer h a s to a dopt a perfectly n a tura l easy diet in ,

o rder t o be in g ood co n dition .

B ut e a sy though it a ll s ound s this o r a n

, y o th er p re sc rip ,

tion will fa il e ntirely o f its obj ec t unless a few fund a mental ,

pri nciples o f hea lth a re more ge nera lly k nown a nd more

cons i stently p ut into pra ctice There a re cricketers j ust a s .
,

there a re repres enta tives o f a ny other lofty voca tion wh o ,

im a gine th a t they c a n keep e y e h a nd a n d mi n d in good , ,

worki ng order though they know them selves to be given to

,

s ome form o r other o f i n tempera nce Is it likely th a t a .

m a n c a np ut forth a ll h is powe rs when he con st a ntly goes

t o bed with h is hea d hot with fume s o f ch a mpa gne o r h is ,

s tom a ch loa ded with exce ss o f food It is s tra nge th a t

men should del ude them selves with thinking tha t nerve a nd ,

end ura nce c a n be combined with a nything in th e n a ture

o f co a rs e s el f i n d ulgenc e -
A stra nge del usion we m ust
.
,

a dmit b ut a common o n
,
e There are two other secrets.

wh ich m a y be sa i d t o underlie a ll rules o f hea lth tha t is to ,

sa y witho ut which a ll O bs erva nce s will be quite usele ss

,

the firs t is pret ty well understood the second is h a rdly ,

k now na t a ll The fi rs t is merely t h e necessity o f g i vi ng

.

d a ily a nd reg ul ar r elief to th e syste m M o st gro w nup people .

-

a re a w a re o f th e i mporta n c e o f t h is but m o st bo ys a n d ,

girls a re left to lea rnit by un h a ppy e x peri enc e Why do .

p a rents so se ldom inc ulca te a litt l e knowle dge o n the se

m a tt e rs Nobody kn o ws .
3: CRICK E T, F O O TB A L L ,

Th e s ec o nd wi th which we concl ude

, d uty to n a ture , is a ,

which the va st m ajority o f people a re ignora nt o f a n d mos t ,

o f the rem a inder omit to pe rform It is the d uty o f chew .

ing food Th e veriest d ull ard wh o thinks fo r a moment o n

.

the da ily ta sk e n t rusted to o ur digestive m a chinery h o w ,

incessa ntly it rec urs a nd how s erious a re the i ssues invo lve d
,

in its fulfilment : a nd wh o h as moreover lea rnt a nyt hing o f , ,

the delic a cy o f those orga ns a nd their close rel a tion t o ,

h a ppiness will understa nd the need o f lightening th a t ta s k

,

a s fa r a s we c a na n d the cruelty o f a n
, y w a nton i ncre a s e o f it .

O ur system a s ks fo r food well chewed a n d well l ubric a ted ,

an d we give it dry n uggets a t ra pidly recurring mea l s ,

-
.

The highest a utho rity o n disorders o f th e digestion a nd

their fa r rea chi ng conseq uences h a s sa id th a t no c o nstit u
-
,

tionin the world c a nsurvive the neglect o f thi s d uty Th e .

di fficulty o f getting the truth believed is tha t the fa ta l

consequences s eem to ha ve so little con nection with their
c a use They follow l a te in time but with th e most inevi
. ,

t able certa i nty Mel a ncholi a loss o f sleep leth a rgy ill
. , , ,

temper a nd a genera lly j a undiced View o f li fe a re a mong

,

them but a re not the most s erious If a nyone doubts th e

,
.

va l ue o f the prescription let him try it I could na me a , .

la d o f ni n eteen whose whole life wa s exhila ra ted by thi s

an d nothi n g el se I could na me a dyspeptic who tra velled
.
,

in se a rch o f a cure a ll in va i n till a stra n ger told him to ,

m a stic a te h is mea t a nd he obta ined i nsta nt relief B ut

, .

there is a better in st a nce a t h a nd th a n either o f these Mr . .

Gl a d stone is a m a na bout whose physica l vigour there c a n

be no q uesti o n Men a re k nown in troublous time to ca vil
.

a t h is st a te s m a nship but no one h a s a n ythi ng t o sa y

,

a ga i nst h is dige stion Now a s e a rly a s the yea r 1 8 4 8 M r

.
, .

Gl a dsto ne form ul a ted to him sel f rules fo r che wing food .

Previo usly to th a t he h a d a lwa ys p a id grea t a ttention to

thi s requirement o f n a ture ; but a t th a t d a te he l a id down
a s a rule fo r h is children t h a t 32 bite s sho uld be given to

e a ch mouth ful o f me a t a nd a s omewh a t le sser n umber t o

,

bre a d fish etc It is a ls o known th a t to get i nto a h a bit

, ,
.

O f following thi s ex a m ple is a s e a sy a s c a n be A little .

 C Y C L ING
C O NS IDER ED IN ITS

R E L A T IO NS TO HEA L TH .

THE object o f the foll o wing rem a rk s is to di sc uss th e

q uestion o f cycling solely in its rel a ti ons to hea lth No .

a ttempt will be m a de t o give the hi sto ry o f its g rowth ,

nor to describe the successive sta ges o f mech a nica l de velop

m en t from the ba rb a ric in fa ncy o f the d a ndy horse a nd ” -
,

bone sha ker up to the pres ent civili s ed m a t urity o f

-
”
,

ro a d ster ra cer ta ndem a nd soci a ble

, , , no r sha ll we
venture to foreca s t the po ssible refinements a nd m o dific a
t ion s o f sta ge s o f expa n s ion yet to come Tho ugh we ha ve .

a lre a dy indeed been i n

,
tro duced to a n emb ryonic form o f
,

a mphibio us cycle which c a n a d a pt it s el f to run o nw a te r

a s well as o nl a nd to furrow the p a thle ss w a ste o f oce a n

,

as well as di n t the meta lled s urfa ce o f the p ublic highwa y

an d a lthough there rem a i n s a third poss ibl e element s t ill

un ch a llenged a nd fa nwheel s m a y herea fter be devised to

,
-

plough the a ir as well a s the sea it will not serve the ,

present purpose to e nter a ny s uch region o f spec ul a

tion We sh a ll dea l entirely with the cycle a s it exi sts in
.

genera l use a t the present moment a nd in referring to its ,

di fferent form s we sh a ll througho ut a ssume a n a vera ge

t ypic a l s pecimen a s under contempl a tion Neither will .

it be nece ssa ry to give a n y det a iled de s cri ptio n o f the

m e cha n ic a l con structio n o f cycl es A knowledge o f .

c ones p a ra llel s rolle rs a n

, , d ba ll s o f s poon a n
, , d lever o f ,
 C Y CL ING IN R E L A TION TO HE A L TH .

s teering a nd of g ea ring &c h o we ver p ra ctica ll y use ful

, .
,

to the cyclist h a s l ittle d irect bea ring o n th e hyg i enic

as pe ct o f h is p ursuit with which a lone we a re h ere
,

concerned .

H a vi ng th us cle a rly de fi ned th e lim its o f th e subj ec t we ,

will proceed a t once to its considera tion .

Wh en the or ina ryd n o n-cycling s pec ta tor see s a g oo d

rider on a bicycle glid in g quiet ly a long a bit o f s mooth
s urfa ced roa dw a y wi t h a pp a re ntly the ve ry s lightest con
,

c e iva ble expendi ture o f m us c ul a r po wer a n d th a t con fi ned,

t o a nextremely limited pl a y o f foot a n d an kl e he is a pt to ,

t hink th a t there is a bsol utely n o physica l exertion inth e

proc e ss tha t the m a chin e a lmost goe s o f itsel f a nd th a t to

, ,

s pe a k o f bicycli n g a s a n exerci se inthe ordin a ry sen se

o f the term is t o ind ulge in c ulp a ble ex a ggera tio n S uch a .

des cription o f it he will sa y m a y be to lera ted inth e mouth

, ,

o f a ne n thus ia stic novi ce or a nin te rested pa rtisa n but it

is not the l a n gua ge o f rea son a nd common sense It is .

imposs ible he will thi nk th a t the perform a nce o f rea l

, ,

work c a nconsi st w ith th a t e as y motionless a ttit ude inthe

sa ddle ,
an d th a t q uiet s mile o f perfect com fort a n d
compos ure which a re so ch a ra cteri stic o f the pra cti sed
,

bic yclist Or if a ga in he should m eet a nother rider dis

.
, ,

pla ying a style o f perform a nce somewh a t fa shiona ble in

the less refined a n d educ a ted circle s o f cycli st s in which ,

the legs from th e hips downwa rds seem to be worki ng up

an d down with furious a n d demonstra tive pe rsi ste n c e like

a couple o f a n im a ted pi ston s in this c a se he m a y i ndeed

—
cha nge h is mi nd a nd credit the rider with a c on s idera ble
expe nditure o f energy but he will still be inclined to
,

s ugges t t h a t bicycling exerci s e s a fter a ll only o n e portio n

, ,

o f t h e body n a mely the legs

, an,d th a t on t hi s a cco unt it
fa lls ve ry fa r short o f the st a nd a rd o f ide a l exerci se a n d ,

th a t the very pa rtia l ch a ra cter o f its O pera tions in th is

respect wi ll o nly j usti fy us in de scribing it a s a n exerci se
o f a nin ferior type to which a proportion a tely low po s itio n

should be a ss i n ed i no ur Athletic C l ass L i st

g .

S uch a view a s t h e a bove is a very common a nd under ,

D 2
36 C Y CL ING C ONS IDE RE D IN ITS

th e circ um sta nces a very n a tura l o ne a nd there would be

,

no possible object ina ll udi ng to it o nthe pres ent occ a s ion ,

were it no t th a t it h a ppe n s to be a t the sa me time a most

fa ll a cious view a n , d tha t its fa ll a cy con sists in entirel y
i gnoring o n e m os t essentia l fea t ure o f th e exerci se T0 .

this fea ture we sh a ll n o w i nvite s pe ci a l a tt e nti on ; a nd it

will be ob served tha t inwh a t imm e dia tely follows we sh a ll
be referring to bicycling o nl y .

Those bicyclists wh o are co nversa nt wi th m a ny othe r

form s of a thletic a m usement a n d who h a ve suffi cientl y
,

vivid recollection s o f their first a cqua inta nce wit h them to

be a ble to reca ll their l e a rn ing s t a ge will proba bly be
“
,

fo un d to be fa irly un a nimo us in their testimony a s to th e

-

e xception a lly fa tig uing n a t ure o f their initi a l e fl o rts o nt h e

'

bicy cle Whether they requi re d three six twelve or even

.
. , ,

t we n ty lesson s before they rea ched th e s ta ge o f bei ng fa irly

in dependent o f externa l a id inthe pro cess they will a ll be a r
,

witness to th e fa ct th a t until th a t sta ge o f indepe ndence

wa s a tt a ined the t as k o f lea rning was a most severe one
, ,

h t h l f n-h o ur o f it a t a time was suflic ien

‘
t t o exh a ust
t a a a-

their utmost ca p a city o f end ura nce a n , d th a t s o fa r from

th e feeling o f fa tigue bei n g confi ned t o the legs a lo ne it ,

w a s c o - exten s ive with the whole bod y More tha n this.

,

were they to be ca lled uponto s peci fy a ny p a rticula r portion

o f the b o dy a s being more obvio usly s ubjected to s evere

m usc ul a r stra in th a n a nother it would be th e a rm s ra ther

,

tha n the legs which they wo uld s ingle o ut fo r thi s dist inc q

tion The mere force required to pr opel the m a chi ne form s

.

in deed a sm a ller portion o f the e ntire m usc ul a r energy

i nvo lved in the process o f riding tha n is genera lly s up
posed There a re certa i n ingenio us cont riva nces ca lled
.

”
Home Tra iners the use o f which is occ as ion a lly resorte d
,

to by bicycling enth usi as ts fo r the p urpose o f keeping the i r

ra ci ng legs in sa tisfa ctory condition a t times when ba d
we a ther h as m a de the norm a l form o f bicycling unple as a nt ,

if not i mposs ible Roughly spea king the m a chine is a

.

sta tion a ry bicycle fi r m ly s c rewed i n to tite g r on nd o nwhich

'
.

, ,

inre spo n se to the mech anica l re sista nc e o ffered the rider is ,

38 C Y CL ING C ONS IDE RE D IN ITS

N ow inthis pro cess o f a dj ustm ent a lmost the entire bo dil y

,

fra m e pl a y s a pa rt a nd th e disproporti on a te fa tigue

,

e x pe rie nced inlea rn ing to b ic y cle as c ompa re d wi th tha t

invo lve d in ac qui ring most o th er a thletic a rts is m a inly d ue

t o the very comprehen s ive a n d intric a te ch ara cte r o f thi s
ba l a ncing process a nd the ve ry l a rg e dem a nd s it m a kes
,

upon n e w o r c o mp a ra tive ly un fa mili a r mod es o f m uscul a r

a ction . It is th i s pa rticul a r fea ture o f th e ca s e which

m a kes wha t a ppea rs to be such a nea sy a nd si mple fo rm o f
motion o ne rea lly so di fficult to a cq uire a nd which a ls o ,

a ccount s fo r the ve ry cons idera ble v a ria ti o ns in the pe riod

t a ken fo r its a c q uirement in di fferent ca s es Wheth er

.

from di ffere n ces o f a ctua l weigh t o r from the possess ion o f

,

s ome finer con stit ution a l g i ft o f m usc ul a r s en se it is ,

un doubted th a t o f two lea rn e rs who m a y be pre sumed to

s t a rt o na fa ir level o f eq ua lity a s rega rd s genera l a ctivity

an d a thleti c h a bit the o n

,
e will a cquire h is bicycling s ea t

a fter fa r fewe r a ttempts th a n t h e oth er The sa me di ffe r

.

en c es in ra pidity o f a cquire m ent w ill be perceived in the

c a se o f two other exe rcis es which to a certa in exte nt a fford

a pa ra llel to bicycling inthe in trod uction o f th i s necess ity
fo r a ccura te di stribution o f weight o ver a n d a bove the
e mployment o f a ctua l motive energy n a mely s k a ti n , g a nd
,

s wimmi n g ; a nd it will genera lly be found th a t the s a me

person whose pe riod o f proba tionis a short o ne in o ne o f
these c a ses will a l so show proportiona te cele rity o f a cquire
m en t in the others In e a c h o f thes e three form s o f
.

a cquired motion a nother rem a rk a ble phe n ome non m a y be

o bs e rved which clea rly poi n
, ts to the very subtle n a t ure o f
the process o f a cquis ition n a mely th a t the power is a lmost
, ,

n
i v a ri a bly a tt ined a ll a t o
a n c e— th a t it b ursts upon the
lea rner quite s uddenly in the full ple nitude o f perfec tion
wi tho ut a ny a pp a re nt prelimin a ry a ppro a ches to it The .

lea rner feels infa ct a t the end o f h is st h 6 th 8 th or 1 1 th

, , , ,

a ttempt ( a s the c a s e m a y be) th a t he is n

,
o ne a rer t h e goal

th a nhe wa s a t st a rting he is e ntirely uncon scio us o f a n y

st a ge s o f g r a d ua l appr ox i m a tion to it an d j ust perh a ps
a s he is begin n in g to feel di she a rtene d a t the o bvious
 R E LA TIONS TO HEA L TII .

a bse n
ce o f a ll to ken
s n d in
of c lin
p g
ro ressed t o g ive up
, a

th e a tt e mpt fro m a fee lin g o f disa p po int m e nt or d es pa i r ,

h e un e xpec ted ly fi n ds th a t t h e po wer o f c o n tro lli n g t h e

c o urs e o f th e m a c h ine h as as it were dro pped in

, to h is ,

ha nd s a nd th a t pro vided th e roa d be fa irly s m oo th (so

,

th a t no ve ry dis t urbin g a p p l ic a ti o n o f p p
ro e l li ng forc e is

necessa ry) h e c a nventure alo ng by h im se lf with o ut furt h er

fea r o f fa il ure At th is st a g e too h e will n
. ot ic e th a t h is
, ,

a t tem pts a re follo wed by a dimi n ish ed sense o f g e n era l

fa tigue a n d inp art ic ul a r t h a t th e s tra in o nt h e m usc les o f

, , ,

th e arm i s m a t eria lly lessen ed Th e reaso n o f this las t is

.

U nti l the art o f a dj usting th e weig h t o f th e bo dy t o th e

line o f motion was a cq uire d th e inevita bl e ten , denc y was
fo r the line o f m o tion to a dj ust its el f a uto m a tica ll y to th e
weight o f th e body : h ence th e a rm s we re being c o n s t a ntly

ca lled into requi sition to a pply th e c orrec tive p roc ess o f

stee ring a n d to counterba l a nce th e weig ht of th e bo dy so
, ,

fa r as it s inclin a ti o n devia ted fro m th e req ui re d lin e B ut .

when once this a rt is a tta ined th e counter p roc ess ceas es to

,

be a norm a l fea ture o f the ca se a nd th e a rm s a re n o lon g er

,

pressed into such strenuous se rvice e xcept under s pe ci a l

circum s ta nces in which owi ng to un fa voura ble conditi o n s of

roa d surfa ce wi n d o r g ra di ent the a mount o f motive forc e

-
, , ,

to be a pplie d is so a bnorm a lly increas ed a s to pa rt i a lly

interfere with this nice ty o f bodily a dj ustment a nd th us ,

n ecessita te some compensa ting a pplica tion o f s teera ge .

Fo r a ll pra ctica l purpos es it m a y be as sumed tha t th e

necess ity fo r thi s stra in o n the a rm s va ri es i nve rsely with
the degree o f a ccura cy a nd delica cy with which th is newly
a cquired s en se o f b a l a nce ope ra t es an d under the m ost ,

fa voura ble co n ditio n s it even di sa ppe a rs a ltogether a s in ,

th e o ften witn ess ed pe rform a nce o f riding s tra ight a long

-

with the h a n ds in the pockets o r even o f m a king th e ,

m a chine desc ri be a c ircle by the mere inclina tion o f th e

body in th e direction required The work which would .

o th e rwi se be do n e by th e a rm s is tra n sferred to th e

ba l a ncing a c t itse l f N ow thi s a c t wh ic h is due to th e
.
, ,
 C Y CL ING C ONS IDER E D IN ITS

continuous nd ever va rying re fl ex a ctivity o f th a t portion

a -

o f t h e c entral n ervo us syste m wh ich regul a tes m usc ula r

movem en t is o ne inth e e x e rcise o f wh ich n e a rly th e whol e

,

body is brought into pla y ; so subtle so delic a te so c o m , ,

plica ted a n d a ll p erva di ng i

-s t h e m usc u l ar e n e rg y n ec e s s a ry

fo r its perfo rm a nce (a ne nergy th e ac quire m ent o f w hi c h

m a kes as we h a ve see n very h ea vy d e m a n
, , ds up o nth e
physica l resources o f those wh o ha ve t o a c q uire it) th a t ,

it assum es as it were a ni nteg ra l an d perm a nen t pl a ce in

a man s con stituti o n a n d bec omes a kind o f n
’
, ew s en se o r

fa c ulty o f whi c h n othing c a n subseq uently de prive h im .

Y ea rs m ay el a p se wi tho ut h is mountin g a bic y cl e a n d y e t

t h is p o wer o f ba l a nce will re m a in th e sa me He m a y
.

inde ed fi nd h is fi rst ride a fte r a long a bstinenc e a f a tig uin g

O pe ra tio n but t h e O ld feeling o f helpl ess ne ss a n
, d wa nt o f
control whic h was t h e c hief chara cte ri stic o f the lea rn in g
st a ge c a nn eve r be revived : th e fa c ul ty o f b a la nc e o nc e

a cquire d is a po ss e ssion which h e will c a r ry t o h is gra ve .

In this respect a ga in it presen ts a n ex a ct p a ra llel t o

s wimming a n d sk a ting .

One o ther interesting fa ct m a y be referred to a s proving

th e close a n d intrica te penetra tion o f t hi s a cquired s en se
i nto th e whol e phys ic a l system There is a very fa m il iar
.

cl ass o f drea m s inwh ic h the c ircum sta nces inwhich th e

d re a mer fi nd s him sel f pl a ced seem t o render a speedy a n d
p rolonged flight from one O bject o r a s im il a
,
r p ur s uit o f
a nother de s ira ble Most drea mers in th is c ase perform the
.

i m a gin a ry flight o r pursuit by the ordin a ry process o f

r unning a n ,
d when the dre a m a ssume s t h e le ss a gree a ble ,

but m ore sha rply impressive form o f nightm a re we fa ncy

e ither tha t o ur legs a re insome wa y p a ra lys ed a n d refuse
t o mo e or th a t they do i ndeed move o r m ove in va in
v , ,

be a ting the gro und yet m a ki ng no progress like a squirrel ,

o nh is wheel a n d a fter a na gony o f fra ntic running we fin

, d
th a t we h a ve h a rdly moved a t a ll from the s pot a t whic h
we sta rte d No w it is a rem a rk a ble fa ct th a t in the c a se
.
,

o f thos e who h a ve le a rnt t o bicycle a n d wh o 1i de with

'

tolera ble reg ul a rity bicycli ng not un , frequently t a ke s th e

4s C Y CLING CONS IDE RED IN ITS

o f ri d ing inwh ic h it is o nly too obvio us th a t n ea rly every

p r o m in e nt l i mb o f t h e b o d y is h a rd a t w o rk t h e l eg s as

h as be e n be fore re ma rked s eem t o be working up a n

, d
do wnwith th e fierc e reg ul a rity o f pi ston s th e a rm s though ,

at on e en d (as is n ec e ssa ry in th i s s ty le o f riding) firml y

rivet ed to th e h a ndle a re a llowed eve ry possibl e li c e n se o f
,

s houlder sh rug gi n g a t t h e o ther w h il s t th e trun k o f th e

-
,

bod y swa ys to a n d fro as i f it were a ninverte d pendul um

o r metro nom e inw hich th e h e a d pl a ys th e p a rt o f th e
,

weight a n , d so tra verses th e m a xim um a rc o f its swing .

To s uch a style o f ri ding as thi s n o n e would refuse th e ti t l e

o f exerci s e a n
, d if not pers i sted in t oo long it m a y n
,
o ,

d oubt be a ve ry hea lthy form o f it Th e o bj ecti on s to it

.

a re i n
, d eed mora l a nd m st lietic ra ther th a n hygienic
, In .

t h e eyes o f th e con scientious m echa nic it is unp ardon a bl e

a s vi ol a ti n g the fund a menta l a xiom s o f locomotive economy ,

whil st its irrepressible contraven tion o f e very c a non o f

hy ic a l gra ce not t o s a y modes ty rend e rs it o d io us inth e
p s , ,

eyes o f C ult ure a nd A rt B ut even in the ca se o f the skilled

.

an d c ultiva ted rider wh o knows th a t th e weight o f h is body

,

which i i n deed the m a i n s ourc e o f m otive power) c a nbe

( s

m os t e ffectively a pplied by minimi s ing it s motion a n d by ,

concentra ting its opera tion s in th a t portion o f it n a mely , ,

the foot a nd a nkle which lies nea rest to th e point o f

,

a pplica tion there is no doubt plenty o f loc a l m usc ul a r

,

a ctivity required t o en a ble him to m a int a in a fa ir p a ce a lon g

a s mooth ro a d ; whil s t the dem a n d s o n such a ctivity will

be enormously o r ra ther o ne m a y sa y i ndefinitely a ug
, ,

m en t e d by th e v a rio us obsta cles to be met with o n the ride ,

such as ro ugh surfa ce un fa voura ble gra dient a n

, d contra ry
,

wind All these obstruction s necessita te inc rea sed a pplic a

.

t ion o f motive power a dva ncing sooner o r la ter (a c c o rdi n

, g
t o the skill o f the rider) t o a sta ge in which a di sturba nce
o f the norm a l ba l a nce is involved At thi s sta ge recourse
.

is h a d to the a rm s o n which the d uty is then thrown

,

o f con st a ntly checking the ineq ua lity o f weight by t h e

a pplic a tion O f force t o the h a ndle S o ex a cti n

. g is this
d uty th a t if a fter a ride o f thi s de scription the bicycli st
, ,
 RE L A TIONS T0 HEA L TH .

were a sked to na me th a t po rtio n o f th e bo dy inwhich h e

felt th e s everest a ches th e more frequent reply would be
, ,

in the a rm s n ,
”
ot inth e l eg s
“ ”
.

It is worth whil e to s pe ci a lise a nother po int inwh ich th e

a c t o f riding a bicycle m a y undoubtedly be m a de t o
contribute to impo rta nt m uscula r development C ompa red .

with o ur forefa the rs we a re a d ege nera te ra ce We ca nnot .

even oc cupy a sitt ing pos ture without suc h support a s th ey

would h a ve di sda ined C ha irs with sh el ving ba cks no t t o
.
,

sa y e a sy ch a i rs ha ve l o ng a g o ta ke n th e pl a ce o f form s o r
,

o f th os e o ld c h a irs with ca rved stra ight ba c ks—so s tr a ight

—
tha t it wa s impossible to lea na ga i n st them wh ich a re the
pride o f Wa rdour Street No w the bicyclist occupies a
.

s ea t in which h is ba ck receives n o extern a l s upport wh a t

ever a lthough as h e is enga ged ih a ctive work a n

,
d n ot ,

mere ly s itting still it is clea r tha t if a n

, y o n e might fa irly
cl a im th e ind ulgence o f such support it woul d be h e , .

Here a ga in the e xp erience a nd testimony o f the lea rner

m a y be ca lled in t o ill us tra t e thi s point He will tell us
.

tha t long a fter he h as m a s tered h is ba l a nce a nd h a s even ,

a dva nced t o the st a ge o f t a king a d a ily ride o f modera te

dura t ion he will still feel cons idera ble fa tig ue in the loi ns
,

an d lower pa rt o f the b a ck and th e event ua l d is

a ppe a ra nce o f t hese symptom s is entirely d ue to the fa ct

th a t th e necess iti es o f the cas e h a ve compelled him to

develop new m usc ul a r forc es a bout the loin s a n d hips
which th us en a ble him to c a rry h is ba ck without a ny
further sen se o f its being a b urden to him Bicycli ng .
,

th ere fore m a y be recommended o nthe gro und th a t it give s

,

s trength to the b a ck as we ll a s to the a rm s a n d legs .

Th e mo s t promi n ent o f the p urely m uscul a r a dva nt a ges

o f bicycli n g ha ve been here e numera ted a n d it wo uld be
,

d iffi cult t o find a ny other p a s time inwhich such a ”wr oug h

n es s o f bodily exerci s e is a tt a in a ble Indeed it is thi s very
.

thoroughness which whil s t m a ki ng the pastime in thi s

, ,

p a rtic ul a r a s pect o f it so sa l uta ry con stit ute s a t the sa me

,

time its most likely source o f d a nger It is compa ra tively.

ea sy in bicycl ing to rea ch the st a ge o f fa tigue witho ut being

 C Y CLING CONS IDER ED IN ITS

fully a wa re of it ; there is peculi ar fas cina tion inth e

a

e xerci se a , c erta in b uoya ncy and e xh ila ra tion prod uced by

t h e m ot ion itse l f which di ve rts th e a tt e nti ono f the rider
,

from the fa ct tha t h e is getting tired whilst owing to thi s

”wr on g /m es s o f th e m us c u l a r exert ion e mploye d in i t t h e

s t a ge s a t which h ea lthy fa tigue b ecom es wea ri n ess an d ,

wea riness sink s into ex h a ustion follow e a ch oth e r perha ps

,

m ore r a pidly th a n inmost oth e r e x erci se s On th e othe r

.

h a nd it ough t n o t to be forgott en th a t in cyc li n g ea ch m a n

c a n c ut h is coa t a ccordi n
” ”
so to s pe a k g to h is cloth
“
, , .

T he cricketer is und er a n o bliga tion to pl a y the innings

o ut ; th e o a rsm a n if he be memb e r o f a crew m us t fi ni sh

the course ; the footba ll pl a yer c a nh a rdly lea ve th e fi eld

until the go a l is wo n The ordin a ry cycli st however is
.
, ,

quite independent o f a ll such con sidera tion s He is a lwa ys .

free t o se t him sel f a long o r a short dista nce t o ch o o se a n ,

easy o r a diffic ult ro a d to ride with the w ind or a ga in st

, ,

a ccordi n g to the preci se a mount o f exerci se th a t on a ny

given da y he m ay fa irly require o r feel hea lthily inclined
fo r ; n a y more should he find th a t h e h as o ve rc a lc ula t e d
,

h is w a n ts o r powers he c a n interpol a te a di s mo un t a nd a
rest a t h is will a nd ple as ure o r even curt a il h is co urse
,

a ltoge ther . Th e d a nger o f fa tigue then is in n o s en se a

nec essa ry concomita nt o f the p as time ; it is in fa ct a lwa ys

a void a ble by the exerci s e o f di s cretion a n d c a re a n d the,

only duty th a t the a dvoc a tes o f cycling ha ve to perform in

thi s m a tter is to ca ll a ttention to it as a poss ible ri sk a nd ,

to endea vour to impress o n th e cycling publi c th e

desira bility o f thei r e mploying a n a dequa te degree o f
ca ution with rega rd to it . Th e mere development o f
cycling h as o f itsel f go ne fa r to reduce this d a nger to a
minim um . Ten ye a rs a g o when th e poss es sion o f a
,

bicycle a nd o f the skill to use it wa s compa ra tively e x c ep

t io n a l eve ry s uch po sse ssor wa s n a tura lly tempted to m a ke
,

the most o f h is distinctive pos ition a n d pers on a l em ul a tion

,

wa s then t o a gre a t exte n t the r uling passion which dicta ted

p a ce a nd dista nce B ut m a tters a re q uite cha nged now ;
.

the gl a mour o f novelty n o longe r surro und s th e a rt n o r a re ,

 C Y CL ING C ONS IDE R ED IN ITS

hea vier weight to be pro pe lled a n d g rea ter frictio n to ,

c o nte nd a g a i n st On th e other ha nd it is fa r e a sier fo r the

.

t ricycli st to h usba nd a n d e conomi se h is stren gt h When .

h is co urse is hea vy o r if o bsta cles ha ve to be surm oun

, ted ,

h e c a n drive h is m a chine a s s lowly as h e likes a n d e ve n

brin g it to a rest a t a ny moment whi le th e bicyclist o nth e ,

o th er h a nd m ust keep up a certa i n pa ce in o rder to

m a inta in a n equilibrium a nd in mounting a hill fo r , ,

in sta nce will ofte n fi nd it necessa ry to exert himsel f fa r

,

m o re th a n th e tricycli st notwi thsta nding th e grea te r weigh t

,

‘
th e l a tte r will h a ve to de a l w ith .

Up to th is point the preci se na ture o f th e e xercise i tse l f ,

an d th e m usc ul ar efl o rts impli ed in it ha ve alon e been

'

under con s id era tion but there a re o th e r points invo lved in

th e a ccompa n ying condition s o f cycling which h a ve a
dire ct bea ring o nth e question o f its hy g i e nic va lue No .

S o m e suc h c on si dera tio n s as th o se a bove are obvi o usly n ec es sa r y

to ac c oun t fo r th e fa c t th a t , n o twith sta n di n g th ese di fferen c es o f wei h t
g
an d fri c ti o n , th e fe a t s o f lo n g
-d i s t a n c e r i d i n g r ec e n tl y p e rf o r m ed o nth e

tri c yc le do n ot fa ll so very far sh o rt o f th o se perfo rm ed o nth e bi c yc le

,

th e m a x im um dista n c es h ith erto c o vered by 2 4 h ours o f ridi n o nth e

g
h ig h ro a d bein g 2 2 2 m il es o n t h e for m er , a g na i st 2 60 o nth e la tt er .

R eg arded m erely a s a n ex erc ise bi c y c lin g po ssesses so m e m o st n u

u t i n a ble po in t o f s u e ri o rity o ver t ri c yc lin O n a c c o un t o f th e
q es o s p g.

ba la n c in g re q u i re d , th e b i c y c li s t h a s t o e m p lo y h i s b o d y ina far m o re
th oro ug h a n d c om pli c a ted m a n ner th a nth e tric yc list being sea ted
fa rth er a wa y from th e dust o f th e ro ad h e brea th es a purer a ir an d
th e Oppo rtun iti es h e g a in s fo r th e de velo pm en t of nerve a nd
p lu c k ( p
see p 5
. 2 -
5 7 ) a r e f ar g r e a t er
. O n t h e o t h er h a n d t ri c y c lin
g
i s un do ubted ly a tten ded with less person a l ri sk ; th e ri der c a nsla c ke n

up an d rest a t an y m o m e n t w i th o u t th e tr o u b l e o f d i sm o u n t i ng , a nd th e
fa tig ue o f rem oun ti n g ; a n d h e c a n c arry m o re lug g a g e wi th h im .

Th ese two la tter poin ts a re o f c o urse o f c o n si dera ble pra c t i c al i m

p o r ta n c e in a tour . B u t i t m u st be rem em bered th a t if a n da m a e

y g
sh o uld o c c ur to th e m o re c o m pli c a ted m a c h in e it will be m o re d i ffi c ult

an d c o stly to g et it set rig h t th a t its c o n veya n c e, wh enn o t pro pelle d

b y th e rider ( as inth e c ase o f a very steep h ill), is a m o re tro uble so m e

busin ess ; th a t it is h arder to ste e r ; a n d, la stly, th a t stretc h e s o f ro a d

m a y o ft en be foun d ( t i c u larly in th e m e n d i n a so n s) w h ere
p a r g s e

on ly a n arro w slip of ri da ble surfa c e i s left, wh i c h th o ug h suffi c i e n t

fo r a bi c y c le, m a y n o t be w ide e n o ug h to provi de th e d o uble tra c k

required by th e bro a der m a c h in e

.
 R E L A TIONS TO HE A L TH .

e xe rc ise c a ncl a i m a rea lly hig h ra nk inth e l ist o f ben e fi c ia l

pa stim es unless it be take n o ut o f doo rs In th e ir purely

, .

m usc ula r as pec t s no d o ubt m a ny a c tive a m use m en ts m a y

, ,

fa irly vie wi th o r po ssibly surpas s cy cling ; but few i f ,

an y c a n a pp ro a c h it in e xcell e nc e a s a m ea n s f b t i nin
, o o a g
fres h a ir . Th e a ir which we brea the is a s a ll kn ow , ,

po ll uted a n d re n dered una va i l a bl e for o ur furthe r use by

th e v ery a c t o f brea th ing it a n d j ust inpro po rtiona s wh a t is
,

sc i e nti fi c a lly kn o wn a s di ffusion ta kes pl a c e will th e a ir in

whi c h o ur e x erc ise is pe rform ed be benefi ci a l o r th e reverse .

Th e exerci ser o f the g ymn as i um a re more ex ha usting

t h a n th o se o f rive r fi eld o r ro a d bec a use o f th e in fe ri or
, , ,

d ifl usio n o f a ir unde r which they

'

c ondition s a s rega rd s

o ften h a ve to be pe rform ed Inth e ordin a ry vi ew a ll a i r is

.

go o d which is no t pos itive ly inj urious but this view is very

,

sh a llow a n d imperfect The ques tion o f a ir is a nything

.

but a purely n ega tive o n e There is a n infin

. it ude o f
h yg i e n ic di st a nce between a n a ir which is c a p a ble o f
be sto wing the grea test a mount o f positive be nefit a nd ,

on e which o n ly pa sses m uster a s inno c uous Even in th e .

c a s e o f o ut d oo r exerci se s it is imposs ible to m a inta in th a t

-
,

th ey a ll st a nd o n p reci s ely th e sa m e l evel in th i s respe ct .

Th ough none would ques tion th e benefici a l cha ra cter o f

an y op e n a ir p u r suit s till r ela ti vely it m a y be sa fely
,

a ffi rm ed th a t o nthi s point o f p urity o f a ir o n e is hea lthier ,

th a n a n o ther a nd tha t th a t form is a bsolutely th e hea l thiest

,

which in s ur es th e m ost rapid pa ss ag e through it With .

o ut w i s hing to la y und ue s tres s o n th is point o r to ,

se em to in s i s t o n a no ver re fin ed a n
-
d unpra ctica l a pplic a
tion o f th eoretica l niceties t o a m a tter in wh ich rough
gene ra l prin ciples a re a suffi cient g uid e it m a y be pointed ,

o ut t h a t th a t s peci a l feeling o f buoya ncy a n d exhil a ra tion

which is so ch ara cteri stic o f hors e exercise a nd cycling is -

m o s t p ro b a bly d ue to their superior a dva nta ges in thi s

p a rt i c ul a r res pec t . Wh e re st rong e x ercise is t a ken in close

conti guity with o thers as in the fo otba ll mel ee o r even in

, ,
’
a bo a t s cr e w t h e co ndition o f th e a ir influenced as it is
, ,

no t o nly by respira tion but a l so by the wa ste o f ti ss ue

,
”
,
48 C Y CL ING C ONS IDE R E D IN ITS

ca nnot po ssibly be a s in vigora ting a s th a t brea the d by th e

c y c li st i nh is iso l a ted a n d ra pid passa ge th rough it a n d
howe ver m uch h e m a y ta x h is physica l powers inc rea ting
the moti on tha t very m o tio npro vides h im wi th m ea ns o f
,

rec up era t io n o f a n e xce ptio n a lly e ffec t ive kin d A s an .

ex erc ise then which c a nbe ta ken und e r th e m o st fa vo ur

, ,

a bl e conditi o n s as rega rd s p uri t y o f ai r c ycling m us t ra n k

,

as high a s a n y A . hor se m a y i nde e d t a k e h is rider a s

—
ra pidly thro ugh th e ai r fo r a very short di sta nce eve n
more ra pidly— but th e a ir brea thed tho ugh ina nordin a ry ,

s en se p ure a n d fresh is undo ubtedly (owing to a nim a l

,

eva pora tion ) less so th a n th a t inh a l ed by the c ycli st whil s t ,

the limit o f dis ta n c e fo r which such s peed c a nbe m a i nta i n ed

is fa r m o re ra pidly rea ch ed a n d fo r a n
, yth ing over fi fteen
miles the c ycli st will in most ca ses h a ve th e und o ubte d
a dva nt a ge inthi s res p ect ove r t h e eq ues tr ia n .

B ut there is y et a no ther point conn ected wi th t hi s

question of a ir A ir m a y be perfectly unconta min a ted a n
. d
fre sh o f its ki nd a n d yet va ry ve ry con sid e ra bly in its
,

hygienic properties Th e term s brac ing ai r a nd re

.
”
,

l a xing a ir a re h o usehold words with a ll o f us a nd a ,

ch a nge o f a ir is o n
,
”
e o f the most a ppro ved prescription s o f

t h e fa mily physic ia n No w thi s is a remedy which th e

.
,

cycl ist c a n more eas ily pro c ure th a n a n y o ne S uch a .

ch a nge as is suffi cient fo r most hyg ien ic purpo s es c a n

genera lly be o bta ine d within a m uch s m a ll er d ista nce tha n
is often i m a g ined A very slight a ltera tion in level s o r in
. ,

soil s a n d geologica l form a ti on will O ften e fl e c t as gre a t a

'

contrast in the cha ra cter o f th e a ir a t 1 0 miles di sta nce a s

a t 10 0 ; a n d a d a y s q uiet ra mb le o nwheel s ina di st rict
’

which it wi ll only ta ke the cycli st perh a ps a n ho ur t o

rea ch a nd a t th e end o f which h e will ha ve h is o wnhome
,

c om forts to return to m a y o ften prove more effica cious a s

,

well a s more eco n o mic a l th a n a week a t a fas hion a ble w a ter

in - pl a c e with a ll th e tro ubles o f t h e move a n d t h e poss ible
g
d i sc om forts a n d ris k s o f a stra nge l o dgi n g Fo r tho se.

a ga in wh o live in town s o r wh o h a ve d uring the gre a ter

,

p a rt o f th e da y t o bre a the a n a i r th e o z one o f wh ic h

 C Y CL ING C ONS IDE R E D IN ITS

su ch like g a m es th e morning g ras s is to o hea vy with dew ,

even if th e necessa ry compa ny o f pl a yers co uld be g o t

to gether a t tha t ho ur A morning row h a s to be ta ke nin
.

a morning mi st the fleec y c url s o f which as they floa t

,

a lo n g the surfa ce o f la ke or river a re more picturesq ue

th a n s a l ubrious Fo r a ride on horseba ck a ga i n the
.
, ,

ride r is m a i nly dependent upon the ea rly ris i ng a nd

p un c t ua lity o f h is groo m B ut the cycli st o n the ot her
.
,

h a nd is a bsol utely independent o f eve ry o ne a nd every

,

thing sa ve the wea ther a nd he c a ns ta rt when a nd whither

, ,

he will with no necessity fo r a ny previous a rra ngement o f

an y kind . E ven sho u ld he c o n templ a te a s omewh a t lo nger
an d fa ster s pin th a n c a n be j udicio usly ta ke n upon a n
empty stom a ch a mere crus t o f brea d a n
, d a gl a ss o f mil k
pl a ced rea dy fo r him overnight will be suffi cient t o wa rd o ff
a ll feeling o f fa intn e s s until the h o ur o f s ub s ta nti a l bre a k

fa st is d ue . Medic a l science a ssure s us th a t the morning

a ir is litera lly indeed a n d n o t merely figura tively mea t
an d drink a n
”
, d it is its el f ca p a ble o f giving be tter suste
an ce to the bod y th a n m a ny a brea k fast h a stily sn a tched
by the l a te ri ser in h is hurried tra n sit from bed to busi ness .

An exerci se which c a n be so ea sily employed a s a ne n

c o ura g e m e n t to the form a tio no f thi s h a bit o f e a rly ri s ing ,

an d which c a nprovide the mea n s o f introd uci n g a copious

d ra ught o f morning a ir into th e l ungs a t the cost o f such
very slight physica l exertion des erves to sta nd extremely
high in hygienic estim a tio n .

The re m a rk s hitherto m a de on the subject o f cycling in

its connection with he a lth h a ve de a lt only with t wo a s pects
o f it,
its merits as a nexercis e o f the m us c ula r fra me a n , d
the be nefici a l cha ra cter o f the a tmospheric conditions under
which it c a nbe ta ken ; but thes e a re no t its only a s pects .

No exerci se c a nbe con s idered to be o f a goo d repres enta

tive type unless it c a n be shown to bea r sa ti sfa ctory
re l a tion s to some o f th e higher fa ctors o f the h um a n
orga nisa tion In o ur compo site constitution mind a nd
.

bo dy rea ct upon one a nother with such a nicety o f a ssoci a ted

i nfl uences th a t there is a lwa y s a strong (2 pr ior i pre sum p
 R E L A TIONS TO HE A L TH
.

tion a ga inst the s uc cess o f a n y co urs e or s y s tem inwhich

either o f them fa ll to se c ure a due meas ure o f co nsidera tio n .

From a purely physica l point o f vie w it is quite conceiva ble

th a t the trea dmill m a y be a most a dmira ble form o f e x e r
cise but he a lth is not solely a q uestion o f s inews m uscle s , ,

an d l un gs a nd a pa rt from providing a deq ua te employment

, ,

fo r the s e it is e ss enti a l to a good p a stime th a t it should n

, ot

merely p a ss the time but should pass it ple a sa ntly a nd

bri skly ; a dull a nd monotonous e xercise c a n never be a
hea lth givi ng one G a mes such a s footba ll hockey a nd
- .
, ,

lac ros se th e e ss ence o f wh ich con s is ts in const a nt individ ua l

,

comp e titi o n a nd i nwh ic h e a ch pl a yer is not only exerting

,

him s el f but exerting him sel f with the direct view o f in

dividua lly a chieving a defi nite object a t the expense o f h is
oppo nent h a ve a most import a nt va l ue in this respect E a ch
, .

m usc ul a r movement is asso ci a ted with a p urpose a nd a de sire

which give s a s tim ul us a n d a ze s t to the whole O pera tion
there is a lw a y s s omething to think a bo ut in it— som ethi ng ,

too which is ever shifti ng a nd cha nging with eve ry v a ryi ng

,

pha se a nd t urn o f the ga m e Nothing o f thi s preci se n a t ure

.

c a nbe cl a imed fo r ordin a ry cycl ing a ltho ugh of co urs e the

,

competition a nd exciteme nt o f a c ycl e r a c e is very keen ;

the intere st o f cycling is not so m uch i nherent in the occ up a
tionitsel f : it is m a i nly derived from its surroundings In .

thi s p a rticul a r point indeed it res e m ble s wa lki ng but with ,

this import a nt di fference th a t th e i nterest is m ultiplied by

,

the exce ss o f the pa ce a t which it is performed A wa lk .

,

i ndeed m a y Ofte nbe a d ull a ff a ir the fixed na tura l Obj ects

,

pa ss ed d uri ng it m a y be too fa mili a r to the wa lker who ,

from the comp a ra tively limit e d a re a a t h is c o mm a nd h a s O f

necessity to tra verse the sa me ground s omewha t frequently
or a ga i n the va ri a ble obj ects such a s p a ss ers by m a y not
'

, . ,
,

pre se nt them selves in sufficiently ra pid success ionto relieve

the monotony B ut the cyclist with h is fa r grea ter
.

loco motive power need never find h is ride d ull The longer .

ra nge a t h is comm a nd provide s him with a fa r less

exh a ustible va riety o f ro utes whi lst the more ra pid
p a ce a t which he moves proportion a tely m ulti plies the
E
5 2 C Y CL ING C ONS IDE R E D IN ITS

n umber o f living object s o f intere st which he p a ss e s in

a g iven tim e so th a t the mi n
, d is supplied with a consta nt
s ucce ss ion o f occ a s ion s fo r e ffortle ss a n d ple a sa n t O bse r
va ti o n Thes e rem a rks a re m a de in view o f ordi na ry
.

cycling only ; in a tour where the gro und tra versed is

,

itsel f perfectly ne w the stim ul us to ment a l i nterest is o f

,

course grea ter s till B ut let us suppos e the ra ther ex

.

c e p t io na l c a s e o f a cycli s t who is m a ki n g a n extremely

fa mili a r ro und in which the livi n g o bjects o f i ntere s t present
them selves a t so m ewh a t remote i nterva l s E ven in such .

a ca se a s thi s h is mind will not be wholly un occupie d for ,

the m a n a gement o f the m a chi ne itsel f e speci a lly if it be a

,

bicycl e dem a nds some a mo unt o f a ttenti o n L oos e sto nes

, .
,

ruts a nd the thousa nd a nd one fea t ures which distingui sh

,

a n ordi n a ry highw a y from a na s ph a lte p a th will a t a n , y

ra te keep h is a ttentions ufli c ie ntly e nga ge d to preve nt the
we a ri ness a ri s i ng from a bsol ute va cuity Be sides it m a y
.
,

be remembered th a t there a re a cl a s s o f perso n s such a s,

st ud e n ts te a chers a uth o rs a nd the like fo r who se co nsta ntly

, , ,

o cc upie d a n d po ss ibly excit a ble bra i ns ome such interva l s

o f c om p a ra tive pas s ivity a n d quie sce n ce a re in them selves
a he a lthy c h a n g e ; fo r s uch a s the s e a n exerci s e which will
m a k e no ex a cti ng dem a nd s upo nthe bra i n but will give it ,

j u s t e no u gh o f mech a nic a l empl o ym e nt a s, it were t o ,

pre vent it s p ursui ng the tra ck o f it s o w n fa ncies a nd

’
,

re p ro d uci ng the a ctivities o f the desk o r lect ure ro o m will -

,

O fte nbe fo und i nva l ua ble .

Th e re is yet a nother o f the a cco mp a nyi ng conditio ns o f

cycli ng which is o f sufficient import a nce to deserve mention
, .

It wo uld be a serious a n d mi s t a k e nlimit a tio no f the ter m

hea lth if we were to restrict its re fere nce to tho se
”
,

conditions o f bodily function or orga nis m only which a re

c a p a ble so to s pea k o f preci s e phys iologica l demonstra ti o n .

There is such a conti nuity O f rel a ti o nship betwee n the

v a rio us pa rt s a nd as p e cts which g o to form th a t com p os ite
wh ole which we ca ll the constit ution o f a m a n th a t to ,

co nfi ne c urs e lve s to wh a t wo uld be genera lly understood

a s the p ure ly ph s ic a l s ide o f t h e q ue s ti o n wo uld be to g ive
y ,
54 C Y CL ING C ONS IDER E D IN ITS

or th a t o f others m a y depend entire ly uponthe coura ge a nd

d e ci sion with which they a re inst a nta neously fa ced It is then .

by no me a ns a piece o f futile or as s ome would sa y c ulp

, ,

a ble foolh a rdine ss if we a llow ours elve s occ a s ion a lly to

,

y ield to such fa scin a tion a nd delibera tely set o ur fa ces to

,

w a rds p ursuits inwhich a cert a i na mount o f risk form s a

po ssible if no t prob a ble element The mounta ineer whe n
, , .
,

he returns a fter a month o f g r a ndes c our ses inthe high

A lps not only brings ba ck with h im tha t renewed physica l
,

s trength which gl a cier a ir a n d the a ct ua l exercis e o f climb

ing h a ve impa rted but h a s a l so a cq uired th a t buoya ncy o f
,

tone a n d coura ge o f hope which is bred o f d a ngers fea r

lessly met a nd skil fully overcome There is indeed such a .

thi ng as c ulpa ble ris k running it a ri ses when ris ks a re

-

vol unta rily courted under such conditions as would render

a succe ssful enco un ter with th em obviously hopeless The .

grea t m ajority o f Alpine a ccidents ha ve bee n d ue to a wa nt

o f j udgme n t a s rega rd s thes e condition s Persons ess a y
.

l a bori o us a nd difli c ult expeditions wh o a re ei ther phys ica lly

‘

uneq ua l to th a t ki n d O f ta sk to st a rt with or who entirely

,

mi sca lc ul a te their powers o f end ura nce init The climb to .

the sum m it h a s exh a usted them a nd they ha ve no rese rve

,

left with which to meet th e fa r m o re h a z a rdous opera tion

o f the de s cent a n
, d when the difli c ulty comes upon them
they a re in such a sta te o f coll a pse from fa tigue tha t a ll :

promptitude o f a ction is impossible ; their whole system

is un strung a n d o ut o f tune a n d the n , ec essa ry ha rmony
between bra in nerve a nd m uscle cea ses fo r the time to
, ,

exi st B ut where due rega rd is pa id to these conditions

.
,

fe w thi n gs a re so bra cing a nd invigora ting to the whole con

—
st itut io n me n ,
a a ,
s a —
t a l mor l nd p y ic l as the se moments
h
o f li fe in which the stronge st force s o f a m a n a re revealed

in one insta nt a neous effort a nd in w hich mi nd will a nd

, , ,

m uscle c o mbining wi th the most delic a te a cc ura cy o f a dj ust

,

ment in a fl a sh a s it were o f a ss oci a ted impul s e c a rry him

, , ,

s ucce s s fully thro ugh the orde a l th a t fa ce s him M o me nts

.

s uch a s the se a re w o rth d a y s o f ordi n a ry li ving ; they a re

not only a bsorbed i nto the system a n d becom e a re sul ta nt

 RE L A TIONS TO HEA L TII.

s ource o f s ponta neo us a nd un c on sc iou s in fl uen ce but im ,

pressed a s they a re indelibly o n th e m em ory th e rec o llec

tion o f them s erves to give c on sc i ous con fi dence a n d en
c o urag e m e nt a nd to tim l te to s tronger hea rt ed a c t ion in
s, u a -

gra ppling with m a ny a di ffi culty o f o rdina ry socia l or pro

fe ssio n a l li fe It is obvio usly i m pos sibl e to provide by a n
.
y
a rtifi c i a l me a n s opport uni ties fo r th us ca lli n g these qua lities
into a ction Their very essence consists in their a ris ing
.

un e x pectedly ; to crea te them o f set purpose to m a ke the m ,

to order s o to s pea k would a t o nce ro b them of a ll their

, ,

virtue We c a nonly e duca te o ur n

. erve by ind ulgi n g in
pa stimes in which such o cc as ion s are likely to a ri se
—
n a tura lly o f t hem selves o c ca s ion s we m ea n which with
, , ,

o ut being o f a n y s uch terrible ch a r a cter as to p a r a ly s e its

a ction a n,
d as we sa y
,
unne rve us should be suffi ciently
, ,

exciti ng to s tir us up a n d force it into a ction Bicycling .

,

es pecia lly a t th e outs et is prolific o f occa s ion s such a s

,

these a nd a very l o ng a pprenticeship h a s to be se rved be

, ,

fore t hey lo s e their potence a n d th a t pe rfection o f s kill is

,

rea ched in which th e power o f dea ling with them becomes

a b s ol utely a utom a tic Inth e te n
. ta tive sta ges o f h is ca reer
the bicycli s t is con sta ntly tryi ng new ventures a nd e x pe ri ,

m en ti n o nva rio us degrees o f ro ugher s urfa ces deeper ruts

g , ,

st eeper gra d ients ( both up a nd down) a nd finer fea ts o f

steering : little o r n o time fo r delibera tio nis o ften given in

such ca s es ; promptit ude o f deci s ion a n d wha t is commonly

k nown a s pl uck a re the requi sites o f th e moment there
is a nin s ta n ta neo us ca ll fo r the exercise o f a ll the co olness
an d s kill a t comm a nd The bicycli st h a s one grea t a d
.

va nta ge inthi s pa rticul a r bra nch o f h is ed uca tion he h as

.

a nincentive to pers evera nce which is not o ften pre sent i n

In mo st in sta nces to t urn one s ba ck upo n a

’
such c a s es . ,

d ifli c ulty is n o t on ly a sa fe but a n e asy a nd co m fo rta bl e

proce ss but th e bicyclis t c a no nly e sca pe a t the expen se o f
a di s mo unt which tho ugh a lwa ys poss ible is not a lwa ys
,

eas y a t a sudden j unct ure a nd ina n y ca

, s e it e nt a il s the
pena lty o f re mounting which is never welcome a nd often
-
,

the ro d be ro gh an d wind strong

) di ffic lt even
( if a u u o r im
5 6 C Y CL ING CO NS IDE R E D IN ITS

possible In thi s wa y he ca rries with him h is o w nwhip

.

an d s pur so to spe a k to stim ul a te him to h is be s t a n

, ,
d
boldest e fforts a nd so long a s h is j udgme nt does not con
,

vince him tha t a dismount is the only poss i ble course open
to him depend upon it in the m a jority o f c a s e s it will be
,

the l a st he will a dopt The experience o f bicyclists will be

.

found to be pra ctica lly un a nimous in thi s m a tter a n d a ll ,

will remember occa sions upon which a d iscovery o f s ome

fresh resource o f strength a n d s kill h a s been as it were
forced upon them a n d they h a ve th us be en led to fa ce a n
, d
a chieve a fe a t which a t the moment h a d a ll the a p p e a ra n ce
to them o f being extremely di ffi c ult if not bordering o n ,

the imposs ible Ha d it no t bee ntha t the only other cours e

.

wa s a di s m ount they wo uld ve ry likely h a ve shirk ed th e

,

test a nd thus lost the ch a nce o f increas ing their experien c e

,

an d confidence .

The spirit o f enterpri se a nd the rea diness to fa ce ri sks in

m a tters o f vol unta ry e ff o rt o r a m usement h a s bee n o ften

commented o n as a di sti nctive ch a ra cteri stic o f o ur o w n

yo uth as c omp a red with th a t o f other na tio ns ; it m a y be
tha t we a re und uly egoti stic a l inm a king such a comp a ri son ,

an d th a t it involve s perh a p s a somewh a t un fa ir di sp a ra ge

ment o f o ur neighbours ; but there c a n be little doubt
th a t it is owi ng to thi s ha bit o f res ol ute a nd coura geo us
deci sion in th e fa ce o f d iflfic ulties th a t o ur pl a ce in the world
a s a n a tion is m a i n ly d ue a nd th a t ga m es a nd exerci ses
,

which in them selves te nd to fo ster such a ha bit furni sh a n ,

importa nt co ntribution to na ti o n a l a s well as individ ua l

he a lth Not lo ng a g o the writer wa s bei ng driven in a
.

H a nsom down St M a rti ns L a ne to C ha ri ng C ross betwee n

.
’

eleven a nd twelve o clo c k in the d a y It wa s a cold soppy

’
.

da y a n , d the street (which wa s then p a ved with gra n ite )

w a s a s gre a sy a nd slip p ery a s it well co uld be ; the tra ffi c ,

to o wa s un us ua lly gre a t s o gre a t th a t a na ct ua l block h a d

, ,

occ urred a nd the c a b wa s sta ti o na ry wa iti ng fo r it to clea r

, , .

J ust a t th a t mome nt a bicycli st p a ssed by dexterously ,

threa di ng h is wa y a m o ng ca rts ca bs a nd omnibuses , ,

a ltho ugh they seemed to be so thickly j a mmed together

5 8 C Y CL ING CONS IDE R E D IN ITS

rive r ,
nd if we c o uld only p urch a se the plea sure o f a ro w
a
’
a t th e expen s e o f a go od hour s w a lk ea ch wa y we should
’
proba bly be inclined to put th e oa rsm a n s pa stime in the
ca tegory o f enj oymen ts which were entirely beyond o ur
rea ch ; but a cyclist riding h is m a chine a t a nea sy pa ce will
be rea dy to ta ke h is sea t in the bo a t in less th a n h a l f th a t
time a nd will be nea rly a s fresh fo r the work a s if he h a d
,

j ust stepped a cross h is ga rden to the river s ide And wh a t .

on e cycli s t c a ndo a nother c a n a n

,
d will so tha t in pl a ces
,

where it would otherwi se be impossible to get a n eight ”

o r even a four together a crew c a nbe m ustered with

,

a lmost a s little tro uble a s i f the members were living in the

sa me vill a ge or town a n
’
d within but a fe w minute s w a lk o f
,

the w a ter And so a ga in in the c a se o f a ll other form s o f

.

a m usement in which a ssoci a tion is a nece ss ity such a s foot ,

ba ll cricket l a wn tenni s etc th is enla rg em ent of th e a r ea of

, ,
- .
,

c om bin a tion which is m a de poss ible by cycling m ust

enormously m ultiply the ch a nces a nd opp o rtunities fo r
’
introd ucing v a riety into the a thletic dieta ry The cycli st s .

m uscles should never get st a le or hypertrophied if they do ,

it will be h is own fault a nd no t a necessa ry result o f cycling

itsel f Aga in in m a king h is own s pecia l form o f exerci s e
.
,

a ncill a ry t o others he increa s es its inhere nt va l ue fo r

,

a ride wi th a n objec t especi a lly a plea s a nt object is a

, ,

he a lthier beca use a more interesting b usi ne ss tha n a ride

without o n e On th e wa y the mind is occupied with
.

le a sura ble a nticip a tion s o f meeting friend s or c a lc ul a tion s

p ,

a bo ut th e ch a nces o f the m a tch ; whil s t enjoya ble rec o lle c

tion s o f the sc ene in which he h a s j ust beenta ki ng pa rt will

a ccomp a n y th e cycli st o nh is return .

It is time however to touch upon s ome other Objection s

, ,

th a t h a ve been occa siona lly urge d a ga in st cycli ng One o f .

those which obta i ned th e e a rliest currency wa s th a t it is

ca lcul a ted to prod uce severe interna l stra i ns a nd herni a .

N ow it is beyond question th a t with a bicycle there is some

ri sk o f thi s inthe c a se o f those enth usi a stic a spira nts who
a re a lw a ys a ddi n g inch to inch o f their wheel di a meter a nd -
,

wh o will n o t be contented un til they po sse ss a m a c hine the

 R E L A TIONS TO HE A L TH .

trea dl es which it is j ust po ssibl e fo r the m to kee p the ir

of

fe et o n a n d n o mo re On s mooth le vel g ro und these

.

a dve n turers will ride a long glibly a nd ea si ly eno ug h ; but

whena ny rea l work is requi red o f the m the n th e s tra i nis ,

more th a n the y c a nfa irly m eet the streng th they put o ut

,

is not br oug h t c los e en oug h t o it s wor k ther ,e a re g a p s in th e

contin uity o f m uscul a r ene rgy whic h ha ve to be bridged
over a nd m uscul a r jerk ta kes th e pl a c e o f stea dy m usc ula r
,

pressure Under these circumst a nces it is q uite po ss ible

.

tha t i n j urio us results m a y be produced Or a ga in th e a c t .

, ,

o f s pringing into a sa ddle which is be yond fa ir re a ch m a

y
be a no cc a s i o n though not so likely a o n
, e o f a stra in
, B ut .

these d a nge rs a re incidenta l no t to c ycling but to ill ,

a dvi s ed a n d inj udicio us cycling ; th e a vera ge cycli s t wh o i s

not the victim o f such va ulti ng a mbition run s no such
“ ”

risk Wh a t wa s formerly the most fertile source o f mischief

.
,

the ha bit o f stra ining the leg ba ckwa rds fo r the step in
di sm o unting a n d sometime s from fa il ure to get full hold
,

o f it s uddenly s lipping o ff it h as long since gone o ut o f

,

fa shi o n the only ch a nce O f a n y s uch s tra in occ u rring now

is in the c a s e o f some re a l a ccident in which the bicycle is
ca used suddenly to fa ll over s i d e w ay s — a s omewh a t r a re
o cc urren c e— an d the rid e r stretc h es h is leg o ut tow a rd s the
ground to brea k the fa ll B ut e x ception a l i n
. c ide n ts suc h
a s the se a re common t o m o s t p a s tim es ; neit h er c on s iderin ,
g
the en o rmous milea ge co vered by th e cyc le in the course
o f the ye a r is the percent a ge o f re a l a ccident a nythin
,
g
notice a ble : tha t perce nta ge would h a ve to be very l a rgely
i ncre a sed be fore it rea ched a figure which wo uld be wo rth
ta ki ng i ntoa ccount when compa red with the gre a t a nd soli d
be nefits which the pa stime undoubtedly c on fers .

Another possible source o f i n j ury h a s been m ateri a lly

dimi ni she d by improved mech a nica l con struction The .

vibra tionwhich is s ometimes c rea ted by the p a ssa ge o f th e

cycle over rough surfa ces a nd which wa s formerly to a
grea t exte nt comm unica te d thro ugh the backbone a n d
s ri n
p g o f the m a chi ne to t h e ba ckbon e o f the rider h a s

bee nsen sibly dimi n i shed by th e m ethod rec e n tly a d o pted

 C Y CL ING C ONS IDE RE D IN ITS

of sus pendi n g o r isol a ting the spring by mea s o f indi a n

r ubber rings ; by thi s a tta chment a nd by th e very a bun
,

d a nt supply o f vulca nis ed in d ia rubber to th e tyre s o f th e

wheels vibra tion is now a lmost entirely c ut o ff a nd it is ,

q u ite conceiv a bl e t h a t f urther a pplic a tion s o f the s a me

principle m a y ultima tely remove every tra ce o f it Still .
,

fo r the p re sent in long ride s when the fra me becomes s o

, ,

fa tig ued as to be a bnorm a lly sen s itive to such j a rring it is ,

un do ubtedly well to be a r thi s m a tter in mind a nd to a void

,

ridi ng a t a ll rapidly over surfa ces such a s gra nite

cross ings o nwhich the jolti ng will be proportion a te to the
,

ra pidity o f p a ssa ge ; a nd sho uld the surfa ce o f the ro a d be

co nti nuo usly l umpy fo r a ny long di sta nce (as is o ften th e
ca se in th e neighbourhoo d o f l a rge town s where th e
m a c a d a m gets honeycombed by the combi ned opera tion
o f the wa ter ca rt s a n —
d hea vy t ra ffic ) it would be well in
extreme c a ses to di smount occa sion a lly a nd w a lk a little
,

wa y j ust to bre a k the s pell a s it were o f thi s di sa gree

, , ,

a ble vibra tion . Thi s sh o uld inva ri a bly be done if th e

rider feel s fa gged a nd j a d e d When the body is in a
.

fres h a n d vigoro us con dition there is a pli a nt el a sticity

a bo ut it which en a ble s it o f its el f to re si st the e fl e c ts o f
'

thi s vibra tion ; its o wn sys tem o f b uffers a nd dis con

nec tin g s pring s i s the n in fu ll a nd b u oy a nt oper a tion ; b ut
it is fa r otherwise d uri ng the l as t miles o f a long ride ,

an d a cycli st who m a y h a ve ridden fi fty mile s wi thout the

s lighte s t h a rm m a y ex p o s e him s el f to th e ch a n ce o f seri o us
mi s chie f in the next five unle ss he bea rs thi s imp o rt a nt
p ri n ciple fully in mind . I t need h a rdly be p o i nted o ut
th a t the a bove ca utionh a s a speci a l signific a nce inthe c a s e
o f cycli st s who h a ve a rrived a t th a t period o f li fe a t whic h

the m a chinery o f the body h a s a lrea dy begunto los e its

e l a s ticity from n a t ura l c a use s .

We h a ve seen it urged a s a n o ther objection to bicycling

th a t it is confining to the chest a nd h as a tendenc y to
,

cre a te high or round sho ulders Thi s is a nother ca se o f a

.

legitim a te ded uction but from a n illegitim a te premi ss

, .

T h e premi ss is simply the ba d h a bits o f ignora nt a n d

62 C Y CL ING CONS IDE R E D IN ITS

h a rdly to deserve con sidera tion Othe r mi sh a ps with the

'

cycle c a used by the locking o f wheel s the loo se ning o f ,

n uts o r s crews a nd the displ a cement o f tyres though

, ,

so metimes n o t unprod uctive o f di sa ster a re genera lly ,

prel uded by symptom s fa irly recognisa ble a n d give the ,

rider a suffi cient interva l to sla cken up a nd possibly

d i s m o unt be fore a n y s erio us re s ult occ u rs The m a jority .

o f such a cc idents belong to the second cl a ss a s being ,

preventible by a little a nticip a tory ca re The cycli st sho uld .

no t only m a ke him sel f a thorough m a ster o f the con structi o n

o f h is m a c h ine but sh o uld c ultiva te the h a bit o f d o ing with
,

h is o wn h a nd a ll such clea ning oiling &c , as m ay .

,

necessita te th e re m ova l o f a ny portion o f it o r the ,

loose ni ng o f an y s crew s so t h a t ,he m a y h a ve the be s t o f

evidence th a t everythi ng h a s been properly fixed a ga i n .

He should a l so from time t o time c a refully run h a nd a nd

eye over a ll the di fferent p a rts a nd fa stenings o f the cycle
an d sa ti sfy him sel f o f their sec ure conditio n Speci a l .

a ttentio nin thi s respect s ho uld be given to a ppe n

”
d a ge s ,

s uch a s l a m p s ,
be lls a nd ba gs : thes e espe ci a lly l a mp s
, ,

a tt a ched to the h ub o f the wheel m a y pro vo ke serio us

,

mi schie f unless the m o st sc rup ulous ca re is ta ken in

,

their a tta chment .H a bits o f vigil a nt a nd system a tic

i nspectionsuch a s these will g o fa r t o dimini sh the ri sk o f
a ccident s o f thi s cl a ss a n d it is to the credit ra ther th a n
,

th e di sa dva nta ge o f the p a st ime th a t the form a tion o f

.

s uch h a bits sho uld be e n ta iled by it .

Most other a ccidents in which the cycli st a nd h is cycle

,

a l o ne a re concerned a re the re sult o f w a nt o f pra ctice a n

, d ,

a re o n ly to be prevented by the a cqui sition o f gre a ter skill

an d experience : they a re a s it were the n , eces sa ry ,

wea knesses o f childhood a nd c a n only be grown o ut o f

, .

Two o f the mo st Obvio us a re s lipping the tre a dle a n

”
d a ,

wa nt o f proper m a n a gement o f bra ke power indesce ndi ng

a hill . Inconnection with the s e a word o r t wo o f c a utio n
m a y perh a p s be use ful even fo r the pra cti s ed rid e r a s

i ndic a ti ng source s o f ri sk which a re too seldom a ll uded to .

If a cyc list di s mo unt s in order to w a lk up a hill it is n ot ,

 R ELA TIONS TO HE A L TH .

unn a tura l fo r h im to wa lk o n the gra ss a t the s ide o f th e

ro a d a nd whe el h is m a chi ne inthe cha nneling a t the ed ge
o f it ; s h o uld he do thi s he will proba bly fi nd tha t d uring
,

h is next mile or so o f riding first o n e foot a nd the nt h e

.

other will kee p s lipping from the trea dle th e rea son O f thi s
is t h a t h is s m o oth s oles h a ve be en m a de a s s lippe ry as
glas s by co nta ct wi th th e gra ss A fter a wa lk o f this kind
. .

o r even a fter merely s ta nding a bo ut on th e turf th e c ycli s t ,

s ho uld remember t o scra pe h is feet well o ns ome ro ugh bit

o f ro a d s urfa ce be fore remo unti n g The sa me thing is o f .

c ours e li a ble t o occur when t h e roa d o nwhich he h as bee n

,

wa lking is wet a nd m uddy but fo r this ca se there is no

,

remedy a nd he m us t be c are ful until h is soles a re dry

,

a g a in, t o m a inta in such a p a ce a n d pos ition a s would

prevent a ny up set occ urri ng even sho uld he slip h is tre a dle .

A nother poss ible so urce o f mi sha p is indesc e nd ing a l o ng

hill a ft er o r d uri ng a hea vy shower when the i ndi a rubbe r
,
—
,

tyre intime be comes so plia nt a nd s lippery tha t th e bra ke

loses its proper power over it Thi s will not Often o cc ur
.

in E ngl a nd but o n th e long Swi ss hill s when the roa d s

, ,

a re s tre a ming a fter a moun ta in storm it m a y be found ,

very troubles ome e speci a lly a fter a di s mount when the

, ,

wet so le s lips th e trea dle a nd deprive s th e rider o f th e

supplementa ry a s s i s ta nce o f ba ck ped a lli n g A prompt - .

di s mount o nth e very first sym p tom o f such a co nditi o n o f

thi ngs is the only sa fe course ; but the cha nces o f its
o cc urri n g m a y be dimini shed by th e a do pti o n o f gro oved
tyres o n which the bra ke seem s to reta in a l o nger a nd
firmer hold .

With reg a rd to the ch a nces o f a ccident from di fficult

roa d surfa ces a nd obs truction s such a s dro ves o f
, ,

c a ttle &c it is imposs ible to give a ny fo rm a l a dvice ;

, .
,

the cycli st s o wnexperience in its a pplica tion to the ex a ct

’

circ um s ta nce s on ha nd m ust be th e only rule B ut in a .

genera l w a y modera te droves o f ca ttle whe n stra ggli ng in

col umn m a y be pa s sed in sa fety but if the dro ve be l a rge,

an d a dva nci n g in li ne it is wi se to di smo unt A drover

, .
,

n n —
however well inte tio ed to the cycli t which fe w o f them
-
s
64 C Y CL ING L O NS IDE R E D IN ITS

a re — h a s pra ctic a lly very little control over the drove nd , a

h is e fi o rts t o clea r the wa y O ften on ly increa se th e mi schie f

'

Shee p m a y be divided when m et by shouting a t them but ,

it is no t sa fe to venture a m o ng them when over ta ken The .

m ovements o f pig s h a ve a lwa y s defied h um a n c a lc ul a tio n ,

an d if the cyclist likes to spe c ul a te o n them he m ust be

prepa red fo r the worst It m a y be well to wa rn tho se who
.

m a y thi n k o f cycling o nthe continent in a ny p astora l

d i strict s such a s Switzerl a n d or the Bl a ck Fore st tha t cows ,

an d goa t s feeding by the wa y side a re o ften fettered by a

cord to a sta ke a nd tha t if the a nim a l should be on the
,

fa r side o f the ro a d from the sta ke it is very h a z a rdo us t o

,

a ttempt to cro ss the stri n g ; a l so th a t sheep a nd cows c a n

,

never be f r ig h ten ed out of th e w ay they ha ve bee nbrought

up a s members o f the fa mily a n d con seq ue n
”
“
, tly rega rd
a ll h um a n beings with a na ffe ction a te confidence which is
”
a p t to be emb a rra ssing .

Accident s but seldom occur in the present d a y fro m

colli si o n with other vehicle s or with foot p asse nge rs The .

cycli st m a y sometimes find him s el f in a n a wkwa rd fix

owi ng to the erra tic co nd uct o f a drunken driver but the ,

d a ys h a ve go ne by in which d e libera te a ttempts to drive a

cycli st down c a n be m a de with imp unity The e ne rge tic .

a ction o f the N a tion a l C ycli s t s U niona nd other s imil a r

’

a sso ci a ti o n s h a s been s uffi ci e nt to sec ure un iversa l re c o g ni

ti o n o f the proper rights o f cyclists o n the ro a d Still .
,

o cc a s i o na l ri sk s no d o ubt a re run o n b a dly ke p t ro a d s ,

w h e nthro ugh the ign ora nce O f the p a ss i ng driver th e cycli st

is forced o n to s to n y or rutty p o rtio ns o f the ro a d o n ,

which it is impo ssible fo r him to ride with sa fety Thi s .

will c o nti nue to be i nevita ble until a k nowledge o f the

rea l requirements o f a cycle ins uch ca ses is m o re ge ne ra lly
di ffused there a re too m a ny drive rs who seem to im a g i ne

Cyc li st s i nt en din g t o rid e i nS w itz e rl an d, a nd desiro us o f o b ta i n in g

a c tic al i nf o rm a t io n o nth e subj e c t , m a y be re fe rr ed t o a se rie s o f
p r

a pe r s c o nt ribute d by t h e write r t o th e L o n o nB ic y c le C lub G a z e t t e

’
p d ,

in t h e ye a r 1 8 8 2 . Th e y c a n b e c o n s ulted i n t h e Libra ry o f t h e

Na t io na l C yc lists U nio n, 1 7, Iro nm o ng e r La n

”
’
e , C h e a s ide , E C
p . .
 C Y CL ING C ONS IDE R E D IN ITS

detrim enta l The writer was o nce bitten in the leg by a

.

do g whil st o na long ro und but a fter pumping on the bite

,

fo r a q ua rter o f a nhour a n d bi n
,
ding it up with a h a nd ke r
chief he ro de a nother thirty miles a fter it a nd the ra pidity
with which th e wound subsequently hea led wa s ve ry
rem a rka ble .

A s in a ll other form s o f exerci se ind ucing perspira tio n

it is essenti a l incycling tha t th e rider should wea r fla nnel .

Thi s should extend to the substitution o f fla nnel fo r ca lico

o r linen even in w a i stcoa t linings a n d trow ser b a nd s a n -
d
pocket s so a s to a void entirely the loca l chill s to which the
,

cold cla mminess o f wet ca lico will expose him ; if bra ces o r
a belt be wo rn ( neither a re desira ble in cycling) thes e
should a l s o be o f fl a nnel A wa r m ba th a t the end o f the
.

d a y s wo rk is bett er th a n a cold o ne ; it is more clea n si ng

’

to the skin a nd soothing to the m uscles but a cold b a th

,
'

is better th a n none a t a ll a n d m a y a lwa ys be ta ken with

,

impunity provided th e cycli st h as no t over fa tigued him sel f -

,

o r a llowed h is body to c ool dow na fter the exerci s e in th i s

ca se a dry rub sho uld be substituted A cycli st in ordin a ry
.

hea lth a nd o f sound con sti tution when only j ust a little
tired not exh a usted m a y sa fely t a ke a pl unge i n
,

, , to the
coldest wa ter (no m a tter how hot he m a y be a t the time)
provided only he does not s tay lon g in it ; a nd it is won
d e rful how fresh a n d invigora ted he will feel on remounting .

Two three or even four such dip s m a y be ta ken in the

, ,

course o f a long d a y s outing pro vided the a bove conditio ns

’

be scrup ulously obs erved ; but it is essenti a l th a t the wa ter

should be cold a n d fresh a n d th a t the b a th con s i st o f j ust
,

a pl unge in a n,
d a swim o f twenty five to thirty stroke s a n
-
d
no more ; to p a ddle a bout in weedy sta gn a nt a nd a lmos t
,

tepid wa ter is th e most debilita ting process th a t c a n be

resorted to under a ny circum sta nces .

A cycli st m a y ta ke h is exerci se in a ll tempera tures : he

c a na lwa y s work h a rd enough to keep him sel f w a rm on t h e

very coldest da y a n
’
, d the writer s experience h a s a ssured
him tha t under a bla zi ng co nti nenta l sun with the therm o ,

meter a t 90 in th e sh a de it is possible to cycle even inthe

°
,
 R E L A TIONS TO HE A L TH .

hotte st p a rt o f the da y without disc om fort ; th e ra pidi ty

with which the cycli st moves through th e a ir crea tes o f itse l f
a ple a sa nt bree ze a n ,
d a l so prevents th e full pow er o f th e
sunfrom s ettling o nhim a s it were a n
”
, d m a ki ng itse l f
,

to o s everely felt . U nde r s uch c o nditi on s however it is

, ,

desi ra ble fo r h im to re membe r th a t in a n y h a lts i t is

nec es sa ry to pl a ce th e cycle inth e sha de ; a ma chin e left

to ba ke in th e hea t o f such a sun is li a bl e to d a m a ge
espe ci a lly in th e tyres th e fastening o f which m a y loo sen
,

in such a tempera ture a nd so ca use subsequent misha p In .

certa in di stricts in hot wea ther in se ct li fe is n

, o t o nly prolific

but po i s onous a n
, d the cycli st m a y o ften get mol ested
by ho rse flies o f va rious ki nd s a nd wasp s A litt l e .

a mmoni a a pplied i m m ed ia tely to the s pot a n d a resol ute

,

a bstention from rubbi n g o r scra tching will prevent a ll

furt her di s com fort from th e bite In the c a se o f wa sps
.

when blown o n to the fa ce o f the rider a nd thus coming

into forcible colli sion with him the sti ng will prob a bly be
foun d to be le ft behind a nd should first be removed C a re
, .

m ust be ta ken to k ee p the p o cket bottle o f a mmoni a very

securely s topped the stopper too should be removed with

, ,

ca ution fo r in con sequence o f the hea t a nd the jolti ng the

,

a mmoni a is li a ble to s p urt o ut with a b urst a n d m a y inj ure

the eyes if no t held a t proper dista nce .

With rega rd to diet it is well to a im a t red uci ng a ll

,

ea ting a nd drinking d uri ng the ride to a m inim um a nd to ,

defer a nythi ng like a solid mea l to the close o f the da y .

Whil st he is a ctua lly on h is journey the cyclist shoul d touch

nothing until he feels a bsolutely c om pelled There a re.

m a ny degrees o f h unger a nd thirst which m a y be s a fely left

un sa ti sfied witho ut fea r o f exh a usti o n ; a n d a little s el f
d eni a l in this re spect will e st a bli sh a h a bit o f a b stinence
which the cycli st if on a tour will find the grea test possible
, ,

com fort to h im . Drinking whilst there is sti ll severe work

to be done only tend s t o i ncrea sed thirst soon a fter ; a dip
in a p a s sing strea m is a fa r better p a lli a tive Wa ys ide .

wa ter in a ny highly c ultiva ted di stricts where the surfa ce ,

dra in a ge is so l a rgely co nt a min a ted with m a n ures is ex ,

F 2
 C YCLING CONSIDERED IN ITS

t re m ely nd ought n ever to be ventured o n

h a z a rdous, a

unle ss the p urity o f its so urce is unmi st a k a ble A s fo r

.

a lcoholic drink s such stim ul a nts a re s eldom

,
i f ever re
, ,

quired where vigorous exerci se is being ta ken under c o n

d itio n s in them selve s so invigora ting a n d stim ul a ting a n d ,

if not required it is a ga in s t a ll rea s on to ta ke th em It .

sho uld a l so be remembered a s a ga in st h a ving a n

, y reco u r se

to them on the journey th a t the i m m edia te e ffect o f a lcohol

,

e peci a lly wh e n divorced from s olid food ) is mos t di sti n ctly

( s

an d un do ubtedly a dverse to m usc ula r a ction . Milk is a pt

t o prod uce di scom fort when directly followed by severe
exerci se but i f it be found a bsol utely necessa ry to ta ke it
, , ,

its tendency in thi s res pect m a y be corrected by the a d

dition o f a ver y f ew dr ops o f co gn a c less th a nh a l f a t ea
—

s poo n ful to a full tumbler o f milk is a mple ; or a mixt ure

o f h a l f milk a n d h a l f wa ter or sod a wa ter will need n o s uc h

a ddition . On the whole the most sa luta ry a nd t hirs t

quenching drink is some n a tura l seltz er wa ter with th e
-

j uice o f a fresh lemon squeezed into it B ut the h a ppies t

.

an d s ounde st course o f a ll fo r those who a re enga ged fo r

an y length o f time in h a rd exerci se is to try to a cquire th e
’
h a bit o f drinking nothing until the d a y s work is over We .

would a l so a d d th a t a grea t dea l o f thirst m a y be prevented

by keeping the mouth clos ed a nd only brea thing thro ugh
the no se Smoking is so m uch a question o f con stitution
.

an d degree th a t it is usele ss to enter into it but a cycli s t

,

who s mokes in the sa ddle c a nonly purch a se th a t l ux ury

a t the price o f extra thirst ; it m a y a l so be a dded th a t

wha t w as sa id a bove o f a lc o hol a pplies equa lly to nico tine ,

na mely th a t its i m m edia te e ffects a re prej udici a l to m us

,

c ula r exertion The experience o f the writer wh o h a s tried

.

both system s is infa vour o f e ntire a bstinence from s moking

fo r a thletic p urposes .One other pra ctica l hint in c o n
ne c t io nwith this bra nch o f the subject m a y be given fo r
tho se who a re m a ki n g a cycling holid a y : n e ver br ea hf a s t a t

th e p la c e wh ere y ou s lep t Even o n the continent whe re

.
,

hotel hours a re fa r e a rlier th a n in E ngl a nd it is imposs ible

,

to obt a in bre a k fas t com fort a bly a t such a nho ur a s oug h t

7o C YCLING CONSIDERED IN ITS

gra d ua l o ne a nd a ny s tra in put upon the m uscles before

,

they a re bra ced up a nd in the humour to res pond to it ,

m a y prevent their a ssuming proper sh a pe a n d con si stence

fo r the res t o f the da y It is only to o e asy to so w th e
.

s eed s o f fa ti g ue in th e first hour o r two o f riding . Aga in ,

s hould the cycli st by s ending h is l ugga ge in a d va nce o r ,

ordering h is room o r h is dinner beforeha nd tie him sel f,

down to a rrive a t a pa rticul a r spot a t a given hour let h im ,

a llow a nexceedi n gly a mple m a rgin fo r ha lts a nd ca sua lties

when he is m a king o ut h is progra mm e o f ti m e a nd
di sta nce E n forced hurry a t th e end o f the j ourney is a s
.

likely to be prej udici a l in respect o f fa tigue a s und ue h as te

a t the begi n ning o f it In ve ry m a ny ca ses wea riness is
.

d ue not so m uch to t h e a mount o f energ y expended a s to ,

the ve ry un fa voura ble conditions fo r m uscul a r e xertion

i nd uced by rem a ini ng to o long in the sa ddle a t a stretch .

The weight o f the body press ing down a p a rticul a r set o f

m uscles a ga in st th e sa ddle is ve ry a pt to produce wha t th e
cycli st knows a s sa ddle cra mp a kind o f dea dness a nd
“ ”
,

numbness in the sea t which robs those limbs which work

from it a s from a pivot o f their proper spri n g a nd el a sticity ,

thereby rendering th e work they h a ve to do unnecessa rily

burdensome to them A full recognition o f the supreme
.

va l ue o f occas ion a l dismounts is the best preventive o f thi s

ca use o f fa tigue The cycli st should remember tha t to
.

wa lk up a hill is not only to husba nd h is resources but ,

t e mpora rily to bring a di fferent se t o f m uscles into Opera

tio n thereby giving the others a fresh sta rt a s it were a nd
,

en a bli ng them to resume their work wi th grea ter free dom .

In thi s view to di smo unt a n d wa lh is fa r better tha n to

di smo unt a nd s i t o n a bench or ga te : the ch a nge o f
exerci se ind uces a more rea l feeli ng o f relie f tha n th e mere
rest will give Any n a tura l excuse fo r a di smount o n a
.

l o ng ride such a s a hill or a bit o f rough roa d o r th e

—
, ,

better e n joyment o f a bit o f fa sci na ting s cenery o r a ,

—
tempting spot fo r a ba the should there fore be welcomed
an d t a ken a dva nta ge o f by the cycli st with thi s res erva tion
,

on ly th a t inthe ca se o f a bicycle the process o f remounting

 REL A TIONS TO HEA L TII.

is wi th some initself a fa tiguing o n e so th a t to be too ,

often d i smounting m a y eventua l ly do more h a rm t ha n

good A sa fe rule fo r o rdin a ry cycl ists is to wa lk up o ne
.

hill fo r every t wo ridden up a nd no t to keep inthe sa ddle

,

fo r more tha n 9 m iles a t a s tretch during th e fi rs t a n d

last eightee n miles o f a ride n o r fo r mo re th a n twe lve
,

or at the outside fi fteen miles during the i ntervening

portion o f it B ut th e degrees o f cycling strength a re
.

infinitely va ri a ble a n d ge nera l prin c iples m ust a lwa ys be

,

m o re us e ful th a n definite pre scription One thing however .

, ,

is inva ri a ble a n d th a t is the evidenc e o f o ver doing

,
- If a .

cycli st o n s itting down to h is evening mea l fi nd s h is ,

a ppetite vigoro us a n d hea rt y h is sen se o f enj oy m e nt o f h is

,

food keen a n ,
d h is method o f t a king it q uiet lei surely a n d , ,

res trained a nd if a fter h is ha rd da y s work a nd h is hea rty

,
’

dinner he a ls o sleeps so undly he m a y rest a ssured tha t ,

wha tever m a y h a ve been h is s en se o f m usc ul a r fa tigue o n

h is fin a l di smo unt he h a s not d one more tha n he was
,

fa irly fit fo r If however h is a ppetite be a t a ll imp a ired o r

.
, , ,

if he s ho uld find him sel f ea ting a n d drinking h urriedly a n d

feveri shly a n ,
d be con sci o us o f a kind o f nervo us feeling
tha t h is din ner is no t settling into him a s com forta bly as
usua l o r a ga in if a fter he h a s got to bed h is m uscles
, ,

obstina tely decline to g o to s leep a n ”

d h is res t is ,

disturbed wi th freq uent cra mp o r tossings —thes e a re the ,

infa llible symptom s th a t he h a s th a t da y ridden either

fa rther o r fa s ter o r more contin uo usly th a n he should ha ve
, ,

done He m ust ta ke the wa rning seriously to hea rt : he

.

should either ta ke entire rest the next d a y or confine ,

him sel f to a nextremely modera te ride indeed a nd fo r th e ,

next five d a ys let him red uce h is i ntended work by a t lea s t

on e th ir d . V ery possibly the rest a nd the gra d ua l
s ea s oning m a y en a ble him t o ve n ture upon h is origi na l
qua ntum a t the end o f th e week in sa fety : but should a ny
o f the former symptom s rec ur then let him be a ss ured th a t
,

nle he i s yo ung an d growing ) he h lre dy er

( u ss a s a a a s o

t a ine d the full limit o f the cycling powers with which

n a ture h as endowed him a n d he m ust be prep a red

,
72 C YCLING CONSIDERED IN ITS

thence forwa rd to m ete o ut h is dista nce p a ce a nd wo rk , ,

a ccordingly .

B ut whil st t hus pl a inly t a king up th e p a ra ble a ga in st

thi s o ne prom inent d a nger o f excess it is only fa ir t o ,

remember tha t th e rea l cha rm o f cycling lies not so m uch

inits el f as in wh a t it en a bles y o u to combine with it a n d ,

th a t in thi s a s pe ct o f it no s uch ri sk o f fa tig ue should be

poss ible The cyclist m a y get h is 2 0 o r 2 5 miles in th e
.

ea rly m o rning a nd ride on a nother 2 0 o r 2 5 in the cool o f

,

the evening whilst a whole world o f po ssible ple asures o f a

,

quiet a nd une x h a ust ing kind a re a t h is comm a nd fo r the

in terveni ng hours The bota ny geolo gy o r entomolog y o f
.
, ,

the district vi sited m a y be lei surely na y l a zily if need be , ,

i nvestiga ted : there m a y be objects o f a rch itectura l ,

a ntiqua ri a n o r hi s torica l intere st fo r him t o explore : he

,

m a y spend the midd a y hours in fi shing s ketchi n g or , ,

photogra phing ; o r he m a y choose some sha dy sequestered

nook ingl a de o r by river a n d p a s s the time a t h is e a s e in
,

re a ding some fa vourite book o r in quietly wa tchi ng th e ,

wa ys a nd h a bits o f sq uirrel s bird s o r other a nim a l li fe by

, ,

which he m a y be surrounded It is thi s tho rough inde pe n

.

de nce thi s fertility o f reso urce thi s va riety o f combi na tio n

, , ,

this gypsy like freedom o f open a ir li fe a nd ha bit together

- -
,

wi th the unlimited power o f g r a d ua tin g the exte nt a n d

force o f the exerci s e itsel f th a t m a ke s cycli n
, g such a n
encha nti ng p a stime a nd so inde scriba bly va l ua ble to th e
,

hea lth o f those who ind ulge init .

One more count in its pra i se m a y here be a dded as ,

bei ng closely a ssoci a ted with wha t h a s j ust been written .

It is a n unden ia ble fa ct tha t cycling is gra d ua lly giving

,

ri se to a new a nd more hea lth ful view o f holid a y tra vel .

The cycli st h as disc o vered h o w fa r more interesting a nd

en j o ya ble it is in vi siting new countrie s o r di stricts
to frequent their bye wa ys ra ther t ha ntheir highwa ys a nd
-
,

to st udy the li fe o f the country in its norm a l a n d na tura l

p h a s e ra ther th a n in the more a rtifici a l g a rb it tempo ra rily

”
a s s ume s in its sh o w pl a ces The q uiet lei surely inde
“
.
,

p endent wa y in which he c a n to ur a bo ut is the very

 C YCL ING CONSIDERED IN ITS

diligence ro utes to fi nd h im sel f fa c e to fa ce with th e gen uin e

li fe o f th e pe opl e unta m ish e d by foreign ven e er ; he
be comes inte rested in thei r norm a l pursuits ; he m ixes
freely with them i nh is wa ys ide h a lts every new obj ect h e
pa sses h e c a n sta y a nd i nvestiga te a t h is leisure ; h is
whole da y is full o f interest a nd there is no occa s io nwha t
,

ever fo r h im to stint o r c urta il h is e nj oyment o f it In .

a ddition to th e phys ica l re fres hment h e h as ga ined h e ta kes

ba ck to E ngl a nd a rich sto re o f definite a nd plea sa n t

memories ; he h as throughout bee n rea lly moving in a
ig n l a nd a n d i a rious pec uli a rit ies h a ve s oa ked
f or e , t s v

into h is mind in a pe rfectly gra d ua l a nd n a tura l m a nner .

The typica l touri st o n the other ha nd though he m a y

,

indeed be a ble to enumera te a far lengt h ier list o f towns ,

ca thedra l s ga lleries wa terfa ll s mounta in s l a kes a nd th e

, , , ,

like which h a ve a ctua lly p a ssed unde r h is eyes h a s ,

proba bly fa iled from their very n umber to ca rry a wa y a ny

rea lly clea r o r va l ua ble picture o f them he h as no t bee n
nea rly so m uch under the restora t ive in fluences o f the open
a ir ; he h as o nth e other h a nd been contin ua lly expo s ing

him self to a ll the wea r a nd tea r th e cl a tter a nd b a tter o f a n

,

a lmost d a il y r a ilw a y o r di ligence ride ; he h as w a sted a

l a rge porti on o f h is holid a y inth e disa greea ble oc cup a tion s

i ncident to a consta nt cha nge o f hotel ; a n d h is chie f
re collections o f th e people he h as seen will be confined to
the va rious fugitive tra velling a cqua inta nceships he h as
-

m a de with h is o wn countrym en : a s fo r a ny foreign

a ss oci a tion s o f a pers on a l kind it is unlikely t ha t he would

be a ble to rec a ll th e fa ce a nd figure o f a s ingle n a tive o f th e

co untries he h a s vi sited who wa s not offi ci a lly connected
with its hotel s o r system s o f locom o tion No w a ga i nst a ll
.
,

t hi s unres tful un sa ti sfying unrecre a ting m o d e o f t ra vel th e

, ,

newly developed in stincts a nd experience o f the cycli st

-

utter a he a lthy a n d emph a tic protest . C ycling h a s sta rted

a n entirely di fferent view of thing s which is ra pidly
,

i nfl uencing society beyon d its a ct ua l cycling ra nks It is .

becoming fa shion a ble now to find a cha rm a nd interest in

the rura l li fe a n d scenery o f old E ngl a nd it sel f a n , d to
 RELA TIONS TO HEA L TII .

rec o g nis e th a t fo r in cl as s o f n a tura l be a uty as well

a c e rta ,

a s fo r S pots a n d obj ec ts o f hi sto ri c a l i n terest o ur o wn l a n,

d
’
is wi tho ut a ri va l Holid a y m a king a fte r th e styl e o f
.
-

Willi a m Bl a ck s delightful Stra nge Adventures o f a

’

Ph a e t o n is ta kin g th e pla ce o f th e foreig nra il way rush o r ,

if fo reign pa rts be visit ed it is with a m ore decid ed view

t h a t th e l ess a mbitio us t h e prog ra m me as reg a rd s d ista nce
an d ra p idity th e m o re hea lth givin g a n d rea lly enj o ya bl e
-

w ill its rea l isa tion prove O f thi s i mpro ve men t in th e

.

g ene r a l v i ew so bene
, fi ci a l a nd s alu ta r y i ni ts promi se a nd ,

so thoroughly i n a cco rd a nce with a ll s ound hygieni c

p rinciple s the
, re cen t e n ormo u s developmen t o f cyc ling h as

undo ubtedly bee n a chief ca use .

There is a nother a dva nta ge o f cycling so obvious tha t it ,

w ould h a rdly ca ll fo r mention were it n o t tha t it will

na tura lly lea d us o n to a ll ude to a further point o f very

c on s idera ble import a nce It h a s been be fore o bserved tha t
.

o wing t o t h e extent o f gro und he is a ble t o cover in a ride

,

an d the ra pidity with which pa ss ing objects present them

s elves t o h is view the cycli st will h a rdly ever find h is e x e r
,

cise d ull no r feel the need o f a compa nion in it All th e

, .

s a me comp a ni o n s hip undoubtedly lend s a gre a t a ddi ti on a l

,

cha rm to cycling e specia lly on a tour : it is so plea sa nt a t

,

th e end o f the d a y to be a bl e t o ta lk over th e scenes a n d

i ncidents o f th e ride with o n ,
e wh o h as been a na ctua l
pa r

t ic ip a to r in them No w no pa s time lends its el f so rea dily

.
,

an d conveniently to compa nion ship a s cycli n g Not even .

in wa lking c a n conversa tion be ca rried o n wi th so littl e

Even th e m eri ts o o f u r m u c h -a bused En lish c li m a te a re a lso
g
rec e ivin g j us t er re c o g ni ti o n un d e r th e influ en c e o f c yc li ng ; for a s a n

outdo o r pursuit it is beg i n ning to bring into pro m inenc e th e fa c t th a t

th ere a re a far g rea ter n um ber of da ys a n d h o ur s int h e yea r durin
g
wh ic h it i s po ssible to be ta kin g o pe n-a ir ex e rc i
se w i th o ut in c on
ven ien c e fro m ex t re m es o f h ea t a n d c o ld in En l nd th a nin a n
g a
y
h
o t er c o u nt r y . F o r s t i ll o u t-d o or li fe , suc h a s o pen -
a ir C afé s,
an d C on c ert g a rden s, n
”
S um m er Th ea tres, o doubt o ur c oo ler
even ing s a re unsuita ble, a nd our c o ntinental neig h bo urs h a ve inth is
re spe c t a n a dva n t a g e o ve r us but fo r m o st fo rm s of a th let ic en j oy
m en t ( wh ic h a re o f gr ea t e r h yg ien ic im porta nc e) our c li m a te is un
do ubtedly superi o r to th eirs .
76 C YCLING CONSIDERED IN ITS

e fi o rt o f v
'
oice fo r the n o i se o f the so ft tyre o f th e c y cle is a s
,

nothing when co mpa red with the crunch o f the pedestri a ns ’

bo o t It h as too thi s g rea t a dva nta ge over wa lki ng— a t

. , ,

lea st where two cy cles a nd not a Socia ble a re used Th e

”
.

essenti a l cha rm o f compa nion ship lies more in its being

a lw a ys poss i ble tha n its being necessa rily a n
, d a lwa ys a c tua l .

No w the pede stri a n c a n ha rdly pa rt compa ny with h is

,

fellow n either o n the othe r ha nd c a nthe t wo (unless ex

,

c e p t io na lly tried a n d clos e friend s) m a rch s ide by side fo r

an y len g th o f ti m e in so lemn s ilence Under t he s e circ. um
sta nce s conversa tion cea se s to be th e spo nta neo us uttera nc e
,

o f thought s th a t n a tura lly dem a nd it a n d t h e bra i n is ,

driven to ta xing itsel f to i nvent topics o f ta lk to fill up th e

g p
a ,a re s ult which from every point o f view i s mo s t u n
desira ble Nothing however is more n a tura l or more
.
, ,

c ustom a ry tha n fo r the cycli st a nd h is compa nionto ride

a t times in file in ste a d o f a brea s t a n d whilst keepi n g within
,

h a il o f ea ch other a nd thus reta i ning a ll the com forting

,

con sciousn e ss o f compa nion ship to be nevertheless o ut o f

conversa tio n ra nge though a lwa ys rea dy to close up when
,

there is rea lly something to sa y Thi s a dva nta ge o f com .

p a n io nsh ip in cycling n a t ura lly le a d s us to the point t o

—
which we wi shed t o ca ll a ttentio n n a mely th a t the ih , ,

ve n t io no f the tricycle h a s m a de it a p a stime which c a nbe

sh a red by b o th sexe s a like It is impo ss ible to overestim a te
.

the va l ue o f a ny o ut door a m usement which proves itsel f

-
,

both suita ble a nd a ttra ctive to l a die s There is nothing .

wh a tever in the n a ture o f the exercise itsel f to render the

proportiona te use o f the tricy cle less beneficia l to the o ne
se x t h a nto the other ; wh e rea s the grea ter degree o f c o n

fin em en t to the ho use to which l a dies a re necessa rily

s ubjecte d an d the more restricted n umber o f o ut door
,
-

ex e rci ses which a re open to them render it a ll the ,

more im p ort a nt tha t thi s recent a ddition to the li s t

sho uld receive full a n d ge n era l recognition Two point s .

only require speci a l mention under this hea d It is .

o bviously undesira ble th a t the we a ker se x sho uld be

subjected to the nerve-testing ri s ks which a ttend the in
,
78 C YCLING CONSIDERED IN ITS

o nly be re pea ted th a t h a s been p revio us ly sa id

th a t a ll

a bo ut th e c a uses a n d s ym ptom s o f o ver fa tig ue a n d th ei r

-

preventio n sh o uld be ta ke n do ubly to h ea rt by th e la dy

c y c lis t Furthe r reve rting o nc e m o re to th e poin t fro m
.
,

wh ich we st arte d th e subj ec t n a m e ly o f c o mpa nio n

, , s h i p in
,

c ycling — let it be un d erstoo d th a t wh a tever h e th e se x o f

th e riders th e rec og ni se d rule o f such c o m pa n
, y riding -

s h ould a lwa ys be th a t t h e wea k es t m e mbe r o f th e pa r ty is

to be th e a bso lute a rbiter o f p a c e a n —

d di sta nc e no t indee d

in h is o r h e r o wn pe rs on (fo r th ere will a lwa ys be a n

a nx iet y t o d is pro ve t hi s a ss umption o f in fe rio r stren g t h ) ,

but t ha t th e responsible lea der o r o rg a n ise r o f t h e ride

sh o uld a lwa ys ta k e th e po w ers o f th e wea k est as h is s ta nd a rd

o f m ea s ure ment .

We h a ve th us fa r bee n c ons idering those h ygi e nic

a dv a nta g es whi ch are d i r ec tly involved in c ycling ; but

there a re other i n dir ec t a dva ntag es connected wi th it wh ich

from th e extent a n d i mporta nce o f the ir a pplica tion h a ve a
still higher cl ai m on o ur a ttention .

L et us first ta ke th e ca s e o f tha t ve ry n umerous cl ass o f

lad s a n d young men livi n g in o ur l a rge towns who a re
enga ged a t the work o f the desk o r th e counter It h a s .

hi therto bee n found extremely diffi c ult t o provi de thes e

w ith a n
’
y form o f suita ble recrea tion a fter their d a y s work

is over Most o f o ur ordina ry E nglish pa sti mes such

.
,

a s rowing footb a ll a n
,
d cricket (espec ia lly th e l a s t two )
,

a re a lm o st entirely un a tt a in a ble by them be ca us e by th e ,

ti m e th ey c a nre a ch their homes a n d get them selves rea dy

fo r such exerci se the necessa ry d a ylight is mostly w a n ting ,

e ve n if river a n d ground be a ccess ibl e ; nei ther a ga in a s , ,

we ha ve seen (pa ge a re s uch p a s times fea s ible fo r

them inth e e a rly morning The con sequence o f t h is h as

.

been tha t being c ut o ff from o ut door a m usemen -

ts in the
e vening a n d h a ving n
, o speci a l ind ucement s t o ri se ea rly

an d therefore to g o to bed e a rly this cl a ss h a s been ,

hitherto a lmost entirely thrownba ck upon ih -doo r evening

recre a tio n Even where a s in the ca se o f young men s ’
s .
,

cl ubs these recre a tion s a re in them selves h a rmless a nd

,
 RELA TIONS TO HE A L TH .

f ro m a m e n ta l po in —
t o f vie w a n d int h e ex c eptio n a l c ases

o f gy m n a s i um s fro m a m u sc ula r p o int o f v i ew— i m p ro v i n g ,

t h e pe rpe tua ti o no f th e sa m e c o n ditio n s o f ind o o r a ir wh i c h

h a v e be e np rese n t d urin t h d — nly w i th h u i o n

—
g e a y o t e q e s t
a ble a ddi t io npe rh a ps o f g as a n d to ba c c o sm o ke m a teri ally
d im ini sh es th ei r ph ysic a l va lue ; wh erea s th e i nevita ble
ha nke ri ng a ft er th e m o re festive a nd ex c itin g a tt ra c t io n s

o f t h e bi llia rd roo m a n
- d m usic h a ll e xposes th e m ajo rity o f
-

t hi s cl ass t o st ill m o re un fa vo ura ble h ygie n ic in fluen c es .

Without ne c ess a rily implying a ny t hi ng ag a inst th e m erits

o f t h e a c t ua l e ntert ai n ments p ro vided a t suc h plac es it ,

s hould be noted th a t it is m o ra lly im po ssible fo r th o se wh o

fre quen t them t o a vo i d the co nc o mita nts o f unnec essa ry

r e fres h ments an d l a te h o urs . Th e poss ess ion o f a cycl e
o nth e ot her h a nd wi ll a c t fa voura bly a t e ith er end o f the

day . The a t tra ct ion o f the mo rni ng ride inits bene fic e nt

,

p r ep a ra t i on fo r th e confine m en t th a t is t o follo w ind uces ,

th e s ub stitution o f ea rly re tirement fo r th e vis it t o th e c l ub

o r m us ic h a l l ; o r if the ea rly ris in
-
, g be n o t yet infa vo ur ,

t h e e ven ing ride will help t o clea r the l ungs o f t h e i m

u ri tie s inh a l e d in shop o r wa rehouse a n d st i r th e t gn nt
p , s a a

b l o od into hea l thier a n d more vigorous circ ul a ti on . To

t ho se interes ted in th e development o f th e n a ti on a l he a lth
few s ights a re so encoura ging as those o f the as ph a lte d
s treets o f t h e C i ty bet we e n the hours o f seven a n d ten
o f a n ev e n ing when freed from the t ra ffi c o f business
, , ,

they becom e fo r t h e time the public pl a y g round o f -

the C i ty youth a nd their s mooth surfa ces a re g iven

,

up to roller sk a tes a n
- d cycles . There is m a ny a la d
no w who ri des h is twenty or thirty miles in a nd o ut o f
thes e a sph a lted streets a nd a lleys every night wh o might ,

otherwi se be wa sting h is time a n d substa nce in th e

phys ic a lly deleterious surroundings o f th e m usic ha ll o r -

public house Th e eas e a nd ra pidi ty with which he c a n

-
.

glide over this even un j o i nted s urfa ce so

, fa r su p e ri or in s thi
respect to the jointed a nd there fore vibra ting s urfa ce o f
wo o d p a vement h a s a ch a rm fo r him which he seldom tires
,

of an
, d if only he could be ind uced as so me h a ve been
,
,
 C YCLING CONSIDERED IN ITS

to b titute fo r the evening ride o r even a dd to it a spi n

su s

over these silent street s in the clea r bright a ir o f th e ea rly

morni ng when o ur noble C ity free o f smoke smiles in
, , ,

the p ure ra di a nce o f the morni ng sun a n d when a ccordi n,

g ,

to some enth usi a sts the perfume o f new mown h a y is to

,

be i nh a led even under th e sha dow o f St Pa ul s he

“ ’
.
,

would be well on h is wa y to th e summit o f hygienic

perfection It would be a g rea t p ublic a dva nta ge in this
.

respect if on tha t fine wide open s pa ce o f roa d o n the

V icto ri a E mba nkment thi s s mooth surfa ce could be sub
s tit uted fo r the honey combed a n -
d j olting m a c a d a m A .

further s tep in thi s direction might well be ta ken in the

a dmi s s i o n o f cycli sts — cert a inly not tricyclists only to —
the pa rk s a t fixed ho urs ; o r better still in providi ng
, ,

fo r them speci a l rings to which they might h a ve free

a ccess a t a ll ho urs . This no doubt will be done whe n
the import a nce o f cycli ng a s a q uestion o f na tio na l
hea lth h as met with a dequa te recognition Horse e x e r .

ci se bei ng a n expen sive l ux ury is a n exercis e fo r the

upper ten only the comp a ra tive chea pness o f the cycle
p uts it within rea ch o f the million Spea king ro ughly the .

best bicycles even whe n perfectly new m a y be h a d fo r

from jg I5 to £ 2 0 —
( tricycle s co s t h a l f as m u c h a ga i n) — a nd
bicycles which a re every bit a s good as new but which the ,

i ntrod uction o f some s light a ltera tion or improvement

h as thrown upon the s econd h a nd m a rket m a y be h a d
-
,

fo r from £ 7 to £ 1 0 o r even less

, S o fa r a s it c a n be
.

a ffected by ordin a ry use the body o f a cycle being

, ,

o f steel ,
is pra ctic a ll y imperi sha ble ; a ve ry o cca sion al

renewa l o f p a int rubbers screws or bea rings is a ll th a t is

, , , ,

required to m a i nta in it in its origin a l perfect condition .

B a rri ng a ccidents a sum o f from fo rty to fi fty s hillings fo r

every five yea rs ought to s uffi ce fo r this whil st five shilli ngs ,

a ye a r is more th a n s uffi cie n t to provide a ll th a t m a y be

re quired in the wa y o f oil a nd clea ning things Allowing .

a nother I a ye a r fo r rep a irs d ue to a ccide n t it will be ,

seen th a t a nordin a ry cycli st c a nkeep h is m a chine fo r le ss

th a n thirty five shilli ngs a ye a r a sum which will ba rely

-
,
82 C YCLING CONSIDERED IN ITS

of cycli st s is infinitesim a l as compa red with th a t ca used by

horse a nd c a rri a ge exercise it is in fa ct less th a n th a t
— , ,

crea ted by wa lking a nd sec ond th a t the c ontention would ,

e q ua lly excl ude pedestri a n s from th e p a rk s wh o a s suc h ,

contribute nothing wha tever t o their m a inten a nce Ina ny .

ca se should the point be seriously in si sted on it wo uld be ,

e a sy to a dj ust the ba l a nce by fixing some trifling toll to

“
be p a id by those cyclists who frequented the tra cks .

We h a ve thus endea voured to point o ut the importa nce

o f cycli n g in connection with o ur commerci a l cl a sses but its ,

indirect a dva nta ges penetra te even deeper tha n thi s i nto
o ur n a tion a l li fe If there is a n y
. o ne q ue stion which is

j ust no w uppermost in the mi nd o f the thoughtful a nd

o bs erva n t c i tizen it is th a t sa d problem which the ce n
,
tra
lisin tend e ncy o f modern civili sa tion h a s cre a ted a nd th e
g ,

so lut io no f which is a t the present moment the subject o f

‘

, ,

s o m uch a nxio us deb a te This centra li sing tendency h a s

.

no doubt bee n tempora rily a ccentua ted by a n a lmo st un

”
p a ra lleled series o f ba d s ea son s which coinciding with
“
, ,

s udde na n d very possibly exceptiona l o utburst s o f fertility

in other p a rts o f th e globe h a ve tended fo r the time to the
,

Wh eth er c yc ling ing eneral sh o uld be m a de to c o ntribute to th e

r ev e n u e s o f t h e S ta t e i s a n e n t ir e ly se pa r a t e q ues t i o n a n d o n e w
, h i c h it
is n o t alt o g eth er ea sy t o a n s wer W e venture to th i nk a s a m a tt er o f
.

p ri n c i ple t h a
, t t h e d e v e lo pm e n t o f c y c lin g w i ll ulti m a t ely p r o ve o f suc h

r e a t value t o t h e S ta t e th a t to c h ec k it by a ta x ina n y fo rm wo uld

g ,

on ly be killi n g t h e g o o s e w i th t h e g o ld e n e g g s I n
. a n y c a se we h a ve

no h esita tio ninsa yi ng th a t th e m o st in j urious fo rm wh ic h suc h a tax

c o uld t a ke wo uld be th a t o f a n a n nual lic enc e to keep o r ride a
“
,

c y c le .Th is wo uld c ut a t th e ro o t o f all its i n fluen c e as a d e c en

” “ “ ”
83 l
S om fo rm b dof
t ra liser ( see p g
a e s p a tee o r a g ,
e

w h i c h th e m a n ufa c turers c o uld o bta i n fro m th e G o vern m en t, a n d

riv et in to t h e fl a n e r h ub o r so m e o th er e nd ur a ble p o rt i o no f th e
g o ,

m a c h ine, wo uld, ino ur o pin ion, be th e least o bj ec tio na ble form wh i c h

a
“
c yc le duty c o uld a s sum e. It wo uld sa ve th e nec essity fo r a ny
tro ubleso m e y stem o f wo rksh o p inspec ti o n, suc h
s as m an ufa c turers
m ig h t fa irly resen t, a n d th e in c iden c e o f t h e ta x wo uld fall m o st
h e a vily o nth e first a n d presum a bly th e wea lth iest purc h aser o f th e
,

m a c h in e be in
, g le s s a n d le s s fe lt as t h e c y c le sa nk t h ro u g h t h e

d iffe re n l
t leve s o f t e sec o n
h d h an
- d m a rket un til by th e t im e it
, ,

rea c h ed th e la bo urin g c la s se s i t w o u ld h a v e c ease d t o b e a pp re c i a bl e .

 RELA TIONS TO HE A L TII
.

d epression o f home a gric ulture whil st the recent develop

ment o f o ur system o f n a tion a l ed uca tion h as m a de th e
rura l youth a ll the more ea ger to quit a home where the
prospec ts a re fo r the moment so di scoura ging a nd to try ,

h is fortune in the m o re a ctive a n d intelligent centres o f

town li fe Ho w to sprea d o ut the con fused hea p o f o ur
.

urba n pop ul a tion over a wider a re a ; h o w to m a ke the

c urrent o f the n a tiona l blood no w plethorica lly conges ting ,

a s it were in cert a in s el ec ted s pot s circ ul a te more evenly

,

an d freely through the co untry ; h o w to dece n tra li se in ,

fa ct thi s is the momentous q uestion o f the d a y a n

— d o nit
,

cycli ng h a s undoubtedly a grea t de a l of light to throw If we .

could im a gine fo r a moment th a t the h um a n ra ce were

e ndowed with wi ngs should we expect the worki ng m a nto
,

pre fer a room i na fetid a lley to a cott a ge in a ga rden from

’
which a short ho ur s flying would l a nd him a t h is work
Or would those whom the ple a sures a nd va rieties o f
congrega ted li fe a ttra ct from their d uller beca us e more
,

lonely co untry homes be so rea dy to forsa ke them if they

could th us rea dily tra nsport them selves a t a ny mome nt a nd
at n o co s t wh a tever i n to their coveted h a unts o f town
e xcitement ? Wha t a ga in is the re a son th a t o ur m a nu
fa c ture rs a n d merch a n ts ra ise the ta llest possible fa ctories
an d wa reho use s o nthe s m a llest pos sible b a se ins ites o n
, ly
to be p urcha sed fo r a fa bulous s um ? Is it a nythi ng el s e
tha ntheir wi sh tha t their goo d s should be a t the hea rt a nd ,

t hey them selves so to spe a k in the e a r o f the world s

’
, ,

m a rket ? Wh a tever then tend s to fa cilita te c o m m unic a

tion locomotio n a nd tra nsport m ust h a ve a direct va l ue a s
, ,

a c ura tive fo r thi s terrible di se a s e o f m o der n li fe Th e

.

te lephone th telegra ph
,
e t,
h e a a , a —
r ilro d the tr mca r it is to
these a nd such like a ge ncie s tha t we m ust loo k fo r the rea l
-

so lve n ts o f thi s s oci a l i ncrusta tio n— they m ust furni sh the

m a i nsa lve fo r thi s socia l sore Wha tever will help to m a ke
.

on e spot a s good a s a n other with respect to the ordi na ry

i nter comm unica tions o f li fe will o f itsel f help to
-
,

d e ce ntra lis e us a nd to expa nd the a re a o ver which the

,

nece ssa ry energies o f modern civili sa tio n c a nbe m a de to

 C YCLING CONSIDERED IN ITS

o pera e t without let o r h i n

m a te ria l
dra nc e Allo wi ng fo r
.

sto p pa g es a n d th e o ften circ uito us course o f th e ra ilwa y

ro ute a workin g m a n m a y re a ch his townwo rk fro m th e
,

sa m e suburba n o r even rura l d is ta nce q ui te a s ra pidly o n

a c y cl e a s ina tra i n ; wh il st as o rdin a ry roa ds a re a n d ever

wi ll be m o re n um e ro us tha n ra il ro a ds a n d are a ccessibl e a t
,

every p oint o f t h ei r c o urse a n d not merely a t sta tion s th e

, ,

use o f th e former o pe n s o ut to h i m a far wid e r c hoice o f

l o ca lity fo r h i s dwelling Fo r a l o dg ing in th e t hickly
.

built h a mlets tha t cluster round o ur suburba n ra ilwa y

sta tion s a higher re n t will be dem a nded th a n he would h a ve
to pa y for a fa r more sa l ubrio us a n d plea sa nt h o me o n a
bye roa d a t a dista nce from the line ; a cycle therefore
-
, ,

wi ll be the mea n s n o t only o f a dding to h is o wna n d h is

’
children s hea lth but a l so o f increa s ing h is weekly sa vings
, .

T rue th e m a ch ine itsel f will cost something to sta rt with ,

but owing to th e ra pidi ty with which fa sh ion s a lter the ,

price a t wh ich a rea lly se rvicea ble a lbeit superseded type o f

c yc le m a y be obta i ned is n o w e xceedingly sm a ll or 5
only) a sum which suppo sing him to be otherwi se living
, ,

a t a di s ta nce o f s ix tra in m iles from h is work he would

h a ve spent insix mon ths o f ra ilwa y j ourneys so th a t a t the ,

end o f h a l f a yea r h is po ssession will become a source o f

- -

d a ily ga in to h im A workm a n o na cycle with h is tool ba g

.
-

sl ung over h is b a ck o r pend a nt from the h a n dle is a lrea dy

no uncommon sight : the function s o f the cycle as a
d ec en t ra liser a re a lrea dy in incipient opera ti o n .

Aga i n a s m a teri a lly lessening the di sa dva nta ges o f rura l

,

li fe a nd providing the mea n s o f relieving its monotony

, ,

cycling will help to check those centripeta l forces which

h a ve recently shown s uch strengt h By mea n s o f the cycle
.

the l a ds o f neighbo uring vill a ges c a n be brought more

e a sily together a nd c a ncombine more freely fo r recrea tive
,

an d other p urpo se s ; society becomes pos s ible even in

o ur rura l so litud es rea dier a ccess too c a nbe o bta ined to
'

, ,

the nea res t town fo r occa s iona l s ights a nd a m usements ;

the vill a ge a le ho use will ra pidly cea se to be the o ne
-

a ttra ctive tho ught o n which rustic mi n d s dwell whils t

 C YCL ING CONSIDERED IN ITS

inc ur the expense o f a ny such form o f tra n sport Inthis .

c as e the prod uce being peri sh a ble is lost to the comm uni ty
”
the new form o f ca rrier tricycle however will sa ve it
-
, , .

Some such economy o f tra n sport fo r the sm a ller a nd more

peri sha ble form s o f l a nd prod uce will be essenti a l to th e
s ucce ss o f a n e ff ort to introd u ce th t sy tem f m ll
y a s o s a

independent holdings which a ccording to o ur be st a uth o ri

,

ties is supposed to be the most effi cient a nd sa ti sfa ctory

method o f sec uring tha t E nglish soil should receive th e
“
highest c ultiva tion o f which it is c a pa ble . C hea p food ,

especi a lly chea p vegeta ble food is a n importa nt item in ,

the progra mme o f n a tiona l he a lth a nd to thi s a g a in cycli ng,

i s foun d ca p a ble o f contributi ng .

Interested then a s we un do ubtedly should be as a na tion

in a ninven tion which h as so m a ny direct bea rings o no ur
n a tion a l hea lth a nd pros perity it is fitting th a t we should
,

con s ider in concl usion whether a nything speci a l c a n a nd

ought to be done to a ssi st its development a nd a pplica tion .

It h as been a lrea dy suggested (pa ge 8 1 ) th a t in the metro

polita n di stricts cycle tra cks should be l a id down in the
-

pa rk s a nd th e sa me suggestion m a y be o ffered a s rega rd s

,

the pa rks o f o ur l a rger provinci a l town s ; fo r the s m a ller

towns where a ccess to th e count ry roa ds c a n be more
e a sily obta ined there is no such necessity B ut wha t is .

most urgently needed on a ll ha nd s especi a lly if cycles a re ,

to be o f a ny use to a griculture is the improvement o f o ur

,

country roa d s The a bolition o f the turnpike trusts a nd

.
-

the gl a ri ng inequa lities in the b urden o f roa d m a i ntena nce -

no w c ast upon the di fferent p a rishes h a ve resulted inm a ny ,

in sta nces in the most ra pid a nd di sa stro us deteriora tion .

It is us eless to expect th a t a n y s a ti s fa ctory remedy fo r thi s

will be devi sed until C ounty Government (a nother fa ctor

Info re ig nc oun tri e s wh e re suc h system s o f sm a ll te n
, ure a re in
o pe ra ti o nth e c la ss o f pro duc e h ere referred t o is o ftenc o n
, veyed to th e

ne a rest m a rket by do g c a i g - rr a es — a p ra c t ic e wh ic h o ur le i sla ture h a s

g
wi sely a n d h um a n ely p ro h ibit ed . Th e uti lity o f c yc li n g a
pa r t fro m
,

t h e h ea lth i n e ss o f it i s n
, o t o f c o ur se c o n
, , fin ed t o th e a bo ve i n st a n c es ,

a s wi t n e ss th e newspa per tric yc les inLo ndo n th e substitutio no f a

,

y li n f w lk i n o t i n ru ral d istric t s a n d it e v l nt u by o ur
c c g o r a a g p s s,p r a e s e

c o un t ry p a rso n s an d doc to rs wh eno nth ei r pro fessi on a l roun ds .

 R E L A TIONS TO HE A L TH .

of decentra lisa tion) is thoroughly esta bli shed a nd l o ca l ,

a uthori ty h as eyes to see h o w l a rge a ninfl uence th e condi

tion o f th e roa d s m ust h a ve o nloca l prospe ri ty a n d wh a t a

,

m uch wis er a n d more economic a l use o f money it w o uld be

in ma n y a rura l di strict to s pend it o n ordin a ry roa d
m a ki n g ra ther th a n o n the fa r more expe nsive restricted , ,

an d po ss ibly unrem un era tive form o f the ra ilroa d When .

the d a y h as come in which every coun ty sh a ll be found to

vi e with i ts neighbo ur in competing fo r th e hono ur o f

h a ving the be st roa ds in E ngla nd a nd when every di strict

,

roa d surveyor sha ll be com pelled to perform h is ro unds o n

-

a bicycle the nbut n

, , o t till th e n sh a ll we be ina po sition to
,.

a ffi rm th a t the full poss ibilities o f cycling h a ve been re a li sed .

We h a ve seen tha t the sprea d o f cycling a mong o ur

wo rking cl a s e both a gricultura l a nd a rtiz a n is o f un
s s — —
d o ubted hygienic a nd ec onomic importa nce ; but s m a ll as
i s the cos t o f a cycle when comp a red with its rea l pra ctica l
va l ue it nevertheless is a suffi ciently l a rge sum to form a
,

s erio us ob st a cle in the ca s e . To meet thi s di ffi c ulty we

venture to thi nk tha t some such system a s th a t o nwhich
loca l clothing cl ubs o r coa l cl ubs a re worked might
“

a dv a nt a g e o us ly be bro ught i n to pla y Workmen need to

.

be encoura ged to m a ke s m a ll weekly pa yments fo r such a

p urpose a nd when (sa y ) h a l f the sum required h as been
,

contributed they should be a llowed the use o f the cycle

, ,

which sho uld rem a i nthe lega l possession o f the cl ub until

the full a mount o f weekly p a yments h a s been m a de .

Immedi a te a dva nces might s imil a rly be m a de fo r rep a irs in

an y c a s e o f a ccident s (the weekly p a yment s bei n g re s umed
to meet them ) a n , d the cl ub should keep a spa re cycle o r
two to be lent d uri ng their exec ution .

We a re a l so incli ned to thi nk tha t the time is not fa r

dista nt when some a cqua int a nce with cycles both a s ,

rega rd s use a nd con struction might fa irly form pa rt o f the

,

pra ctica l c ur r ic ulum fo r both sexes a t o ur Boa rd Scho ol s .

Inthe me a n time it would be a m a teri a l help to the sprea d

o f use ful in form a tio no n the subjec t if some centra l cycle
,

m use um could be e st a bli shed inL ondon in which a s peci

men o f every new fo rm o f cycle o f a n y import a nce,together

 C YCL ING IN RELA TION TO HEA L TII .

with a ll appli a nces a nd invention s c onnec ted with it sh o uld ,

be deposi te d a n d rem a in o nview a n d inwhich e xpl a n a

,

t o ry lect ures should be delivered a n d e ve ry oppo rtunity

,

given fo r those inte rested to d isse ct a n d (under pro pe r

direc tion ) reset th e m a chin es w i th their own ha n ds an d ,

t h us to a c qui re a thoro ugh pra ctica l knowled g e o f a ll

k nown va rieties o f th e m C onsidering how importa nt a n
.

infl uenc e cycling h as upon th e hea lth a n d us efulness o f

those whose la bours a re th e m a i nsta y o f C ity commerce ,

s ome such in stituti o n a s thi s might pe rh a ps form a n ot

i n a ppropri a te b ra nch o f th e C ity G uild s In stit ute fo r th e

a dva ncement o f T ec hnica l Ed uca ti on .

One other suggestion we wo uld o ffer to Ra ilwa y Co m

p a n i e
. s Their ch a rges fo r th e conveya nce o f c ycles fo r

long di sta nces a re e xtremely reas ona ble but fo r a short ,

dista nce so me lesser fa re th a nthe present m i nim um shilling

wo uld be a grea t boon to the cyclis t His g rea tes t nee d o f .

ra ilwa y as sista nce is to help him to get quickly o ut o f h is

t own to some co untry sp ot a n d th us en a ble him to a voi d

,

the necessity o f a lwa ys tra vers ing the first four o r fi ve

miles o f ro a d which m a y be wea risome to him from thei r
,

fa mili a rity a n
,
d which ina n y ca s e a re pret t y cert a in to be
lumpy a n d o ut o f conditio n from th e hea vy tra ffi c It is .

o bvio us th a t if the comp a n y s o ffi cia l s h a d to be c on s ta n

’
tly
putting cycles in a nd o ut o f th e l ugga ge va n m uch dela y ,

an d inconvenience would be ca used ; but we vent ure to

t hink th a t ther e might be o n e o r t wo tra i n s in t h e d a
y ,

pa rticula rly o nSa turd a ys by which cycles might be ta ken

,

an d s pec i a l pro visi o n m a d e fo r them (as in th e pa ra llel

c a s e o f h un ting tra in s an d th a t fo r their conveya n ce
“

by these tra in s there sho uld be a minim um cha rg e o f

We feel s ure tha t th e co mpa n ies
'

s ixpence o r even le ss .

wo uld not be l o sers by such a na rra ngement .

With these hints fo r th e a ss ista nce a n d d eve l o p m en t o f

cycling we take leave o f th e subj ec t .

S I
O
O S
LONDO N: PR NT ED B Y W ILL IA I C L WE A ND SO N ,
TA NF R D S T R B B T A ND C HA RING C R .
S
OSS
 OFFI CI AL PUBLI CATI ONS .

Th e fo llo w i ng Ha n dbo o k s up o n s ubje c ts c og na t e

t o th e
Inte rna ti o n a l H e a l t h E x h i biti o na re a lre a dy p ubl i s h e d , o r i n
a c t ive p p
r e a r a ti o n
HEA L T H IN T HE V IL L A G E . B y S ir H ENR Y W . L
A C A ND, K G B F R S . . . . .

Illust ra t ed . [ New R ea dy .

H EA L T H Y NU R S ER IES A ND B ED R O O M S INC L U DING T HE -

,
L Y ING IN R O U M By M -G L D T O NE -
. " s. A S .

HEA L T H Y A ND U NH EA L T H Y H O U S E S IN T O W N A ND C O U NT RY .

WI LL I M E I E C E F F G SA w h n A pp ndi by R O E
AS S F I EL B A et c II a x G RS D,
y e
. .. . . . . . . .,
, , ,

M IN T C E Illu t t d S . . . s ra e .

HEA L T H Y F U R NIT U R E A ND DEC O RA T IO N B y RO B ERT W EDIs . .

,

F S A A hi
. . t Illu t
.
,
t d rc te c . s ra e .

H EA L T H Y S C H O O L S B y C HA R LES E PA G ET M R C 8 . .
, . . .

HEA L T H IN T HE W O R K S H O P B y J A M ES B L A K EMA N E q H M S ni o . .
, s .
, U e r
M p l
e t ro nInp fF o It aH O ffi s e c to r o a c t o ri es , om e c e.

O N V E NT IL A T IO N W A R M ING A ND L IG H T ING FO R DO M ES T IC
L S G LTO N C B F R S Illu t t d
, ,
US E B y C p inDO. a ta UG A A . . .
, . . . s ra e .

PHY S IO L O G Y O F DIG E S T IO N A ND T HE DIG ES T IV E O R G A NS .

y Pr o fe s so r A R T H U R G A M G EB , MD F R S . Ill us t r a ted .

W ORK
. .
,

DIET IN R E L A T IO N T O H EA L T H A ND . By A . W . B LY T H ,
&r .

O N T HE P R INC IP L E S O F C O O K ING B y S E PT IM US B ER DMO R E (M m , M a d, . .

F O O D A ND C O O K E RY F O R INF A NTS A ND INV A L IDS B y M is s .

“ G O D w it h a Pre fa c e b
y W B C HE A DL E F RA P “No w h ea d y . . , . . . .

W A T E R A ND W A T E R S U P P L IE S , A ND U NF E R M E NT ED B E V E
,

y Pro fe sso r A TT RIEL D Ph U F R S [ No w A ea ty

’
R AG ES Y . , . ., . . . . .

S A L T A ND O T H E R C O NDIM E NT S B y ] J M A NL EY M A [ No w R ea dy . . . , . . .

A L C O H O L IC DR INKS B y J O HN L W T HU D IC IIUM , M D , F R C P (L o m I J . . . . . . . . .

e tc .

JR DU TY IN R EG A R D T O H EA L T H V
”
OI . By G . . PO O RE, M D, . .

FR C I
INF E C T IO U S DIS EA S E A ND IT S P R EV E NT IO N. B y S HIR L EY F .

M UR PHY M R C P [ No w R ea d y
N
. . . . .

A C C IDE TA L INJ R IES : T EIR R E L IE F A ND U H IM M E DIA T E

T R EA IM ENT Ho w[ To R E V E NT A C C I DE NT S B EC O M I NG M O R E S E R IO US
. P . B y JA M E S C A NT L I E,
M A M B .F R C S
. ., Illus t r a t ed
. . . . ( Vo w R ea d y .

A M B U L A NC E O R G A NIZ A T IO N, E QU IPM E NT, A ND T RA NS PO R T.

y S urg e o nMa jo r G H EV A TT M A M D [ No w A ea d
A
Ill us t r a ted ’

6
. . , . . . .

C L EA NS ING S T E ET S A ND W A Y S IN T HE M ET R O P O L IS A N
L A R G F C IT IF S y W IL L IA u B OOT H S C O TT, M In
Y . st C E .
[ No w R ea d y . . . . .

F IR E S A ND F IR E B R IG A DE S . B y C a ptai nEY R E M S HA , C B Illus t r a ted . . W . .

Now A ea rly
L E G A L O B L IG A T IO NS IN R ES P EC T T O DW E L L ING S
.

F T HE
P ORO B y HA R R Y D ur r , M A B a rris te r-a t -La w ; wi th 3 Pre fac e by A RT HUR CO HE N. Q C M
. . . . . P .

[ N w R ea d ’
S C O O L S o r A R T : T E IR O R IG IN, HIS T O R Y , W O R x
H
INFL U ENC E B y JO HN C L S PA R K ES , rinc i al o f t h e Na t Io n
. a l A rt T ra in
A NI )
in S c h o o l, S o ut h .
H
P p g f
g
.

Kens in t o n .

AT H L ET IC S ; o r, P H Y S IC A L EX E R C IS E A ND R EC R EA T IO N Pa rt I . .

B y R e v E WA RR E M A Et o nC o lleg e
. Illus t r a ted
.
[ Now R ea d y
, . .
, . . .

A T H L ET IC S Pa r t IL B y Ho n E L Y TTE LT O N, M A a nd G ERA RD F C O B B , M A
. . . . . . .

[N R ea d
DR E S S , A ND IT S R E L AT IO N T o H EA L T H A ND C L IM A TE ?
13
E . W . G O DW IN ,
F S A. . .
[No w R ea y d .

FER M E NT A T IO N By Dr DUCL A UX , Pro fesso r o f B io log ic a l C h em y a t th e . istr

So rbo nn e Illus t r a ted . .

P U B L IC H EA L T H L A B O RA T O R Y W O R K
A pe n
E
d ix B y W W A T O N C HE Y NE F R C S
.

P U L IC H EA L T H L A B O R A T O R Y W O R K. Part II B y w H C o a m m ,
. S
Pa rt I Wi th C a ta lo g ue as
. . .
. .

. . .

M A M D . an d C E CA S S A L F I O F C S
. . .

L O NDO N W A T E R S U P P L Y
.
, , . ,
. .
, . .

B y C o lo nel S ir FR A NC IS BO LT O N, C E , a ssis te d . . .

by t h e En gine ers o f th e Lo ndonWa te r Co m pa nies .

LO NDO N : WIL L IA M C L O WES S O NS, L IM ITED, 4\

INTER NA TIO NA L H EA LTH EX HIB ITIO N, I3, C HA R ING C RO SS .