476 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



upon mental development of the constitution and functions of 

 the muscular system. The condition and action of the muscles 

 stand in reciprocal relation to the senses and to the feelings which 

 form the necessary effective accompaniment of the senses. Fur- 

 thermore, the striated (or so-called voluntary) muscles are organs 

 of the will. In the complicated sensory motor apparatus all the 

 most primary foundations of the intellectual life are laid." 



This quotation is right in line with the fact that the first 

 development of will comes through exercise of the muscles ; for 

 the first development of will, like all succeeding development of 

 will, consists in overcoming resistance; and the first resistance 

 to be overcome is physical. The child with flabby muscles has 

 generally a defective will power. Men of strong physique have 

 strong will power. Of course this will power to be effective 

 must be educated and directed like any other power. But its 

 foundation is laid in bodily power. 



Another confirmation of the necessary connection between 

 strength of body and power of mind is to be found in the history 

 of the dominant races. The Greeks afforded the finest types of 

 body of their times or of any succeeding times. They showed 

 also that their intellectual activity was as remarkable as their 

 physical development. They have produced a literature that will 

 never die. The Roman supremacy, which lasted longer than the 

 Greek, was founded on physical prowess. It also has left a law 

 and a literature which are imperishable. The northern races of 

 Europe, overcoming the Roman arms by sheer physical force, and 

 appropriating what was best in the Roman polity, became the 

 masters of the world. From those races one more virile than 

 the rest the Saxon (now become the Anglo-Saxon) is through its 

 descendants almost master of the present world. Moreover, all 

 those races which declined, went down before races of stronger 

 physical power. The corruption of the body by sloth and effemi- 

 nate luxury was followed by a mental decline, just as softness and 

 weakness of mind and will have always gone hand in hand with 

 enervated, enfeebled bodies. 



But I should be misunderstood if I leave the impression that 

 muscular force is the only one to be considered. Even of the 

 bodily forces, or of the agents which go to make these forces, it 

 is only one, though one of the most important. Nutrition must be 

 attended to. Without perfect nutrition the best muscular force 

 is impossible. If nutrition is faulty, muscular exercise if long 

 continued does harm rather than good. Next in importance to 

 nutrition is a fresh supply of oxygen to make good, pure blood. 

 Exercise should be taken in the open air, or at least in the purest 

 air possible. The skin should not be neglected. In fact, all the 

 laws of hygiene should be observed. Tests and measurements 



