780 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



in which they are used are in a high degree satisfactory, and ought to 

 serve as a model to universities all over the world. It may be true 

 that at the Continental universities rowing would not inspire a tenth 

 part of the enthusiasm which it creates at Oxford and Cambridge ; 

 and I know from experience that it is hopeless to persuade German 

 students, as a class, to adopt what they consider childish toys the 

 bats and balls of cricket. All I can say is, so much the worse for the 

 Continental universities. In everything that appertains to work and 

 more especially to original work I am profoundly convinced that the 

 sooner we copy something from the German universities the better ; 

 but, in most things that appertain to play, the English universities 

 constitute the best models. Rowing, cricket, football, athletics, and, 

 in a lower degree, gymnastics, bicycling, swimming, and riding, con- 

 stitute, besides walking, the favorite modes of exercise ; and it is im- 

 possible to suggest better. I have only to object that, regarded as 

 recreation, there is, both at Oxford and Cambridge, far too much ten- 

 dency to a specialization of these forms of exercise. Competition dic- 

 tates practice, and practice entails too exclusive a devotion to the one 

 kind of exercise which is practiced ; so that, as a consequence, there is 

 too sharp a division between the boating-men, the cricketers, and the 

 athletes for securing the full benefit of exercise which all would derive 

 if they were more usually to participate in one another's pursuits. But 

 this evil is to some extent unavoidable, as it arises immediately from 

 the spirit of emulation, without which the mere exercise would lose 

 its zest, and so the fullness of its recreative value. Still, now that so 

 many of the colleges are provided with their own cricket-grounds, and 

 the boats are practically open to all, there is no reason why even the 

 most ambitious aspirants to the " 'varsity blue " should not enjoy more 

 variety of exercise than is usually the case. 



In the army and navy there is abundant time for recreation, which 

 is too frequently wasted in mere lounging. When once the army or 

 navy examinations are passed, there is comparatively little mental 

 work required in the performance of duty, and therefore the compara- 

 tively large amount of leisure time which officers enjoy ought to be 

 much more generally devoted than it is to reading, or even to original 

 work. Officers constitute a class presenting no small proportion of in- 

 telligent members ; so that the comparative rareness with which they 

 present either high culture or proved powers of original work must, I 

 think, be set down to a general bad habit or fashion of substituting 

 idle amusement for profitable recreation. 



To professional men, men of business, and indeed all who are en- 

 gaged in pursuits requiring more or less severe mental work, coupled 

 with more or less confinement, exercise is, of course, the conditio sine 

 qua non of the recreation to be recommended. This fact is so obvious 

 that I need not dwell upon it further than to make one remark. This 

 is to warn all such persons that their feelings are no safe guide as to 



