Popular Sports* and Exercises. l*f^ 



aWd rewards on those V9fid^^(?e!led iirt tli^^s^ 

 delightful arts at the celebration of all th6 

 pablic games. To such a happy comb iii4t tort 

 of mental with corporeal excellencies^, 

 cherished and displayed under the mo^ 

 pompous and fascinating appearances in thei^f 

 popular diversions and solemn festivals, . rhay 

 the splendid achievements of this distinguished 

 people be attributed.* Considered in the light 

 of affording amusement, exciting generous 

 emulation, and of creating robust and hardy 

 titizens, endowed with energy to resist slavery 



* Monfesqulen is of opinion, that the want df employ- 

 ment for the majority of the citizens, compelled the 

 Greeks to becorae a society of athletic and military com- 

 batants J for, he observes, " they were not peritiiltei to 

 follow the ordinary occupations of agriculture, com« 

 merce, and the baser arts ; and they were forbidden tp 

 thfe idle J coniequenlly, their only resource waftio i|i4; 

 gymnastic and mihtary exercises."— ^But this assertion is 

 contradicted by the practice of some of the Grecian 

 states. We know that in Athens commerce was highly 

 esteemed and successfully cultivated. This writer must 

 therefore be understood in ia restrictive and qualified 

 sense, when he «ays, " li fnnt doiiic regarder Ics Grec«, 

 comme une societcd'athletcs Si des combattans." — Moq- 

 tesquieu de Pesprit de loix. liv. IV. chap. Vllf. 



The Pancratium, in which the antagonists voluntarily 

 threw themselves on the ground, and annoyed each other 

 by pinching, biting, scratching and every kind of savage 

 attack, ought not to be endured in a civilized country. 



