Popular Sports and Exercises, l«l 



abraded a civilized nntlon below the condition 

 «pf savage cannibals. 



Rome justly suffered moral and political 

 eviJs from fostering such inhuman propensities: 

 Her existence was more than once at stake bjr 

 the insurrection of the wretched and despair- 

 ing victims of her barbarity. Besides, the 

 corruption of the populace, through the me- 

 dium of these diversions, was no difhcuit task 

 to tlie powerful and wealthy. \Vhen man has' 

 been taught to subdue the humane feelings of 

 his naturc, he contracts an indifference to the 

 purer and nobler virtues whicli fit him for dis- 

 charging the duties of a good citizen. Indeed 

 every habit that w^ears out the sympathizing 

 sensibility of the heart, proportionably disqua- 

 lifies man from exercising the pleasing duties 

 and tender charities, connected with public 

 and domestic life. 



It would appear from this hasty sketch that 

 the popular games and exercises of the Greeks 

 when coJTvparcd with those of tlie Romans, 

 were better calculated to promote the social 

 as .well as mdividual welfare of mankind. 

 The Grecian sports fortified the body and 

 disciplined the mind, whhout injuring the 

 one or brutali,zing the other. 



Indeed the superior wisdom of Grecian po- 

 lirv rt^ivleif^' ''^^^ public diversions subser- 



