NEWS FROM THE BIRDS. 



OUTDOOE EXEECISE. 



At^ active, healthy boy said to me the other 

 day that he wanted to go downtown to a gym- 

 nasium. Now, I haven't a word to say against 

 gymnasiums for those who must have them ; 

 let them swing the dumb-bells as much as they 

 like, turn handspring and somersault, and per- 

 form any other exploits that will develop brawn 

 and muscle and manly strength. But the lad 

 to whom I refer lives in the suburbs of the 

 city, and so I pointed to the beckoning fields 

 and woods, stretching away in the rear of the 

 house, and said, with some energy : 



"There is your gymnasium, my boy — the 

 great, unlimited out-of-doors ! There you can 

 get plenty of exercise, plenty of fresh air, and 

 at the same time gather treasures of knowledge 

 from Nature's exhaustless storehouse. That 

 will be better, far better, than dumb-bells, 

 swings, clubs, and ladders." 



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