METHODS OF OBTAINING EXERCISE. 103 



cise at this time, and languid during the early part of the day, had 

 better defer it till from one to three hours after breakfast. Exer- 

 cise prevents disease by giving vigor and energy to the bodv and 

 its various organs and members, and thus enables them to ward off 

 or overcome the influence of the causes which tend to impair their 

 integrity. It cures many diseases by equalizing the circulation and 

 the distribution of nervous energy, thus invigorating and strength- 

 ening weak organs, and removing local torpor and congestion. 



Invalids should always be moderate in their exercise; take 

 only short walks, avoid fatigue and not stand in the open air. The 

 best time for them is in the forenoon, arranged so that they can 

 rest for half an hour before dinner. They should never take exer- 

 cise immediately before a meal or going to bed. 



Exercise for Ladies and Others As exercise is essential 

 to the preservation of health and development, the proper method 

 of taking it is an important subject of inquiry. Very little, and in 

 many instances no provision whatever has been made in our cities 

 and towns in the way of proper play -grounds for children or adults, 

 and therefore it becomes necessary to seek private methods of get- 

 ting exercise. As people are deprived of an opportunity for athletic 

 sports and games, a competent teacher of physical exercise has 

 become almost a necessity ; even more essential than is a teacher 

 for some of the branches taught in our schools. There are many 

 who are not aware of the different motions which the human body 

 is capable of making, and require making to prevent diseases and 

 deformity; hence the importance of such teachers. Nor is the 

 necessity for such teachers confined to cities and villages, for the 

 female portion of the population of our rural districts have, in a 



freat degree, neglected out-door amusements and exercise until 

 isease and deformity have become the prevalent result. 



Outdoor Exercise for Girls Ordinarily it is not fash- 

 ionable for girls and ladies to engage in active, out-door sports, such 

 as running, playing ball, rambling over fields, etc.; and if young 

 girls do take part in them they are cruelly called romps and tomboys 

 as terms of reproach as though girls have not as good a right 

 to exercise, air, light, amusements, symmetry of form and conse- 

 quent health and beauty, as boys. In the eyes of some it is nol 

 proper for young ladies to engage in any of the out-door employ- 

 ments whicn give vigor and health to young men. There are but 

 few who would wish to see them engage in the hardest manual 

 labor, side by side with men, but we should like to see every farm 

 provided with a large garden and orchard, and to see ladies spend 

 more of their time cultivating berries, fruits, flowers and vegetables 

 in the open air, and less in useless fancy sewing. They would 

 thus make their homes paradises, where wealth, beauty and hap- 

 piness would abound, instead of places of discontent, deformity and 

 disease. Let such a change be wrought and it would cause the 

 young men of our country to seek happiness in the quiet and peace 



