EXERCISE AND BATHING 229 



There is no long waiting, as in some games, but a constant 

 interchange of play, active but not severe, with practically 

 no danger of injury. 



Baseball and Football. For those who can pursue 

 the more vigorous games of baseball and football they are 

 admirable, and should not be objected to because occa- 

 sional injury comes from them. No vigorous exercise is 

 wholly unattended by risk, though it is usually slight when 

 the proper care is used. All these games calling for great 

 activity and strength develop manly qualities in boys, and 

 do much to make them active, fearless men, men who in 

 time of danger have not only strength and endurance, but 

 well-trained muscles, cool heads, and brave hearts, men 

 who know what to do and how to do it in an accident, as 

 at fires, upsetting of boats, etc. A few strong, cool-headed 

 men, by their presence of mind, often stop a panic and 

 save many lives when there is an alarm of fire, which often 

 proves false. The Duke of Wellington said that it was 

 on the football fields of Eton and Rugby that the battle 

 of Waterloo was won. 



Boxing. Boxing is a splendid exercise. It calls into 

 play nearly every muscle of the body. Many pieces of 

 apparatus in a gymnasium are for the especial purpose 

 of working certain muscles. But a pair of boxing gloves 

 may be said to contain a whole gymnasium. Many kinds 

 of work in a gymnasium are likely to be overdone, espe- 

 cially if not under the direct supervision of a good director. 

 One may overlift or overstrain himself. But in boxing 

 there is little tendency in this direction. Boxing makes 

 one quick on his feet, trains to quick movements of the 

 arms, trains the eye, keeps the body in an erect position, 

 and especially develops the muscles of the legs and back. 



