THE MUSCLES 



47 



Advantages of Work and 

 Play over Gymnastic Exer- 

 cises. — The interest that 

 comes from doing something 

 useful, makes muscular exer- 

 tion doubly beneficial to the 

 health. The lifting of dumb- 

 bells, Indian clubs, and pulley 

 weights, and letting them 

 down again, tends to become 

 very irksome, even though 

 done with the knowledge that 

 the exercise will benefit the 

 health. Useful labor and 

 games place defijiite objects in 

 view and do not require so 

 great an effort of the will nor 

 exhaust the nerves so much as 

 mere exercise. The interest 

 in the work or the game serves 

 to arouse all the nerves and 

 muscles to work in harmony. 



An Advantage of Gymnas- 

 tics over Work and Play. — 

 Gymnastics can furnish any 

 required variety of exercises 

 and can develop exactly the 

 muscles that need develop- 

 ment and leave those idle that 

 have become overdeveloped by 

 doing constantly one kind of 

 work or playing continually 

 the same game. The deform- 

 ity of a flat chest (and round 

 shoulders which always ac- 

 company it) does not so often 

 indicate a weak chest or small 

 lungs as it indicates weak or 

 relaxed muscles of the back 

 and the habit of sitting in a 

 relaxed position at work 

 (Figs. 49, 50, 51). Gymnas- 



Di 



Ogi-) 



Fig. 50. — Correct Position. 



Fig. 51. — Slipping down in Seat. 



