INFLUENCE OF HABIT OVEK THE MUSCLES, 



Running, therefore, may be considered as a succession 

 of short leaps with one foot. The leaps are made in 

 rapid succession, and the toes only come to the ground. 

 Such are a few of the principal methods of progression 

 made use of by man ; some others are seen in the inferi- 

 or animals, but it is rather foreign to our purpose to de- 

 scribe them. 



Of all the organs in the animal economy, the muscles 

 are most under the control of habit, habit even is neces- 

 sary before the simplest and smallest efforts are easily 

 performed. When we consider how difficult it is to 

 perform almost any motion for the first time, it is truly 

 astonishing to see how much may be finally accomplished 

 by perseverance in a constant and regular habit. 



Emily. I am perfectly aware of this. I recollect when 

 I contrasted the accuracy a.id rapidity with which the 

 fingers of an accomplished player move over the keys of 

 the piano, with my own awkward first attempts, I could 

 not believe, what I am well convinced of now, that habit 

 would in time make that perfectly easy, which appeared 

 to me the result of a peculiar gift of nature. 



Dr. B. It is not only the muscles of the fingers, but 

 those of every other part of the body over which habit 

 has a wonderful influence. We have only to look into a 

 circus, and see men dancing on slack ropes with as much 

 ease apparently, as on an elastic floor, standing tip-toe on 

 a horse's back, and while he is going at full speed, jump- 

 ing through a hoop under which he passes and alighting 

 upon his back on the other side, and many other feats 

 equally astonishing, to be thoroughly convinced of this. 



Emily. In truth we may not go so far as that, for I 

 understood that some wonderful things are done now-a- 

 days at the gymnasia, not by men who make a business 

 of it, but by staid and grave citizens, purely for pastime 

 and exercise. 



Dr. B. Yes Gymnasia are institutions now revi- 

 ving in the world, for the purpose of developing that 



