SOUND BODIES 



sustained efforts, and so of greater ultimate achieve- 

 ments if the body, even though inherently frail, were 

 brought to its fullest physiological development. 



In this view which is the true view there is no 

 rivalry between the gymnasium and the library. The 

 professor of gymnastics is the direct ally of the professor 

 of philosophy. The swinging of dumbbells (I cite this 

 because it is about the most inane form of physical 

 exercise) is an intellectual performance. The young 

 man who appears to be bent only on grappling a foot- 

 ball is in reality helping himself to prepare his Greek 

 lesson. The budding athlete as he measures his biceps 

 and notes a fraction of an inch of increase is really 

 measuring his mind also. That may seem a very far- 

 fetched illustration, but, considering mental poten- 

 tialities of course rather than actual achievements, it is 

 literally true. The motto of the Turnvereins "A 

 sound mind in a sound body" in its widest implica- 

 tions, is most amply sustained by the facts of physiology 

 and psychology. 



It is because our people as a whole are beginning to 

 realize the implications of these physiological facts 

 that there has come the marvellous wave of interest in 

 athletics. Some centuries since, the invention of gun- 

 powder seemed to take the premium off physical strength. 

 With advancing civilization mental strength became 

 the sine qua non. But now it appears that the two must 

 go together; that the mind of man, despite its rationality, 

 is earth-born and earth-bound, and cannot safely spurn 

 the body it inhabits. 



Primitive peoples, indeed, are little disposed to do so. 



[45] 



