AND PHYSIOLOGY. 



143 



of the body in either men or women. And while they most 

 thoroughly disciplined the intellectual powers, their " semi- 

 nary of learning" was the gymnasium, where, as prominent 

 characteristics, were the running, wrestling, and boxing exer- 

 cises, and by them regarded as equally important with intel- 

 lectual effort. 



But though the neglect of muscular exercise is the most 

 sadly evident in the female portion of society, yet it is not 

 confined here. For many of our educated men are of feeble 

 physical culture, mainly because of the cultivation of the in- 

 tellect at the expense of the body. Most men in the academ- 

 ical and professional schools are apt to regard study as first 

 and foremost, and a care of the body afterwards — if there be 

 any time for it t How many make it a duty — and a relig- 

 ious one too — to take all the time that can possibly be se- 

 cured for study, and leave the exercise as a thing desirable 

 but not essential ! But we maintain that a system of educa- 

 tion which simply crowds the mind with discipline, to the 

 neglect of physical culture, is not only a defective, but a 

 monstrously pernicious system. Students may bear the 

 cramming process through the academical, collegiate, and 

 even professional course, but sooner or later the body will be 

 overpowered. Nature's laws cannot be violated without suf- 

 fering the penalty at some time ; and of what service can the 

 most cultivated minds become, if the body is too feeble to use 

 their learning? Of what beauty is the most brilliant gem 

 without the art of the lapidary to develop and exhibit its 

 splendor ? 



In how few educational institutions in our country is there 

 any thing like a system of exercise suggested, or much more 

 required ? In how few of them does muscular development 

 meet with any thing but discouragement ? 



It is true that muscular development has for too long a time 

 among us been associated with the lower class of people, as 

 prize-fighters, shoulder-hitters, bruisers and horse-racers, in 

 all which cases it should meet a decided disapproval. But is 



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