"Let your statue be beautiful, but neglect not the pedestal, lest
with every adverse wind it receive a shock."
Our care of the future man is not, as I have said, confined to his
infancy, but is extended to all the critical periods of life. The proper
development of the frame and of manly qualities is looked upon as an
essential part of the boy's education, and much of the strength, beauty,
and longevity of the people is due to the physical training of the
student.
Formerly little discrimination was used in the selection of bodily as of
mental exercises; the same exercises being allotted to the brave and the
timid, the weak and the strong boy.
Now, on the other hand, the exercise is adapted to the boy's strength
and physical organization, which often differ as much as his genius from
that of his companions. Exercises beneficial to one constitution are
prejudicial to another, and would, perhaps, develop a part of the body
already having a tendency to exaggeration.
Thus a youth inclined to be tall and lanky, or whose limbs are disposed
to be too long for symmetry, is not allowed the same exercises as those
of a youth with short limbs or inclined to be corpulent.
We have numerous gymnastic exercises. Some parts of our apparatus are
much like yours, as, for instance, a cross-bar, on which the boy swings,
holding on with his hands.
In the case just mentioned a tall, thin, long-limbed boy would not be
permitted to use this bar; whilst a boy with short limbs and inclined to
corpulency would be encouraged to use it daily.
A medical man attached to the college attends on the gymnastic ground to
observe the efforts each boy is obliged to make in performing his
exercises. When the exercises are ended, the doctor examines the boy's
pulse, and, with the aid of an instrument invented for the purpose,
tests the heat of his brain. The boy with whom the exercises agree will
show a healthy heat and a strong, full pulse; whilst others will have
the brain extremely hot, with the pulse very quick, but feeble. The
doctor having formed his opinion, orders that these boys should
discontinue the exercises antagonistic to their system, and they are led
to those more adapted to their capabilities. The weaker boys are also
often separated from the stronger, to prevent that overstraining to
which a weak but high-spirited lad is frequently impelled by the
emulation of example.
In the allotment of exercises our aim is to develop thoroughly the
muscles, and to give a regular and general action to all the members,
but not to overstrain them. The power of each boy being thus carefully
remarked and regulated accordingly, all gather strength rapidly, and
most are soon able to resume the exercises for a time abandoned. Indeed,
by the precautions taken and the exercises selected, the body is
fortified and rendered so firm, that in after years it will bear very
great fatigue without sustaining injury.