CONVERSATION VII. GRACE. What kind of exercise is considered the best? MRS. F. Different kinds suit different constitutions. The great object is to employ all the muscles of the body, especially those that are weak and require strengthening exercise, ought therefore, to be varied. EDITH. Change is always delightful. We tire of toujours perdrix "For all that moveth doth in change delight." You have given me leave to quote, and make similies, Aunt? MRS. F. Certainly I give you 66 as free a charter as the wind," as long as you will attend, and follow the laws in which I am instructing you. EDITH. Thank you, dear Aunt: I love to exercise ruly tongue: but, proceed. MRS. F. my un Generally speaking, walking agrees with every body; but as walking brings only into play the lower limbs, it is not sufficient-especially for young people. Rowing in a boat, and fencing, for boysshuttlecock and archery for girls, are very useful, as they also employ the mind, and give a pleasing stimulus to the muscles. GRACE. Rowing is a severe exercise and did I not hear papa say that many young men injure themselves at college by rowing matches? MRS. F. There is an abuse, as well as use in all things. Exertion beyond our strength will always bring evil, and we break Nature's laws when we over-exert our muscles, as much as when we leave them in inactivity. EDITH. Ah! the happy medium-how difficult it is to hit ! MRS. F. From ignorance of Physiology many young men over-task their muscles, and never recover from it. I hope the time may come when they will study the laws their Creator has made, and not throw away wantonly his precious gift of health. They will then no longer think that they have no time to study their own bodies," so fearfully and wonderfully made." Now" they regard not the works of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands:" but I hope it will not much longer be thus, and that they may learn that it is the duty of both high and low, men and women, boys and girls, to know something of Human Physiology. Dr. Combe says in his excellent book" Is life, then, so brief, and are our hours so entirely occupied with higher and more important duties, that we cannot afford a pittance of time to learn the laws that regulate our existence? No! the only difficulty is obtaining the desire for knowledge. No idea can be more preposterous than that human beings have no time to study and obey the natural laws. These laws punish so severely those who neglect them, that the offender loses more time in un dergoing the punishment, than would be requisite to obey them. The benevolent Creator has given us no laws that are not pleasant and easy to obey. There is a case mentioned of a gentleman engaged in business, whose nervous and digestive system had been injured by neglect of the organic laws. He was desired by his doctor to walk in the open air at least one hour a day-to repose from all exertion, bodily and mental, one hour after breakfast and one hour after dinner, because the brain and the nerves cannot extend their energy to the muscles-to thinking and digestion at the same time: he was also told to be very moderate in his diet: this last injunction he obeyed, but he laughed at the idea of having to spare three hours for his health. His doctor replied that the organic laws admit of no exceptions: he must obey or take the consequence: but that the time lost in enduring the punishment would be double and treble that required for obedience: and so it proved. Instead of fulfilling an important appointment, it was usual for him to send a note in these words :-' I was so distressed with head-ache last night, that I never closed my eyes, and to-day I am incapable of being out of bed.' On other occasions, he is out of bed, but apologizes for his incapacity to attend to business on account of pain. In short, if these hours, lost in painful suffering, were added together, and distributed over the days when he was fit for duty, we should find them out-number those which would suffice for obedience to the organic laws-and with this difference in the results: by neglect, he loses his hours and enjoyment; by obedience, he would be rewarded by an aptitude for business, and a pleasing consciousness of existence." But to return to the several kinds of exercise. Riding on horseback is very salubrious; and, if the lungs are weak, it is better than walking, because it does not hurry the breathing. It calls into play the muscles of the body-for, even if we walk the horse, a gentle and constant action of the muscles is required to balance ourselves and keep our seat: the management of the horse, too, engages the mind, and the free contact of the air, and rapid change of scene, exhilirates the spirits. GRACE. Indeed they do! I feel always in such high spirits on horseback; and on my pet, Corah, I canter as if I were not touching the earth. EDITH. Grace is almost poetical. She is like the Dauphin in " Henry the Fifth," who said of his steed:"I am a hawk: he trots the air: the earth sings when he touches it: it is the prince of palfreys." "No more, cousin." MRS. F. EDITH. Nay, the man hath no wit that cannot from the rising of the lark to the lodging of the lamb, vary deserved praise on my palfrey it is a theme as fluent as the sea: turn the sands into eloquent tongues, and my horse is an argument for them all." MRS. F. I will echo your extravagant quotation, Edith, since riding is a charming exercise, especially on a thorough-bred horse, like Corah. Dancing, also, is a good and cheerful exercise, when practised out of doors as in France, but in heated rooms, and at late hours, it is hurtful. EDITH. What, no balls, Aunt Ellen? MRS. F. A ball is a pleasant thing, especially to the young; but I can't defend it as a healthful amusement. GRACE. I know you approve of battledore and shuttlecock. MRS. F. Yes it is a good game for calling into play the muscles of the chest and arms, and can be played with the right and left hand. "Les Graces," also, is very good; especially when played out of doors. And archery is an excellent thing; for drawing the bow calls the muscles of the upper part of the body into action; and stooping to pick up the arrows, and walking from target to target exercises the lower muscles. EDITH. I like archery; and I am always glad when I find that what I like is good: "So it is: then let us sing, Honour to the woods unshorn : Honour to the archer keen! MRS. F. You will find, my dear Edith, that "He who studies Nature's laws, From certain truths his maxim draws." and that nothing that is not good-that is not in accordance with Nature's laws, can be pleasant, or can give any permanent satisfaction. The mind must be engaged in all we do, or exercise loses half its benefit. Nature is a kind, indulgent mother-she does not ask us to do anything that is disagreeable; and be assured, if we find her commands distasteful, the fault lies in ourselves-we have perverted her good gifts. To return to exercise. It is very important, when we select exercises for the young, that we do not mislead them by a vain desire to perform G |