THE
ATLANTIC MONTHLY.
A MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE, ART, AND POLITICS.
VOL. X.--AUGUST, 1862.--NO. LVIII.
THE NEW GYMNASTICS.
Physical culture is on the top of the wave. But the movement is as yetin the talk stage. Millions praise the gymnasium; hundreds seek itsblessings. Similar incongruities make up the story of human life. Butin this case inconsistency is consistent.
Evidences of physical deterioration crowd upon us. Fathers and mothersregard their children with painful solicitude. Not even parentalpartiality can close the eye to decaying teeth, distorted forms,pallid faces, and the unseemly gait. The husband would gladly give hisfortune to purchase roses for the cheeks of the loved one, whilethousands dare not venture upon marriage, for they see in it onlyprotracted invalidism. Brothers look into the languishing eyes ofsisters with sad forebodings, and sisters tenderly watch for thereturn of brothers, once the strength and hope of the fatherlessgroup, now waiting for death. The evil is immense. What can bedone? Few questions have been repeated with such intense anxiety.
My object is to submit, for the consideration of the readers of the"Atlantic," a new system of physical training, adapted to both sexes,and to persons of all ages and degrees of strength. I have an ardentfaith that in it many will find an answer to the important question.
The common remark, that parents are too much absorbed in theaccomplishments of their daughters to give any attention totheir health, is absurd. Mothers know that the happiness of theirgirls, as well as the character of their settlement in life, turnsmore upon health and exuberance of spirits than upon French andmusic. To suppose, that, while thousands are freely given foraccomplishments, hundreds would be refused for bodily health andbloom, is to doubt the parents' sanity. If the father were fullysatisfied that Miss Mary could exchange her stooping form, pale face,and lassitude for erectness, freshness, and elasticity, does anybodysuppose he would hesitate? Fathers give their daughters Italian anddrawing, not because they regard these as the best of the good thingsof life, but because they form a part of the established course ofeducation. Only let the means for a complete physical development beorganized, and announced as an integral part of our system ofeducation, and parents would be filled with grateful satisfaction. Thepeople are ready and waiting. No want is so universal, none so deeplyfelt. But how shall symmetry and vigor be reached? What are themeans? Where is the school? During the heat of the summer ourcity-girls go into the country, perhaps to the mountains: this isgood. When in town, they skate or walk or visit the riding-school:all good. But still they are stooping and weak. The father, consciousthat their bodies, like their minds, are susceptible of indefinitedevelopment, in his anxiety takes them to the gymnasium. They find alarge room furnished with bars, ladders, and swings. They witness thewonderful performances of accomplished gymnasts and acrobates, admirethe brilliant feats; but the girls see no opportunity for themselves.They are nearly right. The ordinary gymnasium offers little chance forgirls, none for old people, but little for fatpeople of any age, and very little for small children of either sex.
Are not these the classes which most require artificial training? Itis claimed that the common gymnasium is admirable for young men. Ithink there are other m