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190 EXTRACTS FROM THE LAWS OF LIFEo
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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—^- " Observe How In All Ages Our Ancest...
material developed " Let me frame as recap its when structure itulate the the muscular and special important system evils which fun is ctions not will called demand thus into arise . I exerci to have the se whole called , and
- impairment tion your attention from the of , absence their 1 st . functions To of the muscular congestion . 2 nd . stimulus To of the the . stagnation variou 3 rd . s To organs of the the deficiency , venous and consequent circula of heat
when irritability and , electri the motor city and , undue nerves which excit are are not produced ement called of into by the muscular action nervous . 5 system contraction th . To , the which . loss 4 th must of . tone To arise the in
the whole body ,, from the weakness of the muscular system . Now , all these them evils , more in detail and more are still formidable minor evils as they because will seem they , the do not more refer you to reflect the great upon
object of the muscular , system , which , is to furnish a varied and powerful instrument for the expression of the soul .
" We need muscles that are strong and prompt to do our will , that can run and walk in doors and out of doorsand convey us from place to placeas
duty or pleasure calls us , not only without , fatigue , but with the feeling , of cheerful enwe need strong arms that can cradle a healthy child , and
toss it crowing ergy in ; the air , and backs that will not break under the burden of household caresa frame that is not exhausted and weakened by the round of
daily duties . We , want faces that can smile and light up with every noble sentiment , and not be rigidly set to vacancy , or wrinkled by care , faces that
will greet the stranger with a welcome that he can feel ; that will s 7 iow to the - loved ones the rich affections of the heart ; that can lighten with indignation ,
or glow with honest approbation : we need faces that know how to move and express true feelingsinstead of remaining like an icy barrier , through which
the warm feelings of , the heart strive in vain to break . We need developed muscles that shall make the human body really a divine image , a perfect form
rendering all dress graceful , and not _requiring to be patched and filled up and weighed down with clumsy contrivances for hiding its deformities . Bodies that
- can move in dignity , in grace , in airy lightness , or conscious strength , bodies erect and firmenergetic and active- —bodies that are truly sovereign in their
presence , the expressions , of a sovereign nature . Such are the bodies that we needprompt to do and to feeltruly our own . And such nature intends us
to have , . In order to give us , so perfect and beautiful an instrument , the muscular frame was constnicted , so rich in every way , so obedient to the
mind . Exercise , then , the means by which the muscular system may be developed , assumes its true position , as of primary importance during the
period of youth . It is the grand necessity which everything else should aid . We have seen how the organic involuntary life needs our aid but indirectly ,
but this education of exercise is immediately under our control , and demands imperatively our direction . Let us consider what we have to do in this important matter . _"
" The young infant is almost withdrawn from our control . Nature says to us , * stand by , and watch my work ! ' This delicate life will admit of no
trifling , no neglect , no experiment ; but watch the infant how it kicks , and . criesand worksnot arms and legs alonebut every part of its body in pain
or pleasure , . We , sit and smile , or silentl , y weep ; but the baby puts every muscle in motion ; if it , is pained or angry , it will scream with its whole life ,
and contract every little fibre , and strain and wriggle in infantile rage , to the intense alarm of its mother . We may leave it to nature for exercise ; it will
be well attended to , and carried through an efficient course , reaching every
muscle of the body , that we should find difficult to imitate b _# art . "
190 Extracts From The Laws Of Lifeo
190 EXTRACTS FROM THE LAWS OF LIFEo
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), May 1, 1858, page 190, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01051858/page/46/
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