many good horsemen of very inactive minds. But it seems to us impossible that such men should become good fencers. All whom we have known have been men of lively intellect, and had reflected on the principles of their art. This accounts for the circumstance, that the artists of the middle ages valued fencing so highly. Almost all the great masters and distinguished poets of those times, were skilful swordsmen, and some of them wrote treatises on the use of their favourite weapon; for instance, Leonardo da Vinci. Of Tasso, it was commonly said, after he had manfully repelled three assailants, Colla penna, e colla spada, Nissuno vale quanto Tasso. * His father was a distinguished fencer, as was Albert Durer and many others. Boxing, riding, and the various exercises on the living horse, should not be commenced before the sixteenth or seventeenth year. Boxing, even with the gloves, is too violent an exercise to be taught before that period. Riding, for various reasons, some of a moral nature, alleged by many physicians, should not be begun sooner. It is also apt to make boys inactive. They had far better be first taught to endure long-continued walking. Moreover, it is well to omit teaching boys some exercises, that they may have, at a more advanced period, the charm of novelty. The exercises on the living horse, whether still or in motion, of course, then, should not be commenced before this time; requiring, as they do, considerable skill in riding; moreover, a horse is usually too high for boys; and previous exercises on the wooden horse of the gymnasium are necessary, to give them sufficient activity and adroitness. Driving, also, should be taught as a branch of gymnastics, to prevent the numerous accidents occasioned by unskilfulness in this particular. The number of awkward drivers whom we meet in crowded streets, are an absolute eye-sore. To drive four horses together is somewhat difficult, but a pleasant thing to a man who understands it, whether they run all abreast, as was customary among the ancients, and is still practised in Poland, or in pairs, after the modern fashion. The broadsword exercise may be taught sooner than fencing with the smallsword, as it does not require so much skill or strength. The exercises which we include in the first course, must, with the exception of swimming, dancing, and skating, be taught in the gymnasia, which ought to be established in every large town, by the public authority; because it is, in the first place, of great * Histoire littéraire d' Italie, par Ginguené, Paris: 1812. 5. 162. consequence that the exercises should be taught systematically, by an experienced teacher; because, moreover, a gymnasium should be an institution of general utility, and it cannot be selfsupported without limiting its usefulness. Besides, the state has an interest in such establishments, as they form able-bodied men for its defence. The expense of a gymnasium is very trifling, compared with its advantages, which we will explain, by and by, more particularly. The second course may be taught apart from the public gymnasium; and a liberal community might easily appropriate a large hall to the purposes of vaulting, boxing, and fencing. In winter, several exercises of the lower course might be conveniently performed here. On the continent of Europe, the governments have always aided in the erection of gymnasia; and if we are told, that, in a free country, public spirit will always support institutions of general utility, (and the example of England is appealed to,) we may reply, that experience shows, that gymnasia, although very useful institutions, always need support from the arm of government. We suppose the reader to agree with us, that bodily exercises should be made a part of every system of education. All that has been said in their favour applies with much force to this part of America, where the frequent changes in the weather make it peculiarly necessary to harden the body against their influence. Every town ought to appropriate a piece of ground for a gymnasium, large enough to admit all the necessary apparatus, with room for the performance of gymnastic games and for running. A teacher should be appointed, with a fixed salary, and one or two assistants, as the number of the pupils may require, who are best taken from the class of soldiers. These two or three can direct the exercises of a great number of boys,-a thousand even,as most of the immediate instruction is given by monitors, chosen from among the pupils. Here the boys of the town should receive instruction, on the two afternoons in the week when they are released from school; except at those seasons when excessive cold or heat make it expedient to discontinue the exercises. During the hot months, swimming should be taught. When the gymnasium is not occupied by the boys, it should be open for adults, who have learnt the exercises when young, or are desirous of taking private lessons, especially should they be allowed the use of the open space, intended for active sports requiring considerable room. We know that our young gentlemen are not much inclined, at present, to mingle in athletic exercises; but their ideas may change. The high repute of ball-playing, among the Greeks and Romans, appears from the frequent mention of it in the works of the an many good horsemen of very inactive minds. But it seems to us impossible that such men should become good fencers. All whom we have known have been men of lively intellect, and had reflected on the principles of their art. This accounts for the circumstance, that the artists of the middle ages valued fencing so highly. Almost all the great masters and distinguished poets of those times, were skilful swordsmen, and some of them wrote treatises on the use of their favourite weapon; for instance, Leonardo da Vinci. Of Tasso, it was commonly said, after he had manfully repelled three assailants,— Colla penna, e colla spada, Nissuno vale quanto Tasso. His father was a distinguished fencer,* as was Albert Durer and many others. Boxing, riding, and the various exercises on the living horse, should not be commenced before the sixteenth or seventeenth year. Boxing, even with the gloves, is too violent an exercise to be taught before that period. Riding, for various reasons, some of a moral nature, alleged by many physicians, should not be begun sooner. It is also apt to make boys inactive. They had far better be first taught to endure long-continued walking. Moreover, it is well to omit teaching boys some exercises, that they may have, at a more advanced period, the charm of novelty. The exercises on the living horse, whether still or in motion, of course, then, should not be commenced before this time; requiring, as they do, considerable skill in riding; moreover, a horse is usually too high for boys; and previous exercises on the wooden horse of the gymnasium are necessary, to give them sufficient activity and adroitness. Driving, also, should be taught as a branch of gymnastics, to prevent the numerous accidents occasioned by unskilfulness in this particular. The number of awkward drivers whom we meet in crowded streets, are an absolute eye-sore. To drive four horses together is somewhat difficult, but a pleasant thing to a man who understands it, whether they run all abreast, as was customary among the ancients, and is still practised in Poland, or in pairs, after the modern fashion. The broadsword exercise may be taught sooner than fencing with the smallsword, as it does not require so much skill or strength. The exercises which we include in the first course, must, with the exception of swimming, dancing, and skating, be taught in the gymnasia, which ought to be established in every large town, by the public authority; because it is, in the first place, of great * Histoire littéraire d' Italie, par Ginguené, Paris: 1812. 5. 162. consequence that the exercises should be taught systematically, by an experienced teacher; because, moreover, a gymnasium should be an institution of general utility, and it cannot be selfsupported without limiting its usefulness. Besides, the state has an interest in such establishments, as they form able-bodied men for its defence. The expense of a gymnasium is very trifling, compared with its advantages, which we will explain, by and by, more particularly. The second course may be taught apart from the public gymnasium; and a liberal community might easily appropriate a large hall to the purposes of vaulting, boxing, and fencing. In winter, several exercises of the lower course might be conveniently performed here. On the continent of Europe, the governments have always aided in the erection of gymnasia; and if we are told, that, in a free country, public spirit will always support institutions of general utility, (and the example of England is appealed to,) we may reply, that experience shows, that gymnasia, although very useful institutions, always need support from the arm of government. We suppose the reader to agree with us, that bodily exercises should be made a part of every system of education. All that has been said in their favour applies with much force to this part of America, where the frequent changes in the weather make it culiarly necessary to harden the body against their influence. pe Every town ought to appropriate a piece of ground for a gymnasium, large enough to admit all the necessary apparatus, with room for the performance of gymnastic games and for running. A teacher should be appointed, with a fixed salary, and one or two assistants, as the number of the pupils may require, who are best taken from the class of soldiers. These two or three can direct the exercises of a great number of boys,—a thousand even,--as most of the immediate instruction is given by monitors, chosen from among the pupils. Here the boys of the town should receive instruction, on the two afternoons in the week when they are released from school; except at those seasons when excessive cold or heat make it expedient to discontinue the exercises. During the hot months, swimming should be taught. When the gymnasium is not occupied by the boys, it should be open for adults, who have learnt the exercises when young, or are desirous of taking private lessons, especially should they be allowed the use of the open space, intended for active sports requiring considerable room. We know that our young gentlemen are not much inclined, at present, to mingle in athletic exercises; but their ideas. may change. The high repute of ball-playing, among the Greeks and Romans, appears from the frequent mention of it in the works of the an many good horsemen of very inactive minds. But it seems to us impossible that such men should become good fencers. All whom we have known have been men of lively intellect, and had reflected on the principles of their art. This accounts for the circumstance, that the artists of the middle ages valued fencing so highly. Almost all the great masters and distinguished poets of those times, were skilful swordsmen, and some of them wrote treatises on the use of their favourite weapon; for instance, Leonardo da Vinci. Of Tasso, it was commonly said, after he had manfully repelled three assailants, Colla penna, e colla spada, Nissuno vale quanto Tasso. * His father was a distinguished fencer, as was Albert Durer and many others. Boxing, riding, and the various exercises on the living horse, should not be commenced before the sixteenth or seventeenth year. Boxing, even with the gloves, is too violent an exercise to be taught before that period. Riding, for various reasons, some of a moral nature, alleged by many physicians, should not be begun sooner. It is also apt to make boys inactive. They had far better be first taught to endure long-continued walking. Moreover, it is well to omit teaching boys some exercises, that they may have, at a more advanced period, the charm of novelty. The exercises on the living horse, whether still or in motion, of course, then, should not be commenced before this time; requiring, as they do, considerable skill in riding; moreover, a horse is usually too high for boys; and previous exercises on the wooden horse of the gymnasium are necessary, to give them sufficient activity and adroitness. Driving, also, should be taught as a branch of gymnastics, to prevent the numerous accidents occasioned by unskilfulness in this particular. The number of awkward drivers whom we meet in crowded streets, are an absolute eye-sore. To drive four horses together is somewhat difficult, but a pleasant thing to a man who understands it, whether they run all abreast, as was customary among the ancients, and is still practised in Poland, or in pairs, after the modern fashion. The broadsword exercise may be taught sooner than fencing with the smallsword, as it does not require so much skill or strength. The exercises which we include in the first course, must, with the exception of swimming, dancing, and skating, be taught in the gymnasia, which ought to be established in every large town, by the public authority; because it is, in the first place, of great * Histoire littéraire d' Italie, par Ginguené, Paris: 1812. 5. 162. |