PHYSICAL CULTURE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3056, 28 November 1908, Page 7

PHYSICAL CULTURE.

(By R. 0* Jarrett). (

.NOTES FOR THE MIDDLE AGED -FRESH AIR AND EXEKCISE. Mr John Brinsmead, of worli-wide fame as a maker of pianofortes, who recently died at the age of 94 years, was hale and hearty to the very last. Asked as to what he attributed the robust health and activity he had preserved throughout lif 3, he replied, "Fresh air and exercise. If we all lived in the open air, if we all took exercise, I believe the allotted span ot life would be raised from three score years and ten to four score and ten years." On reading ■ the above paragraph in the Health" and Strength Magazine, it brought to my memory another item I had also read recently in one ot the daily papers, to the effect that the game of bowls _ was being invaded by, comparatively speaking, young men, against whorn , players in or past the meridian of life said they had no chance in open competition. Bowls, until quite recent years, was looked upon almost solely as the game for our elders. _ I have strongly protested against youths at an early age commencing cycle racing, for the reason that it utterly precluded them from becoming nrst-class athletes in any other branch that required stamina, speed, or staying power. While 1 am not contending that cycle racing is responsible for all the ills that flesh is heir to, nor responsible for all the men of this generation taking to bowls at an earlier age than their forefathers, I do maintain that the racing cyclist does not remain a competitor nearly as many years as the all-round athlete does, and did for generations past. , Take the East and West Coasts of this Island. Men who have left their mark by their dpeds in the past pass ill rough my mind as competitors year in and year out, till well over thirty years of age; aye, and some over forty. I have seen bald-headed men winning races in youthful company. Iwistleton, who at 45 delighted to run from Maxwell Town to VVanganui uphill and down; E. J. Ellis, Napier, H. 8., winner at over 40 years; Joe Scott, Delaney, Webber, and T. M. Copeland, who even now will fence across country with many of the younger distance men; J. McGregor, F. Pirani, Baileys, Goods, Revell, Woon, Amott, Watts, Galloway, , Whisker, Hempton, BraUhwaite, Knight, Francis, Hormunn, Wilson, Kitchen, Camerons, Glasgow, Holders, McNiven, McManus, Hodge, the Udys, Hobbs, Ward, Bayne, McLaughlan, Mexted, and many others I could mention. How these men would have smiled if it had been suggested that they should join bowling club! Probably a fe» of them play the game now, but it is safe to say they did not set the precedent. The tendency of to-day is for athletes branch to stop active participation at a much earlier age than formerly was the rule. 1 believe the reason of this is because this i 3 the age of the specialist. One has to be a specialist at not more than three distances, and, with many, not more than two. Consequently, : after at most a couple of seasons, unless a man is almost in the same class as a Postle or a McLaughlan, a win does nst often come his way. Hence ijie leaves the track, and in many cases takes up no other vigoror pastime. Thus he runs to much earlier than others did . in days gnne by. What is urgently required is something to fill the void. I asked an acquaintance recently ■why he, who a few short years ago, was an active athiete, now played bowls. He replied, "Oh, well, I am stuck in a close, stuffy office all day, and have done nothing in the way of recreation or pastime since I left off training." I remarked that I was suiprised he did not t .ke up some other game calling for a greater effort than "the old man's game." I received the reply that he was now soft and flabLy and generally out of condition, and that he really could not afford the time to devote an hour or two a day to train ing, much as he would like to do so. As a matter of fact, he had allowed his chest to slip too far down, and it would require too mach effort to gst the accumulated weight off. His explanation is but one of many similar. The use of any function brings improvement and perfection; its disuse brings degeneration and decay. The tendeny of the day is, of course, to take less and less exercise partly because of want of time, paitly because of facilities for rapid transit. This denial of bodily activity makes for physical degeneration, and ought to be replaced in some way. Systematic exercise is the means whereby this end can best be achieved. Proof of which is as follows : It occupies but little time, is immediately invigorating and refreshing, and a distinct addition to one's permanent strength —a few minutes daily, morning or evening—both, if convenient—carried out in one's own bedroom, with the window-wide open, will soon replace the soft flabby flesh with firm, springy muscle; whilst what is of more vital importance, it acts immediately upon the nervous and organic systems—while sport is a great outdoor means of expending that exuberant strength and energy which are the features of our race, systematic exercise is a scientific means of building up and perfecting the human body within the confines of your own four walls. In next Saturday's issue I hope to give illustrations of suitable exercises for those who feel that they are not quite so active as of vore.