An Introductory Course of Modern Gymnastic Exercises (extract)

BRITISH GYMNASTIC GAMES. It would be making an invidious distinction, were we, in a work like the present, to allow our own excellent National Games to remain unnoticed,—national I pre­ sume to call them, although in most cases their origin is as ancient and classical as those already discussed; but their adoption and continued improvement are pecu­ liarly British. They merit notice, not merely as they are national, but as they mostly combinestrength, per­ severance, and courage, in an eminent degree. The importance attached to superiority in particular games in some parts of England, is so great, that the defeat of a champion is a disgrace to a county. Wrestling is introduced conspicuously in all works on the present system of Continental Gymnastics, and to this I cannot object; but it is only "fair play" that it beunderstood, that, whilst this manly exercise is little more than theoretically knownon the continent, in some of the English counties practical wrestlers stand unrivalled. I therefore must claim this as one of our own games, and put in a word for its champions,who are ever ready to enter into competition with any foreigngymnasium. Boxing (leavingthe question of whether prize-fighting tends to brutalize the lower orders, or increases the love of courage and fair play, in the undecided state in which I find it,) I have no hesitation in recommending, as an