Manual of British Rural Sports by Stonehenge 17th Edition

G42 GENERAL TRAINING OF MAN. easily led away by importunity, and unable to resist temptation. Many men of strong mental and bodily powers have been led into a course of dissipation ;in fact, they have not been led, but in the impetuosity of their temperaments have rushed into it. These natures have only to resolve, and the thing is done ; they decide upon doing or letting alone, and u c 1 estunfait accompli.' 1 ' 1 But far different is it with the man of perhaps Herculean body, but weak and vacillating mind. He, alas ! resolves andbreaks his resolution forty times a day, and is at once an object of pity and contempt. Such a man may be restrained by a master mind, but rarely has the power to control himself. The sight of a public-house is too much for him, and he cannot resist the temptation it presents. But though, if taken in hand by another, he may be made use of for a time, he is rarelyworth the troublehe gives, as the slightestwant of vigilance leads to an outbreak which upsets all the good effects of the previous careful supervision. The great difficulty here is to findamusement for the body and mind—the habitsof intemperance and idleness have led to a dislike of all exercise, or rather, perhaps, in many cases, the natural indolence of body and mind has led to habits of intem­ perance. If, however, itis desired to oltect the change by means of this supervision, it must be as gradual as in the former case with regard to diet, and much more gradual and careful with reference to the kind and amount of exercise. It sometimes happens that a good-natured and easy-tempered man has givenhimself up to excesses and idleness, and yet, being a good oarsman, his services are demanded for his college or university boat. Here some troublemay be spentin restoring him ; but such a case is the only one in which it will be repaid, and even then it is a hazardous experiment.The only plan is to hand the poor fellow over to someone person, who is likely to exercise a firm, yet quiet control over him, and to inculcate upon this person the necessity of carefully watch­ ing his protege at all hours of the day and night. He should walk, ride, &c., with him; beginning by short distances, and gradually increasing them. Let him by all means take him to cricket matches, coursingmeetings, races,&c., or any kind of out-door sport which is most likely to occupy his attention and at thesame time to keep his body gently exercised without exhaustion ; then get him home, and after a mode­ rate dinner, and a game at billiards, chess, or cards, for an hour or two, if possible lethim be persuaded to go to bed. Here it is not desirable that the hours of bed should be shortened; let him lie till nine or ten in the morn­ ing, because he will from his previous habits require longer rest than the average time, and because there is already great difficulty in occupying the hours of the day, so as to keep him out of temptation. In this man­ ner these two classes of men may be restored to health, or at least to such a state as will fit them to undertake the severe work and strict dieting which training for any match will require. Both are likely to be considerably stouter and heavier than the weight at which they will bebest able to exert their powers ; but this is not always the case, asit sometimes happens that the man who has been indulging to excess in every kind of temptation has lost weight to a considerable extent, and regains it on submitting to the loss of those stimulants which have upset his stomach. THE OVER-STUDIOUS MAN .—Before proceeding to the treatment of the over-studious, let me earnestly remind those who are desirous of excelling in literary pursuits, that without bodily health the mindis unfitted for exertion in acquiring knowledge. It is true that many men, who have already stored their brains with facts, are en­ abled, even after becoming complete valetudinarians, to impart knowledge to others ; but no one can grapple with difficulties for himself while in that state ; much time is often lost, and strength squandered, through over- anxiety inreading ; but I amfully and firmly convinced, that if eight, or, at most, ten hours a day are well employed — that is to say, if any man really works hard during that time—he willhave done all of which his mental powers are capable. This will leave him seven or eight hours for sleep, andsix or seven for meals, exercise, &c. Few men, however, of ardent temperaments and studious habits, are capable of thus portioning their time ;but they maydepend upon