Manual of British Rural Sports by Stonehenge 17th Edition

G44 GENERAL TRAINING OF MAN. question to attempt anything in the way of regulartraining. Health, how­ ever, maybe preserved, and prepara­ tions made for training during the summer. For this purpose, the best course to pursue is to arrange so that it shall bepositively necessary to walk backwards andforwards tothe count­ ing-house night andmorning. This is much better than attempting to walk without any special object; for in our climate the obstacles offered by the weather areso numerous that it would be postponed three or four times a week ;but when it must be undertaken through all weathers, the benefit to health is fully attained,and the Eng­ lishman's privilege to grumble is also gratified. Thus, by devotingonly one hour night and morning, to a four-mile Avalk to the house ofbusiness, sufficient bodily exercise may be obtained to keep the health tolerably good during this season ;and in the summer it is possible to extend the walk, or even, by very early rising, to go into actual training for any particular exertion. Much depends, however, on hahit, as regards violent exercise before break­ fast, as in many cases it prostrates a man for the rest of the day. Whilstdiscussingthe subjectof health, I would strongly impress upon all who have the management of those establishments where young men are collected for the purposes of trade, that it is very important that some set time should be fixed for their meals. It is, I believe, the custom for one-third, or one-half, of the young men engaged to dine first, and then, as soon as they have hastily swallowed their meal, for the next divisionto take their places. This plan is supposed to be very advan­ tageous to the proprietors ; yet even of this fact I am very doubtful; but to the assistants it is exceedingly in­ jurious. In many cases ten hours a day (in some few even a longer period) are given upto work, interrupted only by the scramble for a meal. This is more than the human frame is calcu­ lated to bear; even the farm-labourer or the " factory hand " is allowed his breakfast anddinner hour ; after which he returns to his work, having laid in a fresh stock of nervous excitability. The consequence of the long strain upon the mind and animal spirits is, that at times they are overpowered, ami errors occur which do more harm to the parties interested than is counterbalanced by the apparent saving of time. The directions I have just given are suited to those cases only in whichthe state of health isstill such as to allow of a prosecution of the usual studies or employment. But there are numerous instances in which the mind and body are both totally upset, and in which it is not only prudent, but imperatively necessary, togive up all attention to business. These aresomewhat beyond my province, for in such casesthe aid of a medical man must always be re­ quired, and his counsels ought to be implicitly followed. They also rarely occur unattended by such a disordered state of stomach asto require the use of medicine and diet; and, moreover, such cases areprecisely thosein which the moral control and superintendence of a judicious medical man are de­ manded. There may be some few in which change of air and scene, agree­ able society, moderate exercise, &c., would be quite enough ;but it is im­ possible to drawthe line in such a way ns to beuseful, and, therefore, myadvice would be such as I have given above. SECT. 2.—ACTUAL TRAINING—GENERAL MANAGEMENT AND DIET. TRAINING FOR WALKING .—Whether the object is to compete in running or walking, an easywalk before breakfast for half an hour will just empty the small intestinesof their last meal, and prepare the stomachfor the breakfast; more than half an hour, however, I am confident, is too long to wait, espe­ cially if, as always ought to be the case, the supperhas been a mere apo­ logy for that meal.For an hour after breakfast, that is, tillnear eleveno 'clock, the pedestrian should amuse hiraselt as he likes best, with billiards, or any other game ; but at eleven he should he ready dressed in hiswalking costume. The best dress is what is usual Iv called " University costume," which consists of a pair of drawers made of coloured merino or silk, reaching to the knee-cap only, and secured round the waist by a slight elasticband, over the hip bones. For upper clothing thin jerseyis worn. The shoes shouu be large enough to give the feet free play; be laced down nearly to the toe, with a sole about a quarter of au