Modern Athletics 1868

76 MODERN ATHLETICS. the legs and extremities, not the trunk, require extra covering for purposes of warmtli. A mattress should be always used to sleep on, never a featherbed. High E illows and bolsters are very injurious. The natural eight to which the head should be raised in sleep is about the thickness of the upper portion of the arm, which constitutes the pillow -adsesigned by nature. Clothing. —Flannel should be worn next the skin throughout the year, but beyond this no restriction is necessary when in mufti. The best attire for running is what is termed the University costume,and consists of a pair of thin merino or silk drawers, reaching to the knee and confined round the waist by a broad elastic band. For the upper part of the body a thin merino or silk Jersey is the best. No covering for the head is usuallyworn, but in a race of a long dura­ tion, e.g. a seven miles walking contest, it is advisableto wear a cap or straw hat ifthe rays of the sun are very powerful. Then, also, some wetcabbage or lettuceleaves in the crown ofthe cap greatly aid in counteractintghe heat of the sun, andkeeping the head cool. For running, thin shoes made of French calf, and fitting the foot like a kid glove when laced up, are worn.The sole should be thicker than theheel, and contain four or five spikes, the lacing being continued almost down to the toe. For walking races, the heel should be thicker than thesole, and con­ tain a few "sparrow-bill" nails, none being required in the toes. Chamois leather socks, just covering the toes, but not reachingabove the top of the shoe, are the best adapted for running. Ordinary merino or silk socks, but not thick and heavy likeworsted ones, andworn over the chamois leather coverings, are thbeest forwalking, as they prevent thedust andgrit raised fromthe pathfrom getting between the shoeand the foot. Except for sweating pur­ poses heavy clothingshould never be worn in practice, the gait and stride beingmuch impeded thereby. A piece of cork of an elongated eggshape should be grasped ineach hand while walkingor running. Exercise.—In all exertion two sets of muscles are used— the extraordinary osrpecial, and the ordinary or habitual. The former arethose which are specially brought into use by an exercise of the will on the part of the athlete while engaged in his proper pursuits; but the latter, in their connexion with the heart and lungs, are naturally and un-