Pedestrianism

ANCIENT GYMNASTICS. 25 thirdpart of the year to such amusements; and from the number of Olympic victors whosenational designations are recorded by ancient writers, we may suppose, that the otherstates of Greece wereno less zealousin the exercises of the gymnasium*. To prepare men for the business of war. Was the grand object of these institutions. The Greeks were divided into small inde­ pendent states, which were constantly em­ broiledwith one another; and their strength was founded on the number and discipline of the troops they could respectively bringinto the field. To increase the number of fight­ ing men, and to train themin the most effec­ tual manner, w r as, therefore, the principal object of the different governments. By learning and practising the gymnastic exei- cises, their youth were inured to toil,- and rendered healthy,hardy,vigorous, andactive. They were preparedfor all the duties of war. 2-—— * * Gillies' History, vol. i. c. 0. t \ Neither