Pedestrianism

ANCIENT GYMNASTICS. 27 just proportionsandgreat beautyof theirpro­ totypes; andto the educationof their youth, wemust ascribethe fine forms of the Greek people, who, by avoiding idleness and dissi­ pation,and bymingling exercise withamuse­ ment,created,as it Were, an improvedrace of men. In a moral point of view, then, the gymnasticsof the ancientswere of the utmost importance. They furnished occupation to all those who were not engaged in laborious employments, or in the service of the state ; —who wereexempted from the drudgery of businessby their affluent condition; and, in­ deed, to every man whohad a vacanthour to devote to amusementor exercise. The gym­ nasiamay be termed schools for morality, as they contributed to diminish vice, and to in­ crease virtue: they served the double pur­ poseof strengtheningthe good, and weajken- ing the bad,propensitiesof humannature. They who aimed at eminence in the gym­ nastic exercises were compelled to observe temperanceandsobriety, which greatly pro­ moted the health and vigour of the body. i) 2 Every