Pedestrianism

34 .MODERN TEDESTRIANISM. of the battle, are the severe duties of his pro­ fession. It is by E XERCISE that the soldier is gradually inured to the hardships of the field; and the importance of preparatory training was well known to the ancients, who accord- ingly converted theamusements of the people into a course of military discipline. The ex­ ercises of the gymnasia prepared theyouth for the fatigues of the campaign, by strengthen­ ing their bodies, and invigoratingtheir minds ; arid they accomplished those brilliant achieve­ ments which stand unrivalled in the page of histor}. It isjustly remarkedby Dn West*, " that a " wise and prudent governor of a state may dispose the people to such sports and diver- " sions as may render them more serviceable to the public ; and that, by impartially be- " stowing afew HONORARY PRIZES upon those " who should be found to excel in any CON- " TEST he shall think proper to appoint, he • * Dissertation onthe Olympic Games, lastparagraph, 44 may