Pedestrianism

IV PREFACE. gies of many of our countrymen are fre­ quently brought into action by the conflicts of war. The republics of Greece prepared their youth for the duty of the field by their gymnastic institutions ; and the Romans were exercised by long marches, running, leaping, and throwing the javelin. But with the soldiers of Britain, a different svs- 7 •/ tem prevails. While stationed at home, they are allowed to waste their time in " indolent repose," and prevented from tak­ ing even that degree of exercise which is re­ quisite to health, lest thej^ should exhaust the most trifling of their necessaries, before the return of the usual period of Supply. All the advantages they might derive from a course of training, are thus sacrificed to an ill-judged economy, and to the vain show of a parade or field day. The author has considered Exercise in a military point of view, and he thinks he cannot too strongly urge the necessity of adopting