The Athletes and Athletic Sports of Scotland

INTRODUCTION. 13 the mental powers ; that ifwe do thisthe bodily powers will take care of themselves, A system as wise as if, when you have a precious freight,it does not matter inwhat sort ofship youput it for a life-long voyage. Whether in a weak fragile vessel which the first gale will send to the bottom before the voyage iswell begun, or in a stout ship which will weather every storm,and after a long voyagecast anchorwith sound timbers in the haven of old age. So long as body and mind are united, bodily and mental trainingought never to be separated. It isas absurd to have schools, colleges, and universities from which to send forth strong orwell-trained minds indelicate bodies, as it would beto have schools, colleges, anduniversities fromwhich to send forth a race of athletes unable to read or write. These premises being granted, we have lastly to consider whether our Scottish national games arewell calculated to, in the first place, formstrong, gracefulbodies ; in the secondplace, to foster a love of athletic exercises amongst the bulk ofthe people. As regards imparting bodily strength and grace, the various feats are admirably adapted for the end inview. Putting the ball or stone exercises the arms and legs in particular, especially when practised, asit ought to be, with each arm alternately. Throw­ ing the hammer strengthens the arms, shoulders, an loins chiefly, and is a most graceful exercise when rightly done. Tossing the caber exercises the same parts of the body as the hammer, but in a different manner. In throwingweights by ring, the muscles of the arm are exercised by pulling, instead of by pushing, as in putting thestone. Wrestling employs every muscle of the body, and is too little encouraged and practised in Scotland. The high leap, long leap, hop-step-and-leap exercise mainly the legs; pole vaulting, armsand legs. Running, while mainly strengthening the legs, has a most beneficial effect on the chest and lungs, from the increased exercise of the respiratoryorgans. Dancing is not only an unrivalled exercise for giving a free, easy, graceful carriage to the body, but is an athletic exercise, strengtheningboth legs and lungs. The bagpipemusic influences the mindrather than