The Pedestrian's Record

ATHLETICS. When Solon observed that all men should know themselves {yvuOi o-eavrov), no doubt he applied the remark more to the mental than to the physical de­ velopment of the human body, but, whatever might have been his intention, a knowledge of the com­ position and constitution of animate bodies should to a certain extent be possessed by most people, but particularly so by men who are engaged in severe physical exertion, whether such be imposed by the necessity of daily labour, or chosen as a pastime. Athletic exercises have, during late years, grown into an institution. Race grounds exist throughout England ; records are broken from year to year ; the performance thought so much of last year has been beaten this. It would seem that for the performance of these exercises great, and in some instances unnatural, strain must be imposed upon the tissues of young athletes ; and when in training, does it ever occur to them that very often, owing toa lack of knowledge of themselves, they may be training in a manner rather suited to devitalize than to strengthen their systems, £