How to get strong and how to stay so / by William Blaikie.

William Blaikie

Date:: 1892

Credit: How to get strong and how to stay so / by William Blaikie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$soldiers were made. The short, hasty school recess in the crowded school-yard, or play snatched in the streets—these will never make robust and vig-orom; men. Yet these are too often all that our boys ^et, their cramped facilities for amusement soon bringing their natural result in small vital organs and half-developed limbs. j\Ianj of our large cities are wretchedly off for play-grounds. Such open spaces as we have are fenced ai’ound, and have signs nailed all over them saying, Keep off the grass ! at the same time forbidding games on the paths. One part of Boston Common used to be a famous play- ground ; and many hard-fought battles has it seen at foot-ball, base-ball, hockey, and cricket. Many an active school-boy there has more than once temporarily bit the dust. But now rows of street lamps run through that part of the Common, and the precious grass must be protected at all hazards. New York city is scarcely better off. Central Park, miles away from the great majority of the boys in the city, is elegant enough when they get to it; but let them once set their bounds and start a game of ball, or hares-and-hounds, or try a little jumping or running, on any one of those hundreds of beautiful acres, save in one solitary field, and see how soon the gray-coats will be ujion them. The Battery, City Hall Park, Washington$

How to get strong and how to stay so / by William Blaikie.

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