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Physical Fitness in a Democracy

A Nation that lacketh vision perisheth! Someone has also
said, "God makes us wise to know, how strong the stalk must grow,
that rears so fair a flower". While civilization, it seems, is
moving steadily downward on the broad way of physical and moral self-
destruction, this is the exact time, it seems to me, to lauch a
physical fitness campaign, to raise the physical powers of our nation,
tenfold.

Physical powers which are chielfly muscular strength and
endurance are the ultimate means of producing, transporting and
distributing food, preparing shelter and manufacturing clothing.
Learning, depends on physical, at least quite as much as on mental
fitness. This is true for both children and adults, whether the learning
be knowledge or skills--a pedagogical axiom, teachers are already re-
discovering, The physically fit man or woman has et least capavity
to serve others. And the greater the fitness the greater may be the
service. ‘or can men and women enjoy their leisure when physical
powers are absent or even merely depleted.

As the giant oak drives its root like tentacles into the
earth and clutches a giant boulder to make its attehhments more secure
so does Sh tentin boty attach its ligaments and tendons to bones for
muscular strength and physical security.

Seven eights of the return ciroulation of the blood back to
the heart is dependent upon muscular exercise. Finally, the physical
powers of human bodies are the ultimate recourse for self-preservation,
A stpong man or nation may succumb but a weak one cannot long survive

in a world of ruthless force. Indeed the relations between physical