deterioration of brain as well as body.

What is the remedy for all this? I have before stated that in large
crowded cities, gymnastic training, systematically pursued _as a study_,
is the only thing which seems possible to be done, and most assuredly
will be beneficial wherever it is introduced. But there is a different
method of physical education, which can be pursued either exclusively,
or in association with gymnastics, which can be followed up either in
the country, or in towns, where playgrounds can be obtained. This is the
method which I have invariably pursued myself, namely, the systematic
pursuit of health and strength by all manner of manly sports and games.
I myself learnt to play and love these games at school and at college. I
have given them now nearly four years' trial in my school, and every day
convinces me more and more of their beneficial results.

I cannot tell how much physical weakness, how much moral evil we have
batted, and bowled, and shinnied away from our door; but I do know that
we have batted and bowled away indolence, and listlessness, and doing
nothing, which I believe is the Devil's greatest engine; and I also know
that the enthusiasm of the boys in these games never dies out, their
enjoyment never flags, for these games supply the want of the boys'
natures, and keep their thoughts from straying to forbidden ground.

Now these games are the very thing which that portion of mankind called
the sporting world, have always loved and cherished. They have infused
the love of these games into the very bones of Englishmen, and who knows
how much good England owes to them! Let us then overlook for a while the
religious world, the commercial world, the literary world, for they do
not contain what we seek now, and let us look at this poor sister world,
a world which seldom finds itself in such good company.