PHYSICAL CULTURE FOR CHILDREN
"Brooklyn, N. Y., June 13, 1879.
"124 Columbia Heights.
"Dear Sir,-Thanks for your book. On every ground the subject of wh you treat is of great importance. Vigorous health has much to do with good order in household and in society, with sound morality, with general happiness. It is in vain to expect universal civilization or religion, until rational laws are known and observed, by which men come into life with sound bodies, and learn early how to keep them in health. One whole half of the force of human life is squandered by reason of weakness and sickness. It is a matter for educators, for moralists, and for economists to study, as fundamental to the prosperity of society.
"Your book is timely. Its large circulation cannot fail to be of great public benefit. I am a good deal surprised that you do not even mention Amherst College tho. there and almost only there of all colleges the system of gymnastic exercises is a part of daily drill and obligatory as really as the Classics of Sciences.[1] Under Professor Hitchcock the physical health of men is made of as much importance as their moral and intellectual health. Every year the tabular statistics are published and some of the most remarkable results ever known are recorded of this course whieh has run for more than fifteen years. You have left out the one college that not only confirms your reasoning, but whose example and practice would constitute for you an argument more stringent and effectual than any in your able book.
"Before a second edition is published I hope you will visit Amherst, see Professor Hitchcock, get from him the Record of Results. They will delight your soul.
"Very truly yours,
"Henry Ward Beecher"
Dr. Hartwell at Boston; and at Springfield, the Training School for Christian Workers—an excellent Normal College in this field—turning out men of character; and of brains and bodies alike educated; has long proved its fitness to teach legions of others.
- ↑ As Amherst had her page in that book it must have escaped his attention.
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