EXERCISE FOR ANY GIVEN MUSCLES
walking, for instance, while the calf gets something to do; the thigh gets far more, especially when the step is low and flat, and the heel never raised far from the ground. A man will often have large and strong thighs; and yet but indifferent calves. A prominent Harvard oarsman, a strong and fast walker, and a man of magnificent development in most points, was once examined carefully by Greenough, the sculptor. "I should know you were an American," said he, "because you have no calves"; and, indeed, his mistake in developing splendid arms, and trunk, and thighs; and forgetting all about the calves; is far too common a one among our athletes to-day; though the prominence they are giving to running and cycling helps mend matters in this respect.
Scarcely any muscles are easier brought into action than these of the upper or front thigh. Stand erect, with head and chest high, and the feet about six inches apart. Now, bend the knees a little, say until the head has dropped vertically six inches. Then rise to the perpendicular again. Repeat a few times, and it will not be long till these muscles will be felt to be in lively action; and this exercise prolonged will make them ache. But this movement is very much akin to that in dancing, the latter being the harder of the two; because the weight is first on one foot, then on the other; while in the former it is always on both.
Again, instead of stooping for a few inches only, start as before, with head and neck rigidly erect, and now stoop all the way down; then arise again. Continue this movement several times; and generally at first a few repetitions will be found to be quite enough. By-and-by, as the strength increases, so should the number; and, if time is to be saved and the work condensed, keep
173
