WILL DAILY EXERCISE FOR GIRLS PAY?
"It is not the mere quantity of brain-work which is the chief factor in the production of disease. The emotional conditions under which work is performed is a far more important matter. A man of trained mental habits can bear with safety an almost incredible amount of brain-toil, provided he is permitted to work without distraction or excitement, in the absence of disquieting cares and anxieties. It is not brain-work, in fact, that kills, but brain-worry."
The girl, of course, has not the strength for the protracted effort of the matured man; nor is such effort often asked of her. Her studying is done quietly at home; undisturbed, usually, by any such cares and responsibilities as the man has to face. Hers is generally brain-work, not brain-worry. Yet the few hours a day fag her, because her vital system, which supports her brain, is feeble and defective. No girl is at school over six hours out of the twenty-four; and, deducting the time taken for recitation, recess, and the other things which are not study; five hours, or even less, will cover the time she gives to actual brain-work in school; with two, or perhaps three, hours daily out of school. With the other sixteen hours her own, there is time for all the exercise she needs or could take; and yet allow ten, or even twelve, of those hours for sleep and eating. But notice, in any of these off-hours, what exercise these girls have. They walk to and fro from school; indeed often do not do even that,—but ride; they play a few minutes at recess; they may have an occasional irregular stroll besides; or a little tennis; but all the time intent on their conversation; never thinking of the exercise itself, and the benefit it brings. Such things fill up the measure of the daily physical exercise of thousands of our American girls. It is the same thing for nearly all, save those from the poorest classes.
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