getic exercise, to run long distances, box, fence, ride far, row many hours at a stretch, or the like, but require such moderate and easy exercises as suit men in advanced and middle life.

The question presents itself, Is it well for the weak to take active exercise? Ought not (many ask) weak arms and legs to be left untaxed by systematic exercise? Is it wise or even safe for men of weak lungs to attempt running, or other exercises which call the lungs into active play? And many similar questions are asked, in tones implying that those who ask them think the best way to deal with all the weaker muscles and organs of the body, is to employ them as little as possible.

Nature answers for us such questions as these in a very decided and emphatic manner. Persons who exercise those powers which they possess in large degree, and avoid exercising those in which they are in greater or less degree deficient, find her rule to be that to the kind of strength they have is added, and from that which they want is taken even so much of it as they had possessed. The muscles and organs used grow stronger and more active, those disused grow weaker and less efficient. When, therefore, a man says, I will not row because my arms and loins are too weak, or I will not run because my lungs are weak and my legs soon tire, he is running directly counter to the teachings of Nature, though he may be responding to her promptings.

Nature has an ugly way, sometimes, of eliminating

inferior things altogether; and what is held to be natural, as the disuse of weak muscles, the resting of weak organs, and so forth, is sometimes only a yielding to this way of Nature's,-leading to the deterioration of what is already inferior, the weakening of what is already wanting in strength. Her real teaching is clear enough. It simply is, Be specially careful to exercise, but with due watchfulness and moderation, those muscles and organs which are weak those which are strong will take care of themselves; you cannot help exercising them. Nor is it an idle assertion that Nature punishes by elimination, when her teachings are overlooked. There are organic diseases, specially liable of course to affect the weaker, which are best resisted and may be cured by proper exercise of the feeble organ attacked, but make rapid progress, and finally destroy the organism (along with the being to whom it belongs) when it is left simply to rest.

It is quite true that for weak organs and for weak muscles (which more particularly concern us here), violent exercise may be more directly and quickly mischievous than disuse. For a man with weak lungs, or perhaps in an early stage of some lung disease, to run at his hardest as long a distance as he possibly can, might very likely cause death within a few minutes, where carefully resting his lungs, and taking no exercise which could in the slightest degree hasten respiration, would not very obviously encourage the progress of pulmonary mischief. A man with weak

arm-muscles, again, might easily, by attempting to lift great weights or to sway unwieldy clubs or dumbbells, so strain and injure the muscles and tendons of his arms, as to weaken himself much more in a few moments, than he would by months of laziness with his arms. There is reason in all things, and the wise rule must be obeyed even in things good-Ne quid nimis. But within the limits suggested by reason and moderation, the rules remain sound,-Where there is weakness, whether of muscle or organ, there exercise is the right thing; Where there is stiffness, not rest but movement is required.

The great difference between those still young but wanting in strength or lissomeness, and those in advanced life, is, of course, that in one case exercise may be undertaken with the reasonable hope of increasing strength or activity, in the other, the aim is rather to check the changes by which, in accordance with natural laws, the strength and activity gradually diminish with advancing years. Though, even with men in middle and advanced life. we often find that muscles and organs which through disuse have been prematurely weakened, may be restored to a degree of vigour much nearer the vigour of the prime of life than is commonly supposed. I know a man who, ten years ago, was much weaker and much less active, and in effect was, at least in one sense of the words, much older, than he is at the present day. He saw that laziness (bodily laziness, at least,) was doing more to age him than years; and by steady and even

active exercise he has been able to throw off the burden of a round dozen of years at least.

To sum up, the rule which should be followed by those who are advancing towards old age, or who are not naturally strong, is to take moderate but systematic exercise, and rather to aim at preserving activity and lissomeness, than attempt feats taxing strength and endurance. Varying the exercises used for this purpose, so as to distribute the benefit as widely as possible to chest, waist, loins, arms, and legs-will be found even more important for the weakly than for the stronger and younger.

I

CHAPTER X.

NATURE'S WAIST AND FASHION'S.

THE CORSET.

APPROACH a difficult question, though not a doubtful one. Who shall by argument depose false tastes? And who can deny that the recognition of something beautiful (Heaven knows what) in a pinched waist, has prevailed very widely and very long? ""Tis true 'tis pity; and pity 'tis 'tis true." There can be no manner of doubt as to the just proportions (with a certain limited range of variation) of the human frame, masculine or feminine. Not Art has settled that (though Art assents) but Nature.

I do not say that when wild in woods the noble (but generally beastly) savage runs, he or his squaw," or "gin," or whatever he pleases to call the woman of his race, presents the perfect type of human beauty. The savage manner of life prevents this, save in a few very exceptional cases. Your average savage is apt to be lank and ill-shaped-especially about the calves; his body is as coarse in type as his face.

Still, even among savages of certain races the typical form of human beauty is occasionally ap