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Show Out-Door Sports. ! The equestrienne match at the j Agricultural Park on one of the days j of the approaching stock fair, is a certainty, and now, on the other let us have a display of pedestriankm. A number of gentlemen of this city boast their power and 6peed as walk-ista, walk-ista, and would doubtless willingly contest in a public pedestrian match. As a community we do not practice and encourage as much as we should the manly out-door sports. Among manly sports we do not include pugilism, pugil-ism, which, thanks to the development of finer tastes,is dying out on account of its brutality. If there is a base use to which the human countenance can be put, it is to set U up in the prize ring to be battered. But there are sports which should be engaged in and practiced freely.such as meetings on the turf, trials of speed and of strength, equestrianism and pedea-trianism, pedea-trianism, and similar pleasurable and active open-air exercises. The history his-tory of civilization furnishes us with abundant proofs, that the increase of wealth proportionately enervates ths possessor. In the new towns of the west, where the life ' of man is necessarily active, we usually find him almost a giant in strength and free-limbed and active. The value of this pioneer training can scarcely be realized; but as we gather the comforts of life around us we are apt to neglect the very things which we should do above all others to frequently exercise in the open air. We huddle aroand the drama, gather at the billiard table, circle the hot coal fire, and wage war upon nature as if she were our enemy instead of our truest friend. Our civilization is enervating rmuscle-laxing and life-destroying. life-destroying. We do not by any means discourage and deprecate the softer amusements, the calmer efforts, the gentler achievemeuts of life, but we recommend the Bturdier sports to more fitly prepare us for enjoying the finer accomplishments and the easier graces of life. Then let our young people not fall into the traps which civilization Bets for the physical degeneration de-generation of the race. Let our young ladies take horseback rides and other health-giving exercises; our young men make frequent pedestrian pedes-trian contests, play ball, and set the life-blood to coursing freely through their veins; and let the community encourage and cherish these exhibitions exhibi-tions of true manly exertion. We trust there will be sufficient in terest taken in the matter to arrange for both walking matches and foot; races at the park course on the 20th or 21st of the presept month. |