There is another matter which calls for notice, and it is that of early morning exercise.  Now, I am quite willing to admit that there are many who derive great benefit from their early morning swim, their matutinal walk, or their tennis before breakfast.  But it should be distinctly borne in mind that there are others with whom such early morning exercise does not agree.  They get as a result a weary, languid feeling which lasts throughout the entire day.  Now, they are apt to imagine it is the exercise in itself which produces this effect.  But the truth is, it arises from the time of day at which the exercise is taken, and is not due to the exertion at all.  It must not be forgotten, therefore, that while many people derive the greatest advantage from early morning exercise, yet there are others for whom it is altogether unsuitable.  But, on the other hand, the latter will obtain every possible benefit by taking their allowance of exercise at some other period of the twenty-four hours.

There are other forms of exercise besides walking, and these have their good points.  Riding is, of course, invaluable, especially in cases of sluggish liver.  As it has been wittily observed, the outside of a horse is the best thing for the inside of a man.  In the cool months in Australia riding is a real pleasure, but in the hot season it is hardly so agreeable.  Then again, rowing is a magnificent exercise, and has much to recommend it in early adult life.  There is no harm whatever in rowing as an exercise, but when it comes to racing that is a different matter.  It is the great strain on the heart, together with the excitement which constitute the sources of risk.  The other varieties of exercise, namely, gardening, the different games, cricket, football, tennis, &c., need not be particularized as they all subserve the same purposes, and are in consequence very desirable.

In all the preceding I have endeavoured to show that daily exercise is absolutely necessary for the proper maintenance of health.  But there is something even more than this.  It is that a long life itself is to be ensured by exercise.  It is only by exercise, and by exercise alone, that the various organs of the body, the heart, the lungs, the stomach, the liver, &c., are maintained in their normal state of health.  Their condition, moreover, is only to be improved by the muscular movements belonging to exercise.  The heart itself is intended for action, not for inaction.  By action it thrives, and by disuse it becomes weakened.  It is so with all the other organs.  In conclusion, therefore, it must be said that the whole system can only be kept in perfect health by muscular movements, and that in addition to keeping the body in health exercise actually increases the chances of living to a good old age.

CHAPTER VIII.

ON SCHOOL COOKERY AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE AUSTRALIAN DAILY LIFE.