Prize Essays on Physical Education. (Longman and Co.) — The Athletic Society
of Liverpool held its "second annual great inter- national Olympic festival " at the Mount Vernon Parade-Ground, on Saturday, June 13, 1863, where, before flat races, and hurdle races, and vaulting, and gymnastics, and broadsword matches, and one exciting struggle, entitled " Sabre versus Bayonet," the president announced that Mr. Luke Owen Pike, M.A., was the winner of the society's gold medal for an essay on "Physical Education." Of the fifty unsuccessful com- petitors two had extorted from the committee a mark of approbation, and, accordingly, Lord William Lennox was to be made illustrious with a silver, and Mr. Rowland Evans with a bronze, medal. These three essays are now given to the public. Of course, the writers are unanimous in favour of gymnastics, and, perhaps, carry their enthusiasm rather beyond the sympathies of unathletic people. But allowing for a little inevitable exaggeration, we do not doubt that they and the society are in the right, and that our neglect of the body reacts upon the mind more mischievously and more universally than people are apt to admit. Mr. Pike's essay is one of the very best prize essays we ever read, and Mr. Evans, if somewhat deficient in taste and judgment, has, nevertheless, produced a paper full of information and thought. Lord William, on the other hand, is historical and elegant.
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