| Nowadays, a sedentary lifestyle, an
unhealthy diet and lack of exercise has turned us into a nation of couch
potatoes where obesity is (pardon the pun) a growing problem. Not so back in
the 1930's before everyone had a car and ate burgers in front of the
television. Even so, we are told in "Cigarette Card News" of December, 1937,
fitness was then "a very topical issue. Even when the present craze for
physical jerks dies down, the set will have much value for reference purposes."
The set in question was Lambert & Butler's Keep Fit, 25 "approved "
exercises for women, and 25 for men. Described in great detail and with
coloured diagrams. A footnote on the back of each card advises "information on
similar exercises can be obtained from Central Council of Recreative Physical
Training, Abbey House,S.W.1." from which I reckon this is one of those series
produced with semi official government backing along with the likes of Carreras
Britain's Defences, Wills' Air Raid Precautions and Life in the Royal Navy,
Phillips Aircraft, Player's Uniforms of the Territorial Army etc., in a subtle
effort to prepare the nation psychologically for war, although, of course,
there's no firm evidence for such a conclusion. Anyway, the advice on this set
is a as useful today as it ever was, and is an unusual addition to any
collection. |
