Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-06-23


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years constant exercise on gymnasium Gas
Is the usual custom IN Europe during The
whole years Of boyhoed), and these pale boys
aud sallow young men would become rigor-
Gus and healthful. We, therefore, appre-
bend little difficulty IN raising the requisite
funds.
1t is likewise surely to be expected that,
being public work, the city itself viii. if
It be in their power, lend their assistance.
How this can be done mot in money! is
matter, of which more anon.
The next matter OF consideration, is the
style, dimensions and cost of the building.
In order to contain the works essential to
proper gymnasium, after accurate calcutta
lions, we find that the gymnasium room
cannot be less than As feet wide nor less
than IS feet long. To the length of this
room is TO be added not less than II feet, to
be divided into two Tooms-the one for bath
ing after exercise the other for dressing
with narrow boxes arranged all round some
what like the letter boxes in a post Office
each under a lock and key, to contain
clothes This is the way gymnasums are
arranged. For it is necessary to take OFF
ones clothes, ard put on others suitable for
exercising purposes. This would make the
entire building As feet by II feet. Through
The centre of the room, running lengthwise,,
there must be a very heavy beam foot
square. ard firmly supported. to which are
attached all along, at intervals. ropes for
various exercises, and which shall support
ladders and poles of different sorts. all of
which it is unnecessary to describe here.
This beam. it is important, should be raised
not foot less than 25 feet from the floor
80 feet would be better. Hence the necessity
of having the building As feet wide, in order
to give room TO the full swing OF the ropes,
without throwing the gymnast against the
wall. Nor would it do to arrange the ropes
so as TO swing lsngthacise. as one pair ofropes
(and there any many different soris) would
occupy almost the whole room to the eX-
elusion of all else. while a dozen different
sorts may be employed at the same time in
close proximity, when swinging side by side,
and without any interference with each
other, or with the other works of the GYM
nasium. The room should then be a feet in
length, 40 feet iu width, and % or 80 feet
TO the beam, or caves.
1t is also proposed that it shall have base
ment floor for the drillings, meetings, DC, of
the company, who take charge of the enter
prise. Ten feet in height would be sufficient
for this purpose, which would bring the build
Ing to say forty feet to the caves.
The next point to be considered is the cost
OF such building. 1t is plain that brick
cannot be thought Of 1t is therefore pro-
posed,with the permission of the Council, that
simple solid wooden frame of the above d.
mansions be constructed by contract, and
merely boarded in with weather boards like
common barn. leaving space for large win
dows to admit offree circulation OF air through
the rooms 1t it be absolutely necessary,
under the existing laws of the CITY. and he
yond the authority of the Council, to grant
permission for construction of wooden build
ing for any purpose, or however situated aud
used, why then it will have TO be timed all
over This, we presume, would be satisfac-
tory at any rate.
What would such building cost? Others
may estimate the cost more accurately than
we cam but should suppose that $500, at;
most S2OOO, would cover the expense.
Thirdly. We come to the location of the
building-which has not as yet been fixed
upon. And here we would appeal to Coun-
ell, ana 10 the community, if the city has
land In Its possession, which is in an availa-
Die location; can they better employ it than
IN the furtherance of public work of physi-
cal education? We cannot see how possibly
1t could be better employed for the public
good. Ii SO, can we not look to them for as
sistance? Is it unreasonable? Ii the land
has to be bought, another heavy expense
will be incurred But if not, nothing further
lntervenes to prevent rapid completion of
this desirable enterprise. The work, more
over should be constructed on permanent ba-
sis. And if put up on other peoples land, is
liable to be brought 10 an end in a very few
years at most. Let the thing therefore be
done completely and permanently.
The cost of the internal works of the gym
nasium will be about $500 or $500 They
may be constructed here, under careful direc--
ton, all OF which may be obtained from
many works on the subject-French, Ger
man and English. Or, if this be impractical
BILE, they may be built by persons of expert
ence elsewhere, and imported here. as may
seem most desirable to the gentlemen who
now have the matter in hand.
A gymnast and fencer may be obtain
ed in New York, or, probably, which is the
better plan, one may be imported from
France or Germany, within four monts
from this date, who will take charge of the
work, keep them in complete order, instruct
in the use of them. and teach fencing and
boxing to all who desire to learn
We apprehend there would be no-lack of
scholars, either in the gymnasium or at the
sword or gloves. We are now lamentabIy
deficient in ali these particulars-more so
than any other civilized nation whatever
more so at the South than at the North; and
who knows how long it may be before we
NAV be called on, as citizen soldiers, TO use the
s,cordR And what is the object of our young
officers holding holiday sword DIS dangling at
their sides, of no more use to them than a
| lady's twig-whip? If we are soldiers, let US
learn to use our weapons; if we are men, let
us learn to use our limbs.
Twelve dollars year is all that it will be
requisite to charge for admission 10 the use
of the works of the gymnasium; eight dol
lars for six months; five dollars quarter;
| twelve cents single admission. This tariff,
| it will be perceived, suppOsing there be only
| one hundred members (and there will, I'M
| doubtedly, be a far greater number), will
| more than cover the interest of all expenses
| incurred. cor