New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-07
PHYSICAL EDUCATION At AMHERST
COLLAGE.

last Simmer Il will be remembered we called the
attention Of our readers to the novel profe-sorsh jun
instituted at old Amherst, having for lie Object the
maintenance Of system of pb, steal culture, based on
principles now being acknowledged by the good
Of the age which has 20 fairly se, in progress The
modern muscular reform" In warmly commenting
this union Of Oily with mental education and predict
ing the benefeent change which must be observable
in the physical and intellectual hygiene Of college
students, wherever the example OF Amherst should be
followed, we recorded the fact that DR.. John w.
Hooker, graduate of Yale, con Of Prof. Worthhgton
Hooker of the Yale Faculty, and thoroughly accom-
plished and able young man-had been nominated 20
the chair of the new PrOfessorsbip. The COHsyega-
ionalist now publishes gratifying account Of the
cess and progress of his abors from which we tale the
following description Of the system Of regular
academic exerci,es" established By him:
1.-The roll is called at the Of each
erci,e Absences marked and reported, and de-
pertinent Il registered and enters into the rank just
as at pray ers and recitaODs This plan alone will
at once be perceived bring all the students within
the sphere OF lis influence Any merely voluntary sys-
tenn win fail reach the very meD VINO most imper-
atiyey need The benef, Of il. And contrary TO the
common opinion (which doubtless is that compulsory
exercises must needs be reluctant and, therefore, IN
profitable as well nDpleataDt, tbOs exerc,es have
hitherto proved far popular and attractive than
my other Each lass IN after I'll hour spent in
rec a,oD hungry for exercise, ith appetite and &
relish Tor equal to that with which they 30 to their
meals. Having divesied themselves IL the dressing
room OF boots and outergarDens, and put On slippers
and gymDestc rrgimentals (which hereafter are 20 be
stout psns ooen shirts In uniform, they march in
line to the beat Of the drum, into Tie upI er ball The
professor, from bis sgggGtnS IN The middle OF the
ROOM calls the roll. The officers Of tie diyieon stand
forth with due Oeisance 20 the commando rin-cief,
and form their in raik and e at such distances
as to afford room TO each nan for the firtt exenre
Percbanee it ia with long oles They have already
armed themselves with these, in anticipation, at the
command Of their officers. And now they 20 through
with military dill ordering presenting, aud grooId
ing arms Nike the modern soldier With lis guD or, like
the ancient, with bis spear, array their like
solid wall, and alternately advancing with 4 ruth to
the shock and then falling back Nth spears still set
sand fronts still firm agaiu, the enemy. Or, perhaps
they file off in Divisions aid march md counter march,
and perform every wieiy OF MhteI5 eyo'u'iorS under
This exercise ended They depost teiripoes In the
arsenal a fll In military oder md al tue word OF
command), and take up Indian clubs OF dunb-bells,
and marching back 10 their places move item in every
conceivable direction al the zane time shouting one
two three q, the top Of their voice, IN concert with
their leader TINS giving exercise Ia The vocal organs
the same time with every muscle OF their body;
And now, perhaPs, they lay down their olabs aud
dunlbtells and perform variety Of RtnuileAions and
postralions OH the floor, with more than mchammedan
zeal or down on all fourP play at hip.frog and put
themselves in every conceivable and Wcoheeiynhle 1t.
tudc, ill., in pPe of theselyes, every man OF them
il in roar Of laughter. "lhen breaking into smaller
eanads, or every man hi, own hoJk, ey chase each
other along the parallel bars and horizontal ladders;
run up ard down inclined planes; Godnd over horses
from spIiug boaTdf turn sonerrets on rwngn; mount
up 10 tho roof series Of parallel sprirg-bars, as II
Jy maeic ind by magic come down again unburtj
and when they baye gone through with thrse eyOluios
and others TOO 10 nehon loot all N every
half hour Of course but always enough 10 touch evo'y
minute mns le in the most hidden recess OF tic frame,
and 10 cd forth gus Of life and joy from the dn
and deeret fountains Of the soL rflera llisapparent
medley Of confuion, enough 10 diaira alnost as mich
rs Il amutes the okeT.on, they arc al brought mp
st indng at tho expiration Of The Lalf hour, like the
singers at the end Of one Of the oldashioDed fngce
tunes and sent away TO their meals or th'ir studies s
the Gaze nav be, with III appetite 10 relish, and
stomach 10 ciges, without difficulty danger, c,sscs
mathematcr physics neta hysics, beef steak or
roast ~, mince pies or rlum.puddinge.
RssvLTs.-Ihe results mls, bs given inisT 6orde,