The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-30
ATHLETICS.

National Amateur Gymnastfc TOurna.
ment Next Fall-The Spirit OF the
Romans-The Necessity OF Physical
Education.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD -
"A sound mind in o healthy body il the greatest
Of Gods blessings" Upon investigating our vari.
Gus institutions OF learning we find that the
founders Of them while aiming at . high standard
of morality and great intellectual culture almost
entirely neglected physical education. Gymna-
Sums, or scientific method OF physical training
were considered unnecessary in preparing young
man for the arduous and severe duties of his
future life. II his mind was wen trained in CLASH.
cal learning and the exact sciences he received
his diploma. Armed with that 1t was believed ne
could successfully engage In the exhaustng tolls
Of body as well rs Of mind, and force his way TO
success and renown, forgetting how many dis.
clpned and brilliant intellects fell and persisted
by the wayside for the want OF physical strength to
sustain their Intellectual vgor The iliustrious ma
tions OF antiquity understood this better and their
athletic games are used slniles py the founders
of the Christian religion to ncite to perseverance,
In o holy life. The Grecian Phalanx and the Ro
man Legion, which held the world in awe for cen.
turtles, but the fruits Of that national physical
training for which these great nations were IA.
nous; and while modern nations have been imi.
tat1nx tnem we nave Deeu Sadly negleCtful in tha
matter. Saying nothing about the Con tine ntal ma.
tons OF Europe, you will find in England TO-DAY
ymnasiums In almost every public school and col.
Iege, forming very important part OF the educs
ton Of the young men OF England and of great
benefit to them In after life; also MANY pr1ya to
gymnastic societies, introduced and iostered m nv
by the Germans. These societies have pnbiic
exhibition yearly at the Crystal Palace at Svden.
ham, and contest for prizes after the manner
of the old Greeks and Romans Besides these Won
will find in London gymnasiums, supported by the
government, In Regents Park, Victoria Park Bat
tersea Park, Kensington Park and elsewhere
These generally have two sets OF apparatus-one
| for children and the other for adults and one
under the supervision OF ex-non commits salon ed
| of1cers VINO have faithfully served in the army
who, by the loss OF a limb or other casuaIty
have become incapacitated for active service
| Thus we see that almost the entire youth OF
| Great Britain are receiving scientific phv sjcal
| education. Some believer in small nuscles and
great brain may ask, what benefit Is ali this TO the
| English nation ? We will answer In the words of
the great orator OF eur race and time :--"She has
dotted the surface OF the whole earth with her
military posts and possessions; and her morning
drum-beat, commencing with the sun and Keeping
company with the hours, encirces the earth daily
| with one continuous and unbroken strain OF the
martial airs OF England" and We may add that
Wherever the English nag Is planted the Christian
renslon is taught. The most learned psychologists
OF our time decide that man gets his full physical
| development 1t rom twenty-five to twenty ii We
years OF age but does not get his complete intel
lectual development until from thirty to iorty and