Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-25
COMPULSORY GYMNASTICS.
Enfor cling an Old Law ut Princeton-Oppo.
sing Views Of the Mater.

A Princeton On. j. special says: The
faculty aud trustees OF the college for some
tine have been considering the eXpedelcy
Of making a course in the gymnasium COM
pulsory for the students. To-day it was
announced that the rule would be enforced,
and the freshmen and sophOmOrcs will be-
gin work tomorrow. Amherst was among
the first Of American institutions 20 take
this step in physical discipline, while i'm
petus otbc movement was given by Prince
ton years ago. In 1870, when the gymnl-
stun was built here, a law was In vogue
requiring each student to spend certain
number OF hours a week working in the
building under the direction Of MI.
Godln, the instructor. For several years
the arrangement. on the whole. was
satisfactory. \ proper interest was MOI
lacking, and there was no particular dill
Guilty IN getting the undergraduates to con-
form to the regulation. Just at this June.
lure the attendance at college was greatly
augmented. and then the accommodations
of the gymnasium were found 10 be made
Quate. The law, however, was not repeal
cd, although its efficacy had been perml-
ncntly baked. The decision OF the faculty
in egain putting the compulsory law IN
force created much surprise. II was well
known that there was not room in The
building for the for classes. and 50 the
Students argued that the scheme would fail
when this fact was once understood. The
faculty. however, compromised the matter
by making Their decision affect only the two
lower classes.
A gentleman who isqullifed 10 speak on
the subject said The advantages oi COM
pulsory exercises Of this kind cInnot be
Cansaid. To some the idea Is repulsiyc.
This doubtless arises from the fact that
human nature, and especially young human
nature, possesses : dccp-rooted dislike t.
being told it must do anything. The action
OF the college officials has so much in its
favor that It deserves "A cheerful response.
IL is said that men will seek and find eXcr-
else as they feel It's need. Among those
now in college there are probably one hun
dred OF whom this might be truthfully as
serted. But to assume that il is true OF all
is absurd. The gymnasium Is open be-
tween the hours OF IL and J., > and 6,
and during these intervals the tendency Is
to loaf. As rule the time is thus spent or
occupied IN reading; sometimes, perhaps,
IN short walk, which is no real physical
CXcrtiOn. This programme |, followed out
by two thirds OF the students. while there
are many who do not see the inside OF the
gymnasium more than dozen times year.
The faculty, at last, have come TO know
these facts. Vigorous. yet not violent, eX-
ercisc lnsures good health, and greatly re-
duces the chances OF a students suffering
from the scdentary life which is almost
thrust upon him. The faculty, think,
have acted most wisely"
while there rs the general feeling that
the new law is just. it is asserted by some
that the faculty has no right to make work
in the gymnasium extra work. They say
that the schedule OF recitation requires
certain number OF hours a week for lee
lures, study, etc., and that this is all the
tax on time that should be made unless the
number OF recitations is reduced.