Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-03-27
Physical Development.

INV Illb''i '7N't''N'
Physical Development.
Mr.. William Blakie's recent lecture in
this city on Sound Bodies and How to Get
Them" has reused as we are glad to
know, considerable interest among our
young people in the matter of physical
development and this sensible and praC-
tical talk, with which the Y. NJ C. 4.
closed its popular course of lectures, is
likely to do some definite and permanent
good in the community Among other
things, we hope to hear, not only that the
gymnasium which the University has had
reason to expect, has been definitely pro
vIded for but that "A movement is on foot
to secure funds for Il public gymnasium
somewhere down town possibly in con
ncction with the y NJ G. \. work, or as
starter" for its building fund At any
rate Mr.. Blaikc's lecture will beyond
doubt he the means of inducing many to
avail themselves Of those simple and pri-
waite resources for physical culture which
are within the reach of all.
The subject OF physical development
and physical culture is more prominently
before the public just now than it has
ever been before. Colleges and schools, in
stead of leaving the physical education of
their pupils to the pupils themselves, with
such devices and resources as they can
muster, are coming to recognize the eXer-
else and development Of the body to be as
much part of their work and RESPONSE
blity as the mental and moral culture of
the student. Gymnasiums in our univer-
sites and colleges improved Fairgrounds
and facilities for outdoor exercise in our
academies and seminaries, and Calisthen-
les in our public schools, are evidences of
this feeling of responsibility On the part Of
our educators But the movement is
still in its infancy. Physical culture
is not yet understood as it should
be,-as Mr. Blake pleasantly and forci-
bly, showed in his comparison of the com
mon practice of gymnastics to the study Of
algebra, as it would be if begun at the
last page and carried backwards, and to
the study of the ordinary branches Of
common school education with all the
paraphernalia Mt hand but no teacher. In
telligence and common sense are needed
in the development of the body just rs
much as in the development of the mind.
one of the very first steps in physical cul-
ture should he to determine the ihitiul
cCpdcitu of the beginner "a factor which
, is almost always lett ont of the problem,
, often with the most disastrous and dis
couraging results.
The University of Pennsylvania has
gone at this subject of physical culture in
10 the right way. y competent Instructor,
| who is also ii physician, has been secured
p to take the physical welfare of the stu
, dents in charge He begins by carefully
+ examining each student, To ascertain tn,
| amount and kind OF exercise required by
c his physical condition. Every young
+ man is required, when he comes tC
, the instructors Office to step into an
e adjoining room and remove every
IA stitch of his clothing. He is then carefully
i weighed, and his weight, height, the
h measurements of his chest both normal
n and inflated, his upper arms, forearms
+ thighs and calves carefully recorded. The
:. strength of his lungs is tested by having
c him blow in IL trumpet with registering
: dial-an exercise which proves so fascinat
i ing to the average student that he Otter
i continues it with great frequency through
, out h1 college course. The strength o
d his arms is ascertained by compelling hin
n to ''pull up on bar swinging from I
e trapeze, SO that his chin can be seen abov,
= the bar, as many times as possible. Hi
/ abilities of squeezing or COMPRISING ar,
rs shown by watchshaped Indicator helC
c in the hand, and his powers of lifting deaC
,, weights tried. In a month this eXamina
e ton is made again and differences @
= weight and measurements noted. Al
e ter the first examination the instructo
$ prescrbcs the kind of exercise which tn
n 4. en-
h time being-rowing walking, eXercs,
1t with dumb bells, clubs, bar, trapese
:. or whatever the case seems most To de
'e mand. The results of this method, II
II may well be imagined, are remarkahl
4 satisfactory, because it represents the nat
rs ural and proper course of'physical deyel
II opment.
Ia After proper beginning, it is posoibl
} to accomplish almost anything in the wa
y, of physical development. There is n
field of Improvement which affords sucl
t. rapid, remarkable and beneficial result
+. for the amount of time and effort eNpend
&c Ell than this same field of physical
W culture. Instance upon instance could b
furnished of development in physical
health and power which would be consit
Is cred fabulous, if the facts were not Il
hand to back them up. No young man q
f.. Young woman can wisely refuse to ava
- themselves of such Wide-reaChing and in
40 calcuable benefits as the proper cultur
% of the body affords. Health, happines,
~. increased capacity for work, physica
~ grace and beauty, and-not least by an
~, means-the comforting of these priceless
~ blessings upon future generations, are tn
~ prizes offered in rlesc modern Olympia