National Republican., 1888-05-21
HAPPY POLICEMEN.
They Have the Nucleus for u Good Gym.
nasium.

The officers or the first precinct are happy
in the possession Of creditablc gymnasium
and mascot in the shape Of little Tom Sui
| Ivan.
Some time ago Scrgt Boyle, Officers
"Bob' Montgomery, John Kenny, Tom"
llolinberger, and Others thought that If u
| iirst-class gymnasium was gotten up In the
| station house the officers would find re.
| lief In exercising that would greatly benefit
| them.
| \ reporter of the REPUBLICAN had a tall,
| with the boys and II resulted IN the publiCa-
tien Of the intention to form "musclc i'm
| provcr.n The officers instantly bonded 10.
| gcthcr and obligated themselves 10 pay 50
much month toward buying the necessary
| articles.
The fact that start had been made he.
| came known to the business men, aud In
short time dumb bells. Indian clubs, boxing
| gloves, pullcys, and strengthening ma.
| chimes began TO arrive at the station. Lieut..
| Amiss, who was much interested In the ma
| ter, had talk with Capt. Austin about the
| Innovations and the attention of Mai. Moore
being called to It, permission to establish
| the gymnasium was readily granted.
Sergeant Boyle and Privatcs llOllinbergcr
| and Cross then went to work aud In u weeks
| time they painted, frcscoed and oiled up a
room ON the second floor, built u club rack,
| and put up all the machines In the corridor
| In front OF the room. The results Of their
| labor show creditable gymnasium. In the
| room the first thing that strikes the eye is
| big lcathcred-covered bag suspended from
| the ceiling by a suitable piece OF cord. This
| the men strike at and use to develop the
| MUSCLES Of the arm.
There are number of things vet want
| lhg, nut the men are patient, and before
many days roll around 1t is expected that
| the gymnasium will l'e greatly enlarged.
officer Kenny. who Is deeply interested In
the affair, gives much time IN acquiring
knowledge about grips, catches, &C., all Of
which he freely imparts 10 his companions.
| The officers propose, in time, to secure AN
| Instructor IN all the various intricacies Of
the gymnastiC art.
The success Of the experiment at the first
| precinct has caused the police of other pre-
cincts To take steps in following the exam
| pie set. The idea is excellent, and worthy
OF encouragement.
Probably the happcst boy in the city is
| the Mascot. The NATIONAL RErUBItCAN
| sometime ago told the story of Tommy's
wandcrings about the country aud his arrest
by the officers of the first precinct. His
brightness and good manners caused the
men of the first to take fancy to him and
| adopt Tommy. They bought him new
| outfit Of clothes, and he now has II warm
| t'lH'l III lnc SthtlOll 10 slcclD' also many
| corners in the affection Of his "foster
daddics," aud place in the Mutual District
| messenger service.
Tommy is under strict discipline, AMI he
has TO answer roll call and 90 to bed early
at night with the same promptncss rs his
"daddics." Since coming to the station he
has not disobcycd an order or committed an
| act that needed reproOf. He is ready aud
willing 10 do his benefactors n kind service
at any moment When the officers presented
him with Il new suit of clothes and supply
! of underwear recently he was So dumb.
founded that he did not know what to do
| with himself, but subsequently gave cvi-
1cnce that the kindness was appreciated.
| lie wanted TO black the officers boots aud
! do o,ncr things for them, but was pcrcmp-
toriiy ordered not TO undertake anything Of
the kind. He is very much attached to
Lieut.. Amiss and to Sergts. Dggins, Boyle,
and lieiincr and shows them great respect.