Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-25
A GIRLS GYMNASIUM
Desired as an Addition to the Penn.
sylvania Female College.
SCHEME TO GET NECESSARY FUNDS
An lnstructress Chats Brightly Upon a
Muscular Topic.
A BALTIMORE COLLEGE EQUIPMENT

Persons interested in the future of the
Pennsylvania Female College will be at-
forded an opportunity shortly to subscribe
for gymnasium. Such building is pro-
jected as a much-needed addition to the col
lege. 1t is estimated that the gymnasium,
including its appointments, can be hand
somely constructed for $4,000. Miss 81. E.
Pelletro, Principal of the college, left yes
weeks vacation in Long Island, and was
not accessible to inquiry as to details of the
plan. A wellknown merchant who is a
patron of the college states, however, that a
subscription paper is to be quietly circu-
lated, with individual subscriptions limited
to S25, and it is believed that 200 will be
easily raised for the desired end.
1t was learned that gymnasium used to
exist upon the third floor of the old college
building, but the increase in pupils rem
dered an encroachmeut upon the space i'm
perative. The gymnasium was transformed
into classrooms, and the only unusual physi-
cal exercise available for the pupils has
been the ascent and descent of the long steps
leading up from Fifth avenue. Calisthen-
ics-that old-fashioned arm-swinging exer-
cise-although portion of the daily pro-
gramme, is not considered an effective sub
stitute for genuine gymnastics, and Miss
Pelletro has expressed the opinion that a
gymnasium hall is all that is needed to COM
plete the college buildings.
GOOD FOR GIRLS.
Educational institutions for women"
said a well-known instructress last
evening, "are not considered complete
nowadays unless equipped with appli-
ances for the physical development of
the pupils. have just returned from
Baltimore, where inspected with great in
terest the gymnasium annex of the new NJ.
E. Woman's College, near Boundary ave-
nue., North Baltimore. The building and
equipments will cost $40. 900, and it is GER
tainly handsome affair. Oh, yes. Gym
nastics are of ths greatest value for girls.
because physical exercise gives them a
greater zest for studies, keeps them from
getting round-shouldered and furnishes
healthy stimulus to q complete education.
Many noted instructresses in this country
take very advanced ground upon this
matter, and hail either manual training or
gymnastics as the salvation of fast de-
generating race. There is really no room
for argument upon the subject, for no one
disputes the value of physical education for
our young women"
"What sort OF gymnastics are en- regle for
young ladies?" difidently inquired the re-
porter.
The Instructress laughed. "well, there
are few things which the sterner sex do
that the girls would feel some natural tim
idity about attempting. For instance they
would not care to hammer each other with
boxing gloves, nor would they want to get
their
HAIR FULL OF TANBARK,
nor would they want to jump from spring.
board. But I presume that horizontal bar
exercise, fencing-now quite popular in the
East-and many other of the more sedate
exercises would be all right. In the BaIti-
more gymnasium I noticed a very fine
bowling alley, large swimming pool, the
usual rings along the length Of the hall,
jumping bars and two or three trapeze
bars"
Noticing the look Of surprise upon the re-
porter's face at the mention of trapeze bars
the lady laughed merrily.
"Oh, yes!" she said, "young ladies can
manage semi-aerial exercises very easily.
1t must be understood that girls who in
dulge in gymnastics must wear o suitable
costume. No, don't think 1 could give
much of an idea of the customary costume,
but suppose it would be something on the
Bloomer idea Free action of the muscles
could not be secured unless bifurcated gar
ments were worn. In my experience girls
always extract more amusement from
gymnastics than an equal number of boys.
and many girls are far more daring than
the average boy. In botanizing expeditions
I have seen girls attempt climbing ieats that
many boys would shrink from. Oh, yes,
there are great many girls in Pittsburg
who have enjoyed progressive muscular
education, and who seem to be much better
grounded in health than their more seden-