New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-07
AMONG THE COLLEGES.
ATHLETIC TRAINING NOW AN ESSENTIAL
FEATURE or STUDENT LIFE.
q. MODEL GYMNASIUM AT AMHERsT-ATiLEflC

4
CONTESTS IN PLACE OF LAwLEss PRANKs.
Amherst Mass Apn, (SpcclaD.-A generation ago
gymnnsiums ms a part Of college equipment were
as scarce as elevated roads, and their varc quite a.
little appreciated. Every considerable insttu'ioh :"
course cxtcmporized imperfect apparatus hut inc Use
was OPTIONAL and had little attraction Tor P''e'
student Indeed, every influence was on Inc SLUG
of unremiting mental effort 10 trcspassins upon
the natural hours Of sleep The surplus energy o'
mors careless youth ound scope in rollicking noVeh
turc not nfrequently TO the great scandai OF soocr
society: peThaps-such is the nature cvoVeu from
sometime raIbaric sOurccs-took salislacuoh III
boscrous interference with their comrades OF oIposo
tastes and being without balance Oh judgment lhcso
cecapades often travcrsed the civil law
In those DAYS college authorities sacrificed no small
portion Of clTcency in control OF restless WIS
continually seeking 70 repress a"css tcnoch''cS VI
which they had not learned the radical cure Ic-
staint is one thing: tact another guidance better
than dcspotlc control. thundcrous engine, WITH a
madcap driver. may not be stopped, but ii VIII
USUALLY follow the tails. switches are now used IN
enlightened fashion. students have their way, ana
the way leads quietly from senscless overeNeons 70
orderly efforts IN keeping with mental ana phys'a'
wcllbcng. Vicor that was formerly wasted - now
conserved Exercise becomes cumulative acquire
ment in harmony with mental strength. 1has bodily
training is universally considered necessary CON
dtion to the highest efficiency in student life, ana Is
on essential feature of a college course
Amherst College the first to recognize the necessity
of sound mind in sound body by mailing regular
gymnastics compulsory affords vivid example of
the benefits resulting from systematic drill uhoef
professional instruction. Each class has its hour
four DAYS in the week. during which light exercises
adapted the needs Of ALL are practised with military
precision accompanied by music. The Pratt pyhna-
sum- while perhaps not so capacous as those oil lH"
and Harvard has few il any, equals in completeness
f~a nf In
the classroom. There the veteran Dr. Edward Hhch.
cock prcsidcs directing movements with the nre OF
youth. The tables Of vital statistics obtained ana
tabulatcd by him during the last thirty years are
probably most important Of their KIND In America
outside the military and naval schools From these
may be seen the progress OF class in successive years
the size Of arm the capacity Of chest the height the
weight the rower OF lift and strike. Boxing is in
great styie Of late years TO educated Young
Americans are likely to be not less terror 10 tho
heather world than their English cousins have always
been. The entries at the annual public athletic con-
test. on March &c, were very numerous stimulated
by the offer Of medals G.. :. Bennett. '91 took the
HIGHT and W. A. Talcott the heavy weight on the same
occasion the college records broken in several IN
stances: High lick Il. i. LuddinGton 81. feet
inch breaking the record by inches putting sho''
" D. Alexander 90, &c feet IL inches breaking the
record by foot IL inches; rope Climbing f.. +.
smith, 92. L. seconds, breaking the record by J..
second. p0lc VauIt a. a. L"lls ~ lc-i d A''''7'
brea,,ng the record by l 34 inches The soph-,
securing nine prizes, carried off the banner and The
Ladd prize OF $50. Special attractions Of the evening
were Psi Epsilon banquet, d. K. f. reception, "ice
Club concert. and The meeting OF the Athlete Board
Dr. Hitchcock adapts training to the need. OF those
who are we'll enough to attempt college course
At Johns Hopkins University DR.. Hartwcn in addi-
ton brings all the resources of applied athletics Ia
the cure of chronic weakness TO the removal Of
structural deformty
1t is recognized a. cardinal principle that whas
mon like to do they apt to do well. Good luis
ment and strong will may enable one TO perform
in artistic fashion labols that positively di'tastc
full The claims OF duty, however, are seldom 20
strong in youth as TO compete successfully with tic
forces Of inclination lie directs the efforts
Of young Will find scope for his ingenuity IN MAX
ing agreeable the labor he is called 70 impose. In
respect have modern educators been more success
full than III populariLins college HE by Fostering
manly ambition for excellence in athletic power.
Thousands OF young pleased. cxultart with sue
in more serious matters. fhe tendency is toward
good scholarship Pride prevents the odium OF low
rank. $1,000 < .
in the conQuests Of The class room carries MS sell
worthiness 10 the training. OF me campus. ana re
coves benefits from efforts there. lleIcc the ci-
feet of athletics is to giye equilibrium to The force,
CT mind and muscle, making muscular stndehls anI
s.udious musccmen. The student who ms passed
through The various exercises from simple breathing
to the complex. continuous practicc OF hai lour ;
drill Will speak for hours without WEAKNESS or harm.
Is gifted with endurance and the ability 10 conccn-
trafe both nervous and mental energy upon an cN
tended effort lie NILS the race and leaves his rival
vindc1
But best Of all, they like it; 1t qricken' their
pride 10 carry the stakes the generous rivalry.
They are the heroes % the hour. No praise viii
ever he swecter than the hearty cheers Of the far
and the famous who their supple movements.
The honors cherished, far more satisfactory
rcminiscence than the pranks for which these accom-.
rlshNents make agreeable substitution. On alumni
DAYS while the fathers paint rainbow colors the
antics Of We olden time" their sons relate athletic
triumphs and tell how cnps We're won. In place OF
q chin from some midnight gate. the sophomore
shows the girls his medals; seniors view with serene
content tho insignia 81 their course.
lat disclrlnc which is essential 10 succes.ful
COMPETITION in practical life is gained layc-ly by
contact with men. Close study Of things gives tech
rical skin: mere social contact With gives ac
quaintance. but not while power. Wis vir Is dc
yel0ped from strife. antacOiSn. IL Il when men
come in correspondence with mon about things that
they study and know each other These athletic
contests place young in friendly competition
with their EQUALS and snpcriors. test every faculty
tgoh4 ofac hat