New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-29
SWINGING DOORS AND HEALTH.

The fear has often been expressed that business
men will in the course Of not many generations,
become weak and puny because they take no
oxercise So far as those of them who live in
suburban towns are concerned, the apprehension
is groundless as the daily chase for the train
efectually prevents their deterioratins physically
With those living in this city and Brooklyn, how
ever. the case is different, and the theory that
men will in a century or two become narrow
chested spindle-shanked and thin-armed would be
nIousible indeed were it not for the architects
of the city. These men, with the spirit OF true
nhilantbropists. have provided all the Office build
ings. hotels and large stores, and not few
residences. with gymnastic apparatus that forces
nil business and professional men to take certain
amount of exercise daily. Their ingenuity has
not been less remarkable than thelr motives nave
been commendablc.
Understanding that few men would put them
solves TO any exertion with the deliberate inten-
ton of benefting their physical selves, the archi
tects hit upon the idea of hiding the real nature
of the machines by making them in the form of
annarent necessities. The door, being an indis-
pensable part of every house, was decided to
be the most eligible guise for their lung and
muscle developing apparatus Accordingly,
swinging doors are made in such way that men
will derive the greatest benefit from them. In
stead of being constructed Of light materials, as
might have been expected, they are generally
made of a weight that suggests medieval castle
in constant fear of besegers with big batterlng
rams When the door itself is not heavy, extra
strong steel springs are put on it, so that the
same result is achieved
When one stops to think he will see how much
more effective is this apparatus than dumb-bells
hest weights or Indian clubs would be. In the
FIRST place. strong muscular effort is required to
shove or pull the door open, and the strain falls
not only on the arm, but on the chest, back and
legs as we'll Then, one learns agility in avoiding
being hit by the door as it is allowed to swing
back by the man ahead The architects have
greatly added TO the opportunities for learning 20
I've quick by having three sets OF swinging doors
on most buildings. On residences there is only
one. but occasionally structure will have four
lines of these Notifications, and this keeps up the
average.
To get through the successive rows of ponder
ously swinging masses of wood is worth as much
to q man physically as bout with a champion
boxer or a five minutes participation in football
Match and is really not so dangerous for broken
nose or arm results only in rare eases Another
advantage in favor of the swinging doors is that
when q man is worn out from encounters with
them, or Is Ill, he can walt until some one coHes
along and can, if he is skilful, slip through the
doors behind him without having to push one Of
them or being struck. In a prize-fght or foot
ball game, on the other hand, man would be
branded coward If he gave in before time was
called or he was carried from the field or ring
disabled.
The citizens of New-York who are interested in
the welfare of the human race owe great debt
to the architects of the city. Let there be
recognition Of this fact.