The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-13
TO IMPROVE THE RACE.
MRS. ANNIE JENNEsS MILLER OUT
LINES NOVEL PLAN.
She Proposes to Found a Netional In
stitutiOn o: Physical Culture-The
Aim and Scope of It's Work-The
Results Which She Hopes to Accom-
plish by Physical Training.
fToD,,r;obf

Results Which She Hopes to Accom-
plish by Physical Training.
tCopVri0ht)
New YoRK, Sept. 12.-There is no longer
question concerning the necessity for the
thorough mental training of youth. Dis
cussion of the superior education of women
is now confined to the expediency of intro
ducing co-education into the higher Institu-
tons Of learning. Upon this point there
are still diverse opinions; but all thought
full people are agreed that profound
mental training is desirable for both
sexes, and other things being equal, no
one maintains that the self-educated man is
better prepared for success in the world than
the man who has benefited by the discipline
of the schools. Upon the other hand, for
the more important physical education of
youth. little provision has been made, and
intelligent men and women can be found
merely ornamental accomplishment of no
practical value.
1t is true that few comparatively of
our schools and colleges provide gymna-
Sums, and encourage athletics, but sys-
tematic physical training of the body is
little known aud less practised, and even In
those institutions where encouragement is
given to field sports and gymnastics the
work is of a most irregular and unsatisfac-
tory nature, aud the results are often doubt
full, sometimes dangerous. Everybody who
reads knows that college athletics are apt to
be exhausting contests, and occasionally be-
come even brutal and disgusting spectacles.
1t no. unfrequently happens that the prize
athlete of his class breaks down physically,
and falls out Of the ranks before graduation
as the result OF too violent training for soma
match in which certain necessary muscles
we're developed at the expense of the general
bodily tone. Such training ia physical sui
eide, not physical upbuildment; aud the
moral of such facts, and the desultory and
fragmentary discussion of the subject Of
physical culture in general in the news
papers and periodicals is plain-something
is percsiyed to be physically wrong with
the race. How shall it he made right?
b, This question, with all that is involved
of collateral relations j., to my thinking,
the most important and vital before the
world to-day. All others are side issues.
branches upon the great tree of human
life, and efforts to insure sound health,
public morals, and profound human up
buildment must be more or less in effectual
until the AK has been laid directly at the
AOOt Va GAL SACtbk
the result of heredity; physical weakness
the result of ignorance of the laws bear ing
upon prenatal conditions; physical inca
pacity the result of exhausted vitality
through personal indifference to bodily
possibilities or abuse of bodily power. and
physical Viciousness the result of morbid
appetites.
Far be it from my wish to deprecate what
is now being done by individuals here and
there for the cause of physical improve
ment for no effort for the betterment of
human condition. however limited its field
of operation, can be lost in the grand total.
But some organized movement which will
command the recognition of the masses,
and become the medium for widespread dis
semination of profound physical truths.
will alone accomplish perceptible diminu-
tion of the unfortunate conditions which
fill our homes, hospitals and asylums with
invalids, our jails with ps5ty offenders, and
our reformatorles and prisons with GRIM
inals
So enthusiastic a worker in reformatory
fields as Frances Willard, said to me re-
Gently: Tho physical upbuildment of the
body through sound prenatal conditions,
physical development and the proper dress
OF mothers is the royal road to sound
morals. All efforts and stady in behalf of
temperance and social purity bring us back
to recognition Of this supreme truth"
have long believed that the time must
come when the necessity for the physical
education of youth would be recognized as
quite as important as the mental. and
have dared to hope more so. Sound bodily
development can Ger tainly be demonstrated
to be of more Importance to the immediate
welfare of the individual than mental Gull
ture, especially If the latter be ACCOMPANIED
and limited by physical weakness and suf.
fering; indeed, am convinced that we'll
sustained mental strength and profound
mental Judgment and justice must rest
upon the solid foundation of physical
health, while the grace OF bodily culture is
certainly q ute as pleasing as the attraction
Of mental culture. A student coming from
the school room, physically broken, can
not be expected TO contribute much to the
general greatness Of the race. His mental
attachments may be ever so varied and
fine, but practical achievement must ueces.
sarily be limited by the lack of physical
strength and endurance. The school room
should be the laboratory in which sound
bodies as well as disciplined brains are pre-
pared for the active duties of life, and it is
sad commentary upon the higher educa~
ton that bodies are sometimes sacrificed to
the discipline of minds.
The remedy lies in scientific physical up
buildment, and the means for widespread
physical upbuildment do not exist in this
Country az present, HOT lIltle6Q In any other,
1t must be created, established and made to
appeal to the practical common sense of the
people for its support. A national institu-
tion of physical culture is demand Of our
higher civilization. The time is ripe for it,
and in my judgment the practical setting
forth of the self-evident advantages Is ali
that is needed to win generous and enthusi>
astlc support to the cause which will make
it possible 10 establish and maintain model
and thoroughly equipped institution for the
education of teachers who will find employ
ment in public schools all over the land to
develop bodies ooincident with brains by
rational ana scientific methods.
For a long time l have believed in the
necessity for such an institution, and my
judgment has been strengthened by discuss
ing the matter with able men and women
whose opinions are decidedly in favor, and
whose substantial contributions to such an
end have in more than one case been prom
ised.
Body and Individuality" shall outline the
plan for such work, and set forth the prac-
teal advantages Of course of training at
physical culture and the spread OF scientific
and comprehensive a work could not be
successfully carried on by private enter
prise no amount of private capital could
make il what the times and the deeds of the
times demand-an unlimited medium for
physically educating physical educators for
the physical upbuildmeut of national youth.
The scope of the work must bs broad
enough to admit what is best in all systems
~ r,h-afoaI davalorarnapf md fba traf