Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-23

Tho Boys Of the InfAntry Devoting Then
selves 10 Physical Culture.


Tho Boys Of the InfAntry Devoting Them
selves 10 Physical Culture.
ATHLETIC GROUNDS SECURED AT NEW FORK AVE
NUE. AND THIRD sTRHIT-ISsTRucrol JOYCE
AND HIS NKrHoDe-APPARArus IN THE ARNoRy
BunDNo-Tux1LNo FoR BOOMERS.
THE MODERN SOLDIER HAS BECOME
l. an athlete. The tendency Of the times il
to make the man Of arms q man Of muscle, and
to enable him to fight with his fists If he lose
his gun or to run fast if it should be discreet
to make use Of the muscles Of the legs. There
is logic in the general movement that has been
begun in all the militia armories of the coun-
try. and the result will be q better lot Of SOL
diers when the time comes for them to strap on
their cartridge boxes with sounder bodies and
stronger legs and arms and longer endurance
and better wind.
The Washington Light Infantry 10 not at all
behind the times in this regard and has taken
steps that will soon give it one Of the most COM
plets gymnasiums possessed by any volunteer
military organization in the country. This adj
dition to the plant of the corps is Of recent
growth and is now fairly well started in its OPP
GRAFTON.
HOW THE MOVEMENT STARTED.
/ AUG AoVSmohs AOA y yuudcAuAA was uEst
started az fad of few Of the members, who
formed an association to which an extra fee Of
membership was charged for the maintenance
Of the institution. The idea seemed to be so
popular that the corps finally took the matter
under consideration and voted to institute a
general supervision over the entire bus
| mess on the ground that it was not
| right that any member Of the corps
| should have to pay extra for privileges
/ hat ha ~ hAvra %
meeting of the corps held on the LIST of April,
| 1t was voted to organize the Washington Light
| Infantry Corps Athletic Association, with every
member OF the corps Q member in his right as
| wearer Of the uniform Of the military organi.
| cation. The association was formed with the
| following officers: Allison Nailor. IT,, presi-
dent; Hamilton E. Leach, vice president; John
A. Heydler, secretary and treasurer; Charles
Z. NJ. Loe6ier, director; company representa-
tiyes, T. J. Haltigsn, John E. Payne, p. s.
Schneider. 1t was also voted to secure the
| services Of an accomplished man to take charge
OF the gymnasium and to train and instruct the
| men in the use OF the various pieces Of APP
paratus that were afterward procured. On this
authority the officers engaged Mr.. Maurice A.
Joyce, who has had great experience as
an athlete, and who has taken hold
of the raw material given him and dis
covered in 1t some very promising stuff for
future athletes and record makers. The direc-
tor was given entire charge and supervision of
the gymnasium or in the field, and the appoint
ment Of captain and lieutenants and manager
OF the base ball team, which has since become
| large factor in the amateur diamond Of the
city.
FITTINa Up A aYMNAsrUM.
Fully . thousand dollars has been spent in
the fitting up Of the armory hall with the
most improved pieces Of apparatus designed to
produce muscle. These fittings are the best
that are on the market and make very hand
some addition to the furniture of the great
| room below the theater. Most of the pieces
are on the north side Of the room and a few of
| the mattresses are spread on the floor on the
| south side. There is SO much room in the
| place that the addition of these articles makes
little or no difference in the amount Of floor
| space that is given over to the drilling.
Certain rules have been adopted and promul-
gated for the regulation of the gymnasium,
| among which is one that every man who goes
| on the floor must be in q costume suitable for
| gymnasium practice, consisting generally of
jersey shirt. knickerbockers. long stockings
| and rubber shoes. There must be no buttons
Of any sort used in this gear, that there shall
| be no scratching of the wood of the apparatus,
it having been found that this material, highly
finished and polished, is apt to crack at every
point where there is a scratch.
| ATHLETIC GROUNDS.
Grounds have been secured by the corps at
the corner Of New York avenue and Sd street,
those that were used by the Y. M. c. A. last
year, and here will be fitted up, as soon as pos
sible, complete athletic plant for outdoor
| work. A base ball ground is already in use
and track for sprinting will be laid down
later in the season. A grand stand is to be
fitted up and the best possible accommodations
arranged for the comfort of spectators and
players.
| Ia ha pfotv, ND d Il naIx IL
Birmingham first and second lieutenants
The manager of the bail club is still to be Sc
lected. The introduction of this athletic feature
has caused q revival Of enthusiasm among
the members Of the corps that is to be seen in
| the increased attendance at the armOry, par
ticularly on Saturday nights, when there were
| formerly but few to be found there. The men
are getting very lively in their work on the
various pieces Of apparatus and are making
| great progress under the careful systematic
training Of Prof. Joyce, who has taken hold Of
his duties with an ardor that promises we'll for
the future Of the gymnasium.
INSTRUCTION JOYCE
Habitues Of the Criminal Court in this
city may be familiar with the figure of
q tall young man who stands near the
clerks desk in q blue uniform, whose per-
suasiye manner has much to do with the
preservation of order in the court room.
He has stood there now for over six years and
has become quite feature of the establish
ment His clever ways and ready wit, together
with his imperturbable politeness. have made
him q great favorite with all whose business
| with the court is of professional nature, but
whose strict adherence to the law and
whose marvellous muscles have caused him to
be the terror Of the evil-doers whose
crimes bring them into contact with him.
This Il Bailiff Joyce, the trainer of
the soldier athletes, ex-performer IN the saw
dust ring, tight-rope walker, tumbler, gymnast,
all-rOund Samson. MIR. Joyce is young man
| for one who has seen so much of the world
| and who has covered SO much Of its territory
| having been born in 1860 in the town of Sara
| toga Springs. He began work professional
athlete at the age of fifteen years. when he went
| into O circus company as an apprentice to L. J.
North a celebrated old-time circus rider. He
rapidly learned the rudiments OF his business
| and soon became proficient in the contortion
act and all sorts of athletics After his regula-
| ton two years Of apprenticeship he started off
for himself as an independent performer, and
| continued this sort of thing until ten years
| ago. when he married in this city, and, at the
solicitation Of his wife, gave up the circus bust
ness for more peaceful and less dangerous lines
of life. During his career under the canvas he
| did almost every act OF muscular strength and
| skill that has ever been done in the sawdust
ring, travelling with nearly every combination
| that took the road, but mainly in the west. He
played many parts during his stay on the
characterization, leaping, tumbling, aerial
work and trapeze and bar business. He be-
came a tight-rope walker by chance, TAX