New-York tribune., 1891-05-22
WEST POINTS GREAT NEED.
THOROUGH BODILY TRAINING.
WHAT THE GYMNASIUM DOES AND WHAT 1T

OUGHT TO DO.
The popular belief that West Point excels in the pys
cal training of its students thus expressed not long
ago by q distinguished professor OF physical culture
am strongly convinced that the best that has been
accomplished in the United States in physical train
ing has been accomplished at West Point
The conditions at the Military Academy differ in
many respects from those at the ordinary college,
and in NJ respect is the dissimilarity marked
than in matters of physical culture. Unlike other
schools the academy has physical requirement for
admission. As an appointment to West Point implies
contract upon the part OF the United States 20 install
tho recipient il he successfully completes the course
in a life Office, with comfortable salary ana nigh
social standing, the Government wisely assumes the
right TO assure itself that The physique Of tho would
be cadet is so free from blemish to insure sum-
GENTLY long term of usefulness to reray 1t for the
training given him Now, the superficial observer,
seeing the fine physique of the West Point cadet and
still more OF the West Point graduate, assumes
naturally enough, that his condition Is due TO the
physical training given him at the academy YET the
exact truth Is that the result follows the fact
overlooked that upon his admission he was physically
perfect and therefore able to withstand the demands
of his four-years' course upon his system.
Time was when the cadet received a more extensive
physical training than any other student; but, while
this training has not materially diminished In amount
the relation is reversed 1t has not kept pace with
the enormous strides to the front taken by other
educational institutions. Yet there even greater
reasons why officers Of the Army should be proficient
IN physical culture than any other class OF men.
The ancient and honorable notion that the manual
of arms was an excellent system OF castencs lived
long and died hard. Rut the Onesded character OF
the exercise with its tendency to render the body, par
tculary of the undeyeloped youth, unsymmetrlcai
aud induce a dropping OF the right shoulder, some
times even extending TO spinal curvature has come
to be recognized, together with the necessity Tor cor
recting It.
This is an important though unacknowledged, rear
son for subjecting young soldiers to the movements
known as the "setting-up drill" Hitherto this drill
has consisted Of four exercises, calculated to throw
the shoulders back, TO press tho chest forwafu' ana
to hold the head erect The necessity Tor these
calstlenics in preventing the detenora"on
Of the soldierly physique has been even
moro conspcuously recognized by the board OF
officers which has been engaged for several years in
revising the tactics. These officers have now sub
sttuted seventeen exercises for the four. ana nave
further ranged themselves in line with modern ideas
by the statement that these exercises are to be USED
only In the absence Of proper system OF gymnastics
Colonel Charles r. Greenleaf Of the Medical Depart
ment Of the Army has long considered the subject Oh
physical training with great interest and in recent
publication of the War Department he presents an
admirable sketch of the organized reacngsout after
o suitable system for our service. lSdeed' the nrst
move toward insugurating course in physcal tram
Ing in the Army seems 10 have come from the Mcdcal
Department, the source of so many improvements IN
the military service In 1912 the Acting Surgeon
General recommended 10 the Secretary OF war the
establishment Of regular system Of gymnasicks'
at West Point Apparently this was case Of sowing
seed on stony ground, for 1t bore no fruit
Sixteen years then elapsed before the subject was
again brought forward by Lieutenant J. c. Kelton.
now AdjutantGen Of the Army, while serving as
an instructor at West Point. He established the first
gular course of physical instruction at the Military
| Academy. The course occupied an hour day Tor
each class during threefourths OF the year. During
his detail at West Point Lieutenant Kelton brought
his department to high state of eff
cheney. But other officers succeeded him, and
time passed, in the absence OF an authoritative
head TO demand proper recognition, the course In
physical training yielded to the general tendency OF tho
times, and was forced into position secondary to
tho scholastic studies and fell into it's present place.
where IL Is confined 10 the "plebes,' as those are
called who are serving their first year. During the
remaining years OF the course, physical culture is
supposed TO be continued In the riding hail. where
feats Of strength and agility in connection with the
school Of the soldier mounted are encouraged No
systematic line Of work Is followed suited to bring
out the best qualities Of the Individual No apparatus
specially adapted to bring deficient parts of the body
into complete proportion is used No complete record
OF measurements kept by which the progress Of the
cadet be estimated. In no part OF the course Is
there scientific physiological oversight The work
done is conducted 10 haphazard sort Of way. the
fact that good results are obtained being indication
rather Of In spite OF difficulties than Of any
merit in the system, If system 1t may be called
In 1885, by act Of Congress, 1t was made the
duty of the military and naval academies to give in
srucon in the several divisions Of the subject OF
physiology and hygiene" The authorities Of the naval
academy, with wise and progressive spirit, are
carrying out the provisions OF this act by depart
ment OF physiology and hygiene at the head OF which
is a full surgeon assisted by three particularly
qualified officers Of whom has especial charge Of
the division OF physical culture. The work done
there Is complete and welrounded
In this respect the contrast with the military
academy is striking. Completely ignoring the spirit
Of the law the West Point school carries out the letter
By RELOCATING the subject to two three essons sAnd