The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-16
70 HAVE SOUND BODIES
,rcunxxExERcIsE rs NECESSARY.
Talk with Q Wolf Known Physical Gull
tnre Instructor About tho Progress In
Gymnasium work--Methods.


change ia recent years in the completion
OF the various classes. Formerly the differ
eat classes we're made up almost exclusively
Of young men who went 70 school or had
hardly entered business life.
At present it has been necessary to set
apart classes for business men of all stations
o: hto owing TO the steady progress and do
velopment of the gymnasium work. which
begins TO be appreciated by ali classes OF
tue community. Those who once make up
tne.r MINDS - ioin the gymnasium within
a few dsys begin 10 notice the beneiitng Ell
tects of Systematic exercises of the body,
and they are At once enrolled az steady ire
quenters OF the gymnasium moor.
MAKING PROGRESS.
When l spoke TO Professor Horace F.
Smith. the gymnasium instructor OF the
Young Mems Christian Association In tins
city the other day In reference 10 the de-
veopment OF physical culture IN recent
years tina. gentleman made the iohowing
highly interesting statement ON the sub
.rbe gymnasium OF to-day as equipped
and conducted in the Dung Men, Chris-
tian Associations. IS Rs near contradiction
Of the idea entertained Oy the major'9y r, OF
people twenty years ago as possible Ihe
rrrogress that has been made IN the manu-
tacture and adoption OF appliances IS SIM
NV wonderful. This was brought about
bv the rapid strides made along the line OF
ecientihc thought and moderniZed methods
of teaching physical culture. There was
time when the trapeze. lOO-hundred pound
dumb bell, cumbersome single rope pulley
weight. peg pole. tumbling mats, tug OF
war and ceats constituted the flrst-class
gymnasium. but that time has passed for
most of our gymnasiums.
WITH DOUBT.
when the idea Of introducing the gym
nasium into Association work was fret con-
sidered some twenty years ago It was looked
upon with considerable doubt and suspi-
con by many of tho Wlsest and best friends
Of the work. That physical culture was
necessity they did not question, but the
problem was whether II could be made SUBJ
servient and tributary to the supreme aim
of the Association. The most satisfactory
answer TO this question lies In the fact that
at present 3i5 Associations IN this country
sustain departments devoted to the physi-
ca culture of its members. Another i'm
portant question then asked was. what kind
Of men are to take charge of this depart
menty Christian gymnasts were hard to
find and so the gymnast was taken as he
was aud the work went on. The number
OF young men joining the Association for
the use of the gymnasium was sufficient
proof OF its success and reason for its i'm
provement both us 10 equipment and man
agement. -,
To-day, when q new Association build
ing Is put up. 1t has it's gymnasium just as
sure as It has its reception-room and 10 so
located that II Is easy or access, has plenty
OF hight. pure air and a dry floor. More
over. II has a good running track and no
posts OF unsiChtly pillars. Good bathrooms
and locker accommodations are TO be found
and the instructor has for his aim the pro-
motion OF health instead of fancy acrobatic
work.
The Association gymnasium of to-day is
fitted with apparatus suited TO the all-round
development OF the body. There are special
machines for the development of special
muscles and parts of the body. They are
the result OF scientific thought by such men
as Roberts. Levin. Maclaren. Sargent, Blake
aud many others. 1t is suited TO the mass
of brain workers and men who desire and
need health. and Is not intended for the
few would-be gymnasts.
SOUND BODIES.
THE cry is sound. healthy bodies. not
physical mOnstrosties and acrobats. Instead
Of the specialist on the trspeze or horizon
tai bar % deal with we have the round
sh0uldered clerk or student at the chest
weight. Instead of standing on our heau
We stand on our feet and have our hands
free to grasp a pair Of wooden dumb bells.
and strained backs and hail with satisIac-
ton the abdominal mat and intercostal pull
ley But these are only a few OF the changes
which have taken place in this line, and the
reformation has only just begun.
Now a word in regard 10 the methods
used: Blake says you might as well send
sick man to a drug and tell HIM 10
cure himself as 10 send man tOa gynlna-
stun and expect him TO get the best result
10y aimless aud DfOmiscuOus exercise This
is. of COURSE. admitted by all. but it Is ex-
pected that the instructor will tell each mAu
what 10 do and what not 10 do. However
there have been men IN charge of classes.
when the reformation first began, who were
utterly incapable of filling their position.
Glasses. IN the real sense of the word, were
unknown. speclGlIstic work reigned supreme,
aud the anatomy and physiology OF the man
never entered INTO the subject. The TACT
that man was in possession of o heart and
pair OF lungs was overlooked entirely.
THING OF THE PAST.
Heavy gymnastics for the average man
are a thing of the past. All scientific.
thoughtful men OF to-day decide against It,
The system Is injurious TO the average man
and he Ia the man to be benefited Light,
systematic WORK IS more beneficial than
Aeayy work. Health is the motto of the
present gymnasium. The majority OF men
need light work and even If they tried
fancy gymnastics. The demands OF the
majority must he complied with and these
points have determined the policy of the
present. Its platform is summed up in
nine words: All exercises shall be short.
safe, eAsy. beneficial and pleasing The
result OF this platform put IN practice ID
large classes easily handled, beneficial exer-
cises for all. otherwise dry work made in
ieresting and pleasant.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
There Is still more important place
which is termed prescription work. Ii You
are sick and call IN physician you expect
him TO diagnose your cHse and prescribe
a remedy according TO YOUR general needs.
That is the principle followed out in nearly
all of the gymnaslums Of the present DAY
The membtr has the privilege of a thorough
physical examination and prescription of
exercise most suitable'to his special weak
ness and needs.
Spinal curvatures are corrected depres-
sion OF the chest cured and weak heart and
lungs are made strong again; sour and
cranky individuals. made 30 by Indigestion.
are given an easy temperament and pleas
ant smile; fat men are made lighter ana
lean men heavier. Men who walk u great
deal are gwen arms and chest 10 match
their legs. ana men whose arms and shout
deTs get ali the work can get legs TO cores
pond with them In fact the time has
come wnen every muscle III the body from
the crown OF the head 10 the sole Ol the