New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-13
PUNY COLLEGE GRADUATES
WEBB THINKS PRESIDENT xx.
CLAYs CRITICISM UNcALLED FOR

CLAYS CRITICISM UNCALLED FOR.
HE SAYS THE GRADUATES OF HIS INsrIrrrroH
POSSESS Drawn AND MUscLE-coMrs-
sroNER HrBBELHs VIEWS.
Considerable interest has been aroused smssH
those interested In the educational institutions 4
this city by mo remarks OF President MacAy a
the Board OF Education. relative to the defective
physical development exhibited by the graduates 4
the City College. they appeared upon the platform
At Carnegie Hall on the night OF the commencem<,4
exercises OF that college.
Following up the suggestions made At that time q
to the imperative need OF a radical reform IN the
curriculum Of the college. President Maciay SAID 70
a Tribune reporter few days after the commence.
ment exercises: when saw the young men Of IL
graduating class stand up IN line N. platform
before us, could not help being impressed with The
startling defect.veness OF their physique To ne Il
was painfully noticeable. and could not help con-.
pairing them 10 the gih graduates from the Normal
College, who. as a rule are nsisnihcaM specmeao
Of physical development"
A Tribune reporter called upon General Alexanda
q. Webb. president Of the City College day or I've
aso. "a secure II possible. some explanation Of ne
causes Of the serious physical defects In the grade
ates OF that institution referred to BY President Va.
cav. The reporter found General Webb IN his once
At the college and when he explained the object d
hi, yisi, the General laughed heartily and seemsl
disposed to treat the matter as huge Joke.
GOOD AT A FOOTBALL scRIMMAdE
"Why" said he I'VE have no such puny lot &
students a. Mr. Maciay would lead people TO oelisvA
n no thinks 20. let him try 10 run up against soma
OF them IN football scrmmase or course there afs
always few young men IN every graduating clan
not only In this college. but In other Ike institution
who are determined TO devote all their energies .
developing their mental powers Naturally enougA
these are the very men who appear most pronh
nently on ~. commencement platform. and 60 NJ
doubt that II was two or three 'grinds THAI Mr.
Naclay's attention was especially directed 70 at our
commencement and Ne, unfortunately. took theb
rhysical appearance as exemp!fyins that OF the u
tire graduating class You will md think that
the graduates Of the City College compare favoraey
with rhoee Of other colleges 80 far as their phys'ae
Is concerned
However Il is obviously unfair 10 critc.se the ~
Iers for the apparent lack OF physical developmn@
that may be found In is graduates. for We have no
facilities there for sivirg instruction In rs<'ical
culture. The only opportunities the sfuden's Ssw
for physical development are those ootainaoe IN me
workshop THIS course Is not absolutely requires
in our curriculum, though any OF the students w
stand well in their classes are permitted to 80 u
the workshop where they can swing the hAmma
and obtain all the eAefSiSc INV 1890
"As 4 rule the/students came here only 70 a''ess
reci,atons and lectures. When this IS done MP
ar. nermi.ted to 10 out and take as much exercise
as they please. Every day during the college ysar
the grounds are flied with bicycles. ana many "
tho students ride miles from their homes 70 'he %.
lere 20 1t does not appear That they lack pnysSs
training IN this respect. tried about eight ysaS
ago to have a gymnasium erected mere. NY pa
was 70 utilize the grass plot In front OF the ouhs'
nd u
gymnasium which would have afforded ample oppes
-unltv for the students TO obtain exercise 70 y
erected there. The Board OF Estimate. however ~
fused to allow US the amount OF money Necessary
20 buld the addition ard the plan had TO be aoans
doned.
when we move up to new site at One-nundEees
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and 81. Sicholas-ave. We "
have a gymna sum that will b. a credit 20 the CO.
,eee II will, be a large one and we'll equipped. aN
according 70 the plans, will be located underneso
III. chanel As 10 the exact plans for It's cons'Fuc
ton and equipment, l can state hothihs oea'uses
now. as they have not been finally Determined.
"As compared 10 the Normal College, THIS lnsuu
ton receives a yearly appropriate" VI '"" -
m. former receives $4,000 and every doisr DEM
here "a made 10 tell for the good Of the sfudenta
fail 70 see that the graduates OF tne N'''".' -
Iese are any better developed physca'! anu
the mental training. our students are pa. 49,.
fully as severe as that which is reau!reo ''''A ~
Young women at the Normal Coieee'
HE WOULD DRILL THEM IN THE srHssI'
schoo, Commissioner Charles Bulk.ey Hu0o~s
chairman of the Board Of Trustees OF tne W.
Collese was seen at his ONCE. NO ""'
Tribune reporter. as TO the compar'S'"
President Maclay between the pnys'c' ~ .s'.. -
Of the graduates OF the city CoHcso a''. -
~. Normal college Mr. Hutbell eaid: 4 90 NOV
think there IL anything IN the argument some ~
~. have raised against President Maclay's s'a.e
ment. In which they assert that the s'uoe"'s -
CITY College come from the poorer ciasses a"' 1..'
the city men generally have poorer P'iy"ss~
Men born and brought up In this ana o'ne' 80
have clearly demonstrated the iac' '"a' wy s
ho called upon for fully as good service as M
uho have soent the early part Of their lives IN w
country. This fac, was clearly shown IN me C's
War The city bred men could march fur'h1 -
showed greater endurance than was displays"
their brethren from the rural districts.
II am satisfied that at the City Cohese -" ~
thort,ies do not make use Of the facilities they NJ
have for developing the utmost the nnSyshaus ~
the students The large assembly nan e0uu % c,uI
for this purpose, suitable athletic exssc tS Las
carrie. s0. gu; way even Could Se found
take the students Of the City Conese GUY on MOI
Sad to physca development tina: institution,
fcft in the hands Of the students ana tns' few SoO
atn Isss'e on the baseball or football Acid
I'm the Norma! College we s,acs second upon De.
mrs. upon ,h uu chssaeter and third upon training
the mind We have now large room ON sY sns as;
ILL., -. v,w,nc women take regular cais,henic ex.
ercises direction Of trained teachers es
rvn,nertun n Is 70 be on the top floor, and VIZ
r. fitted with lockers and the mos improved appe'
ratus a.. - No.,,., r,,leee
when II IL considered that out OF class OF ,S r.
graduates this year not one was reSeeeo - ., Az
physical disability"
nur nrEpNI Elm MlRKEI