Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-09-04
The True Place for College AthIet-

les,
One of the problems presenting itself
to many young men just entering coll
lege is the time and attention that
should be given to physical training and
athletic sports. Some strike the golden
mean of proportionate development of
body and mind, but the majority tend
toward the two extremes of entire alb
sorption i'll literary work or of wasting
valuable time in excessive devotion to
sports. Both are to be avoided if we
would make the most of ourselves.
The educational spirit of today is
tending toward the three-fold develop
ment, the wholesome cultivation of the
trinity of powers existing in every man.
Arranged i'll the order of importance,
relative TO development we believe they
would be moral, physical and mental.
Unquestionably the moral side of man 5
nature should be accorded first place III
consideration, but unless our bodies have
the proper attention given them they
will grow weak and sicllly and invari-
ably the physical condition affects the
spiritual condition. a bad liver makes
Il grutfy, ill-tempered christian.
But more manifestly mans mind
is affected by his bodily health. No
matter how magnificently a man may
be equipped mentally if he is burdened
with frail condition his sphere of use
fulness is curtailed. No one will dis
pute the fact that one person of ordinary
intelligence, but possessed of strong
healthy body, Will have greater oppor-
tunities for doing good than his neigh
bor who may possess "a wonderful fund
of knowledge but who in obtaining that
learning made a wreck of his body.
Life means thousand times more to a
man with healthy body and mind; mere
existence would be a joy to him. Can
his lot be compared to that of one inf
nitely his superior intellectually who
looks forward to each day as but
another interval of pain to be endured,
a division in weary existence
that must be dragged out TO its welcome
end?
In the hurry and hustle Of the never
ending struggle we are all called upon
to carry on III this age of action and
thought it is imperative that we have
sturdy, stalwart bodies as well as active,
energetic brains. But all will admit
the need of well developed body; how
to obtain it, and retain it is the question
To speak definitely of the opportuni
ties for such development offered
here at Alma College, is the object Of
this article.
We are well supplied with all the
things needful for physical training
Our gymnasium is large, airy and sup
piled with suitable apparatus. In it
you will receive exercise that will de-
velop every muscle III your body; you
will gain in grace and ease of carriage /;
you will find yourself able TO control
and concentrate your muscular energy.
We can offer not only the gymnasi-
um with its opportunities for systematic
and regular exercise, but we have a
broad campus of twenty acres, where all
outdoor sports peculiar to college life
are carried on. Here you are welcome
TO don the canvas suit and indulge with
us in the manifest of sports-foot- ball.
You may tackle as at first around the
ears, and you suffer the ignominy of
having your nose stepped on by some
opponent, but before long you will find
yourself growing in strength and cour-
age, and best of all in the ability TO
think and act quickly under trying cir
cumstances.
In the spring, tennis and baseball
claim our attention, and you are wei
come on court or diamond By means
of an admirable arrangement of time,
the space of two hours from four to six
each afternoon, is set apart for recrea-
ton. This time is intended for and
should be used for physical training
One should be careful not to permit any
other thing to intrude upon it. Alto
gether we find life at Alma very enjoy
able, and we are glad to welcome you
into the democracy of college life, to be-
come one of us i'll both studies and
sports. w. +. KNOX,
Pres. Athletic Ass H.