The times., 1897-09-19
THE OUTDOOR GYMNASIUM.
A New Direction in Philanthropy of
Interest to Women.

physical culture, It's moral significance
has been overlooked. The latter aspect
has, however, been brought into unpre-
cedeated prominence by the establish
ment, within the last decade, OF the open
air gymnasium. Public parks and pleas
ure grounds have long been viewed as
means of moral and ethical advancement
as well as merely physical corafnrt, and
since the open-air gymnasium, SO far as
already establis he'd, comes under the
same public supervision, statistics and
conclusions AS to its moral usefulness, both
positive and deterrent, are the moIe read
lily reached. 1t has perceptibly dimin-
ished 'loafing," as well more actively
deuoralizing methods OF passing time,
beth in its immediate netghborhood and
for large surrounding area.
fhe first requisite for city outdoor
gymnasium is a location conveniently
reached both from all parts or the city
Itself and its suburbs. As such gym
nasium Is intended largely for warm
weather recreation, a very desirable sit
uaIIon s on the banks OF "a river. IN order
tnaL rowing. swimming and diving may
be included In its poss itdlities. This how
ever, neCessitaJes large additional eX-
pense, az "A sea wall and promenade
should be built overlooking deep water.
"A high substantial railing and frequent
electric lights provided, as well as boats
and lighthouses.
The requirements Of an open air gym
Iasium Tor men and for women differ
somewhat. For men, simply level
graded and rolled piece of ground, in
! closed 10y a high iron fence. furnished with
necessary apparatus, and ha wing an ad.
! 5oining building containing lockers, bath
rooms, etc answers all requirements. The
4 expense is, Of course, regulated by elab-
Grafton Of details. A two-story wooden
I building 30X30 feet ON the ground, con
! tssiniBg offices fOT supeTin tendenU and other
/ officials, storerocm for tools and a room
Tor use OF hockkeeprr on ground floor, and
/ upstairs, lockers, ventilated by screen doors
/ OF heavy wire and revolving electrie fans.
| lavatpIics, large VeuCnted bathroom fur
/ rished wlthhot aud cold sprays and shower.
J ami a tiled bathroom with porcelain tub,
/ can be built and equipped within $4,000
limit
Tie fsllowing list OF apparatus is fur
nisned by Prof. d. 4 Sargent, professor
! Of physical culture ut Harvard University
/ as requisite for well-equipped outdoor
! gy3ins slGm for men: Two she,is with
twelve sets Of chest weights in each, in
| Guiding six high and Low pulleys, two giant
| strides, eight sets Sf horizontal bars, eight
sets II parallel haas, six jumping boxes,
seven boxes for quot pitching and shot
throwing. two sets of Jumping standards
ana ropes two sets of sandbags and at
taclmants' four vaI5ting poles, three
sh.is. two heavy weights, twent y-four
/ qunitsi twenty pairs OF ddnbeIls, ten sets
Of bundles, and two large frames, each 100
feef long, 10 which are attached tte follow
ing apparatus; Four balance swings, eight
breast bars four single swings J7vu double
Swings five swinging ropes, one rome lad
! der one iron jacobs ladder, one per1en
dicuiar ladder, one inclined ladder, four
pans er flying rings, four single trapezes,
| one climbing pole, lyro inclined poles. two
peTi'- -ndicnlar poles
| 4 bicyc'c and Running track surround
ing a gynnasuilI large enough to prop
eriy CJEtain The above apparatus viii be
abvnt oDe-filtb Of a nile in length In
order 10 avoid Interference with the
track BY those entering or leaving the
gymnasium, "a bridge may project from
tle s-,o4d styfy 81 tire ad- -ouu- bs4i!t.-
ing, across the track aud lead by Il
flight OF stairs to the exercise ground
As d large proportion availing them
selves Of a public outdoor gymnasium
would naturally belong To the working
class. whose only leisure is in the even
ing evening admission is an import ant
feature. and lighting by arc electric lights
necessary. The entire cost of building
and furnishing gymnasium Of the above
description should not exceed SIC, 900
This allows $4,000 for iron paling to
Surround the grounds, and electric poles
and $4,000 for the gymnasium apparatus
and supporting frames. THIS presup
poses the ground to belong, without pur-
chase, tc the city CT other protector Of
the plan, aud does not take into &c
count the preparation OF river bunk
For an outdoor gymnasium for women
seclusion is considered necessary, and =
thick, high shrubbery is a desirable substi
tuue for board fence. An essential ad-
junct 20 a woman gymnasium, if intended
even partially for the poorer classes, is d
Ihlidren's S playground since only By bring
- g their babies or their toddling brothers
and sisters for boys under six o. eight
years usually share the privileges and re.
|
women aud young girls avail themselves oil
the gymnasium at all For this pIa v
ground large, shallow. boarded inclosure:
of sand are the first requisite No elab
crate m mechanical toy gives greater delight
20 the average child, rich or poor 1t is
wise 10 construct the gymnasium itsel
with an eye to its use largely by girls OF
ten years and upward, for half grown girls
at least among the poorer classes, are
more likely TO have time, strength ant
spirits for gymnastics than their mother,
and auntS. As they dispense with som,
OF the heavier and Eiore expensive ap
paratus indispensable to mems gym
nasiuru, and out of regard to their complex
ions, women may be allowed an awning
top to the iron framework supporting then
exercise machines see-saws, both plan
and with side rails and guards, and lump
ing ropes for youthful exercisars. take she
place of hurdles and vaultng pUles; but ot
the whole the apparatus differs little
II the gymnasium contains, as suggested
special provision for young children,
matrnH VIII be needed, who should hav,
some knowledge OF kindergartening meth
DDS. This will prove as beneficial to tn
mothers ~ To the little waits themselves
A shelter containing seats, such as ar
common in parks, for attendants is de
sirabie on or near the children's play
ground The exercise ground should, TO
safetys sake, be surrounded by high
paling fence, and its gate should be vigi
Iantly guarded. OF course, a DuiIdinl
corresponding to that adjoining tie men
fr-rrsn.4 sim, IL npcaS ~ and c;,a,l,R 4 = -,