The times., 1897-08-15

Improvement and advancement IN wbas-
ever line are best shown by way Of com
parison and contrast with former or older
methods of accomplishing purpose.
Looking over the field OF athletics and
OF gymnastics especially there appears the
widest difference in the methods in use
al the present day and those in vogue a
quarter OF a century or even less ago. In
the former period, when athletics were In
their infancy in this locality, no one ever
thought OF trying for allround develop
ment, and the effort 10 become an all-r0und
athlete was scarcely dreamed of 1t was
the great desire OF a person interested in
athletics 10 become the best in this or that
line, specialist, as IL were, and OF this
class We have some excellent examples,
even at tias date, and this is no reflection
upon their efforts, but il is only intended
&c show how much greater are the posi-
bilities now, ard they We're none the less
,hen, but they We're not developed
1t wAF not then thought that man could
be a good gymnsst and good field or
track athlete at the same time Then but
one set or series OF muscles was developed
Feats OF strength were more admired
than performances showing grace and
agility and endurance and strength and
skull and grit eli in one.
Then II was considered as great a feat
70 push up above the head d dumbben
weighing 100 pounds OF to swing Indian
clubs weighing 81 pounds each or lifting
800 pounds on a Winship health lift as
# is today considered the almost limit of
human speed To reel off 90 yards in As
seconds, which record was made by the
swift owen in October, 1880, at the A
A L. championships on Analostan Island,
and duplicated q year ago by the mighty
Bernard wefers, Of Georgetown Varsity
and of n. Y. A. c.
Now, To 20 back to the time and place in
this city, which form the basis Of the com
parisons herein suggested, none better can
be named than Brady's Gymnasium, on
Louisiana avenue, adjoining the old guard
house. and subsequently, the old police head
quarters The cid gymnasium building, J be-
lieve, is still intact and is now used as a
commission and storage warehouse
1t was in 1861 am told by those who
were actively interested then-that the old
gymnasium was enjoying the period of its
greatest prosperity and success, when the
then-famous Abner s. Brady was its popu-
lar proprietor and instructor Many Of the
old residents viii doubtless recognize in the
cuts which appear herewith the handsome
Hercules HIS name leads me on to deeper
retrospect of athletics than i hoped for,
and win make the old Brady G gymnasium
the subject OF the rest of my athletic re-
search.
The gymnasium wasa wide and long room,
through which were arrayed all sorts OF
appa ratus. including ladders, parallel AMI
horizontal bars, spring and vaulting horses
and turnlding boards, now better known as
hattute boards Thebathing and washroorn
facilities were very meager, compared
with the present showers, douche, nee
dies and spray baths. In this gym were
wont TO congreGate in the evening many
well-known business and professional meE
OF the city 10 take In some form or other
the exercise more or less violent they so
much needed, and which the present day
business man would find so very beneficial
70 take. But few In those days, and in
these for thGt matter, attained the won
derful muscular development of Abner
Brady, and the cuts show how remarkably
well developed was his upper body, with
IT'S great bunches and knots of muscles of
hack aud chest and shoulders, his great
strength piainly showing in the biceps, all
ending in the firm strength of grip of hand,
and a forearm aud wristof steel. All these
tended TO rnake himone of the strongestlocal
men Cf his day.
AS matter of oompa parison, see the wide,
baggy trousers In which exercise was AIKEN :
notice tie wide canvas belt, almost as big
as a surcingle, and then look upon the at
tractive, snug fitting, yet very comfortable.
Jersey tights and trunks We use today In
our exercise in the gym, where we use the
lightest OF dumb-bells and clubs for our
exercise in developing muscle, instead pf
the heavy bells OF then, when weight was
the medium Through which development
came.
Look upon the picture Of the gym Of
1865, with its almost crude and cumber-
some apparatus Then take a glance