The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-04
JEWS AS ATHLETES.
Shadows Opinion as Expressed to a
British interviewer.
From The New York Times.

From the New YORK Times.
The neglect of muscular education, es-
pecially among the poorer classes of Jews,
has long been a reproach TO the commun-
ity, but now that certain authorities
have interested themselves in the matter
it is to be hoped that the remedy will be
found in putting facilities in the way Of
young Jewry to undergo a thorough course
of physical instruction wherever posi-
BILE With this object in view a Jewish
Chronicle correspondent has had an inter-
view with Mr. Eugen Sandow.
IF you ask my candid opinion, SAID
Sandow, what Is the athletic position of
the Jewish race in comparison with others
of the world. 1 should answer regrettuilS
that il is the lowest. The Jews require
physical education more than any other
nation. That is all the more remarkable
when you come 10 remember that their
ancestors were those splendid warriors OF
the Bible, and the comparison of the mus
cularity of the ancient Hebrews with the
modern is none too flattering. The reason
is easy enough to seek. The ancient He
brews were brought up to living in the
Open and We're trained to all athletic ana
warlike exercises, but latter-day jews
have devoted their minds solely to bust
ness. 1t has been all head work with
Them and the tax on the brain without
the culture of the body must produce in
furious results.
Does the same thing apply to Jews on
the continent?"
Exactly. In the gymnasia of Germany
and Austria-in fact, in nearly every
country | have visited and l have trav-
eled a great deal-I have always been
struck with the fact that Jews do not en-
ter into the spirit of muscular develop
ment I might go so far as to say that
it is worse abroad than in England. NOW
the singular point is that when a Jew
,,I hh
in for it body and soul, as if IL We're IN
born in him. The Jews possess eXtraor-
binary perseverance and will power ana
if they take a thing they mean to sue
coed. The few specimens of athletes that
English Jews produce are real good ones.
Take my friend Mr.. Lawrence Levy of
Birmingham, for instance. l consider MIN
really the best amateur weight-Hfter in
England There may be other amateur
athletes that lift few more pounds than
he, but Levy is simply perfect in his meth
Cd and the ease with which he performs
his feats. His method of lifting indicates
strength with ease, as it Is done in per-
fectly erect position without move OF
the body, and every pound weight lifted
in that manner is equal to two pounds
in other men who sway from side to side
in the performance. When l spoke to him
on the subject of physical culture, when
was in Birmingham, l was pleased to ma
ne agreed with me IN most Oh the pOlAls
of the system which l have studied all
my life.
II consider the Misses Levy splendid
specimens of the lady athlete. You must
remember that a woman does not show
the outward signs of muscularity that
man does woman's muscles are long,
where mans are short but they both
perform the same action. Physical eXer-
else in a wman tends to make the flesh
hard and firm without raising very much
muscle and thu result is the production
of a lovely line Of beauty. I consider one
of the daughters of Mr.. Lawrence Levy
to be the most perfect specimen of
symmetrical figure that l have yet seen
in a lady, although she is of small stature
Hight is not necessarily the ideal of a
perfect figure. This only shows how re-
grettable it is that Jews do not go in for
physical culture more generally. What
Mr.. Levy and his daughters can do other
Jews can do, providing they enter into the
spirit of the thing with the same degree
that the Levys do"
"Have you any Jewish pupils In your
schools in London and Manchester"
mot many at present but the results
I have already achieved with them are
really surprising"