Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-08
Mr., BARNES OBSERVATIONS
Physical Director of the Omaha Y, NJ, 0. A
Talks About His Eastern Trip
CLUBS, GYaNAslUMS AND ATHLETIC FIELDS
Soldiers Field at Harvard, When
Completed, Will lie the Largest
and Best Equipped Athletic
Grounds in the Country.

Physical Director Barnes OF the Omaha
Young Mems Christian association is very
enthusiastic over what he saw during his
recent eastern trip. He visited the principal
cities, in which he inspected the Young
Mems Christian association gymnasiums
and studied their methods of physical cul-
ture He also visited the gymnasiums and
athletic fields of some of the leading col
leges and some of the metropolitan clubs
Primarily l went east to study the work
and equipment of the eastern associations
and the large athletic clubs and colleges
said Mr.. Barnes. 81 went straight through
to Boston by the way OF Washington. Bal
timore, Philadelphia and New York. In
Boston l found the associations-there are
six within FIVE miles of the Central asso-
ciation-in a very prosperous condition.
The Boston Central branch and the Cam
bridge associations occupy magnificent
buildings, well equipped and doing fine
work, especially elong the physical and
educational lines. Boston Central employees
four physical directors. They have LOO
| members Cambridge, with about 600 men,
| bers, employees two men. was particu-
larly struck with the homelikeA air about
| the Boston association. There seems to be
| a strong social tie that holds the members
together
while in Cambridge | epent good por-
| tion OF my time at cid Harvard and I
should Judge from the magnificent equip
ment for outdoor sports that the majority
OF tho student body INDUCED in some of
| the many forms of athletics. Soldiers Field,
when completed will be the largest and
best equipped athletic grounds in this
country. The enclosure contains twenty
| seven acres and when all the grounds are
improved will have three lighthouses, golf
grounds tennis courts, foot ball field, en-
tirely surrounded by bleachers; quarter
mile track for athletic events. a base ball
diamond with grandstand and bleachers; a
fine building for training quarters and a
building expressly for winter base ball prac-
tice. Boston is surely an enthusiastic cen
ter for athletics.
II next visited Springfield Mass, where
one OF the International Training Schools
for general secretaries and physical direc-
tors is located. The school is we'll equipped
and is in beautiful location. The school
and dormitores are in an oak grove on the
shores of a beautiful lake. The gymnasium
and athletic grounds are just across from
the main buildings. Only few of the fac.
ulty live in the city. 1 spent few hours
: with Dr. McCurdy and he kindly illustrated
some OF the new experiments relating to Ntht
effect of exercise upon the heart and organ.
OF respiration which were intensely inter
esting and helpful.
Physical Culture in the Metropolis
New York was my next stop. l spen
fve days there and in Brooklyn. 1 was en-
tertained by an old schoolmate, James Ford
who is assistant at Brooklyn Central. New
York was surprise to me. l expectet
great things from the association there
Q Some of the associations have elegant quar-
ters, notably so the Fifty-seventh and FIT
{ avenue branch, where they have 500. 90
r building, thoroughly equipped with sepa
rate junior department with it's saparat
gymnasium and bath rooms and with
- corps Of men in charge. 1t has fine ath
letio park adjoining the building; and ye
they have only 400 members. Twenty as
sociations are located within a radius c
: fifteen miles in and about New York, al
fording the grandest opportunity imagin
able for competitive athletics and yet the
are too slow to take advantage OF 1t. Th
= | west can show them few points on ag
u gressiveness.
y 1.-THE Brooklyn Central association
o doing the best work in and about New Yor
It and 1t is manned by two western men. Th
New York Athletic club and the KnickeI
booker Athletic club are magnificent
: equipped and every device imaginable for tn
: entertainment and development of the att
8 leticafly inclined is at hand. The clubs al
II luxuriantly furnished and equipped, but the
5, are for the wealthy only.
a Columbia university has the most mas
nifcent gymnasium in the country. simpl
saS down and wanted to stay there, an
10 bring all my Omaha friends out to wor
10 with me. could talk for three hours an
y then not do it Justice The running trac
10 Is eight laps to the mile and ten feet wild
10 banked and padded. The magnificent swim
IN ming pool Is without doubt the finest
n this country. marble throughout and perfe
l. in every appointment. DR.. Savages offic,
"a are furnished like parlors in a first-ca
"a hotel.
IN Philadelphia.
AFTER several thrilling experiences vii
cable and elevated roads, escaped to Phili
delphia. where remained two days. III
!. association work there, like that Of all cas-
ern associations, is on q solid financial basi
rs and Is we'll equipped. and doing graz
IA work in reaching young men. Their method
NJ however. would seem rather pokey to
ar western town, and they would surely ha
II to wake up II they had to overcome o
I'd obstacles. Two Of the associations In Phil
Ii and have swimming pools and bowlil
ut alleys. Pennsylvania university Is We
i'd purely equipped for physical culture wor
y: but has a good athletic field and plenty
enthusiasm I had the pleasure Of watc
s, ing the foot ball teams at work. and t
mt you they are heady, strong lot of fellow
10, Captain Hall is a handsome fellow and
nd great fayorits among the candidates for t
he varsity team.
he Washington was my next stop, and the
X I found the association wide awake a
We pushing things for all they are worth. 7
sr' association has recently come into posse
is sion OF the fine Columbia Athletic cl
building, situated only few blocks frt
ht the Treasury building An athletic park /
Just been completed
r,s 81 had a two days visit In Chicago, WHIT
- they have the greatest association work
Y the world. found the association work