The evening times., 1899-04-21
PROGRESS OF rHH z. N. c. A.
Development Of Athletics In Its Ne,
Home.

PROGRESS OF THE =. II. G. A.
Development Of Athletics In Its New
Home.
Washington may now boast Of one OF
the finest equipped Y. N. C. A. buildings
| in the country.
The growth Of the institution since its
reorganization on January has been most
! phenomenal. On that date its membership
! numbered only 164, while today 1,046
names are on the rolls of the Association.
Since the new building was opened prog
cess and improvement has marked each
1 department Of the work. While 1t has
| been the effort of the Board of Managers
I to make the institution as attractive rs
| possible the objects for which the Asso-
citation was formed have not been forgst-
ten and all of the religious meetings have
| been we'll attended
! A training class for association workers
| has been formed and placed in charge of
| Prof. Henry E. Sawyer. The reading room
| has been greatly enlarged and equipped
with large number of comfortable chairs.
1t is now supplied. with twenty EIGHT
monthly magazines, fOrty-One weekly, and
twentq-six daily publications, making a
total Of ninety five regular periodicals.
While the educational department Of the
! association has closed for the summer,
, those in charge OF the work are busily en-
| gagged in perfecting plans whereby greater
advantages may be offered at the coming
session. Several Of the best instructors in
Washington have already been engaged to
| take charge Of the respective departments,
and the various classroOms have 'been
newly furnished and equipped.
II is authoritatively stated that when the
educational classes are formed in Septem-
ber the association will offer a course of
instruction fully up to the standard OF
American colleges.
The association may now boast OF hav-
ing the finest bowling outfit in the Dis
trict, and at present the four alleys are
in almost continual use from O'Clock in
the afternoon until the building closes at
10:30. The association has already rec
ognized the interest which the ladies take
in the sport, and one night Of each week
has been set apart when members may
bring their fair friends and enjoy with
them the privileges OF the bowling alley.
The association has commenced the con-
struction of a bicycle barn on the lot to
the east OF the building. and it is expected
that the structure will be completed by
the first week in May. 1t will be built Of
galvanized iron and will contain accommo-
dations for about 300 wheels. The frontage
on Street is A feet and the depth I13
feet, with a Iight-well feet wide on the
west side. so as TO give ample illumination
for the bowling alleys.
Great interest is also being manifested in
outdoor athletics and the Eighteenth
Street lots, which are the property OF the
association, have recently been placed III
perfect order for all kinds Of games. Ten
mis- courts and QUOT ranges have already
been laid out and each afternoon there are
crowded with devotees Of the two popular
games.
The general Office OF the association will
shortly be removed to the front reception
room on the second floor which is being
thoroughly refitted. Those who visited the
building on the opening night would
scarcely recognize the interior of various
rooms, SO great have been the improve
ments and changes. New carpets, new
furniture. and handsome pictures make it
one CT the handsomest buildings of the
kind in the country.
So large has become the clerical work
of the association Office that 1t has re-
quired the addition of several clerks. In
addition 10 this force ]. B. Sleman. Gem
eral Secretary OF the Association, is con-
stantly at his desk from morning Office
hours until 1890 o'clock at night.
The swimming pools and baths are the
largest in the city and are a source OF
comfort and convenience to all the men,
bers. Several rooms in the building are |
devoted exclusively to games.
The greatest advancement in the Asso- !
citation work has been made in the ath- |
letic department. During the past month |
nearly 5000 persons have taken advantage |
of the privileges offered in gymnasium |
work. This branch of the Association is |
under the direction of NJ. 3. Rideout, one |
of the best-known physical directors in |
the country. For four years he was in |
Europe, studying the various systems of !
athletic training employed at the iusitu- |
tions Of the Old World. During this time |
he was also director of athletic depart |
ment of the Paris Y. NJ. C. A. Mr.. Ride |
out, besides being a trained athlete has |
taken a course in medicine and conducts |
his department on strictly scientific lines. |
No one is allowed TO enter gymnasium |
work before having passed a physical |
examination. Each weakness or deficien-
cy of the applicant is then noted and GER
tain forms Of exercise are ordered.
Mr.. Rideout believes in exercise for |
health in preference to gymnastics for
athletic grace. although this department OF
the work is not neglected. His course Of
instruction is complete in every respect |
and he is assisted by several capable in
structors.
The gymnasium is the largest and most
thoroughly equipped in Washington and
contains every known appliance for the de-
velopment of athletic strength.
The association promisss in the near fu-
ture to take a prominent part in amateur
athletics and will put several teams in the
field