New-York tribune., 1900-04-29
PHYSICAL CULTURE.
MISS BERENSON. OF SMITH COLLEGE.
SAYS IT MAKES GIRLS HAPPIER.

Miss senda BerensOn instructor of physical train
ing at Smith College. in speaking of the benefits
women derive from health culture says:
If the higher education OF woman means any
thing means the developing Of powers In different
mind hut the development of ali the faculties
Since women have already enlarged their sphere
only at the threshold of their possibilities they
ever before 10 more readily meet the demands OF
their life work. Although physical training is still
ground rapidly as a dignified and necessary parf
of any serious scheme of education Professor
Physca training is the general LIB basis is which
harmonizer and equalizer and bringer up of the in
dividual TO the normal mixture OF facilities which
ogy l feel the greatest interest in the physical
culture of all students l know we shall thereby
Shall get less eccentric Influences of philosophy
pessimstic tendencies which are Supposed to be the
fruits of spiritual life too ardently cultivated.
Mere wer.o made 9tLe right Il '''e O''
The philosophy of the physical training depart
ment at Smith College is embodied in the above
quotation. 1t aims to be an aid TO the academic
physical SPECIALISTS it encourage athletics
or gymnastics for their own sakes, but it devotes
Of the average student developing nationally strong
the body perfect basis as possible for the in
Four half hour periods of gymnastic, work.
required Of the first second year students from
courses in gymnastics and also in fencing are
offered to the juniors and seniors About seven
work in the gymnasium is carefully graded from
emphasizing the corrective side, to more and more
difficult work emphasizing the development of
which has not definite result in in vi view W oo,,-.z
the gre great Importance of Corrective physical train
ing it viii not be the duty Oft of the college to lay
city life gives 50 little opportunity for natural
bad postuTes at the school desk since the civilized
mode of dress still so unhygienic and since the
the % ad of physical
Ing is much emphasized al Smith.
MEDICAL GYMNASTICS
A feature that was introduced three years ago
gymnastics. Students who below the average
health who have anamia delicate heart or lungs;
those who have slight curvature of the spine or
any other asymmetrcal deyelopme9t, take up the
work specially adapted to their needs
hen ba1 b % S S & 0f
gymnasium and the college physician It can be
said with truth, that-excepting students wno are
exercise-a number show remarkable gains;
lung capacity The girh Of chest is often ncreased
three inches. One measurement of interest shows
the depth Of abdomen is decreased. This demon
sfrsdes @ t9a1 f me tTang bFings ABOUT peter car.
given to all students who desire them, and prove
great source Of help and encouragement both to
Although the ali around educational gymnastics
are always emphasized athletics and outdoor
exercise are enoouraged as much as possible, The
many people athletics only are necessary for
physical development. Its aim is to have the ath-
etics and gymnastics supplement each other.
Basketball is by far the most popular game at
Smith. and is most valuable alone from
the athletic point OF view. Women physically
timid, have self-reliance still rather self
conscious and personal Team games-where the
individual is secondary 10 the team: where fair
ones best for the good OF the developed
where slight element of physical danger comes
who is expected to make herself felt in wSate4er
calling she may take up. Basketball more than
any other game women play, develops just such
traits OF character. 1t is played with modified
rules which eliminate unnecessarily rough and dan
gerous playing yet preserve hard playing rapidty
and interest. The fear that athletics will make
masculine il unfo1nded u,tern,rar tto rn;r;t
OF athletics is carefully guarded The great athletic
event OF the year is the basketball game played
classes the last Saturday Of the winter term.
Snlth is fortunate in having unusually fine
g@oIf @ course, 1t belongs both 10 the town and col
Itee anu mas pretty clubhouse. which is to be
enlarged this summer. Membership is limited to
20, and IL has waiting list. There is no oppor-
tuhit! lcr sclenthc rowing. but the athletic
sociauon has built boathouse on Mill River and
owns eight light boats, which are in constant use
during the spring and autumn. The interest in
tennis is reviving: Two tournaments are held dur
ing the year The walking club, snowshoeing
hare and hounds and tether ball also under
ganiZatlon, called the Gymnasium and Field Asso-
citation. was founded in 1893. 1t has large mem
bership and is in thriving condition.
The great need of the department lust now is an
athletic Held. 1t Is also necessary to enlarge the
gymnasium to meet the natural growth of the de-
The work of the physical training department
would seem TO prove that the college girl is
much normal individual because OF it. She
is much less hysterical, much less given to
brushes. and more ready to deal sensibly with
that If a student has fairly good preparation
and is not TOO stupid, she need not break down In
college; on the contrary. she Will leave it
physically well as mentally.