Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-01-12
THIS txBY a WONDER
AN ATHLETES WAY. or BRfMcINa
up A SON.

AN ATHLETES WAY. or BRINGING
UP'A' SON.
Alonzo 4. Stage, Jr., son of Professor
"a. A. Stage director OF athletes at the
| University of Chicago, is a miniature
Sandow. He is a baby SIX months old,
land has had course Of physical train
ling since he was 4 weeks old. From
that time the baby has been able TO
stand erect, balancing himself on his
fathers hand at arms length. He
lswings from a trapeze bar by his hands.
stands on his head, walks, and arches
his back like an athlete. He can lie
fiat on his back and put his big toe in
his mouth. He can lie Nat on his back
and rise to a sitting posture without
turning on his side or lifting himself
by his feet or his elbows. This is done
entirely by using the abdominal mus
cles, and is beyond the power OF nine
men out OF ten. The Stage baby is prob
ably the strongest child Of his age in
the world
AT weeks old says Professor
Stage, "the baby weighed Just what it
did when he was born. He hadn't
grown bit. He had had a spell Of
illness. and at the time we hadn't much
idea that he would live through 1t.
Well, when / saw the hght the little fell
low was having, It occurred to me that
perhaps / could help him. That is the
way his athletic training began"
Today Alonzo, Jr.. weighs twenty
one pounds, and at 70 months be will
probably tip the scales at twenty-four
pounds. Twenty-Five pounds is the
weight Of the average baby at n year
old
To hear OF this haby's athletic Prov
ess IS to imagine q pugracious, over
sized child or al least n baby some
thing out of the ordinary at first sight.
Stepping into the nursery, Professor
Stage came back with q small bundle
OF humanity Rugged UP in his arms.
There now, said Professor Staeg
tossing the little fellow down uncere-
moniously on a leather couch.
Instantly Alonzo, Jr.. righted him
self and looked around. sJiis eyes are
big and peculiarly bright; his head
long from front to back. But tho most
striking thing about the little fellow is
his alertness. His whole body Is alert
and he holds himself with an air OF
confidence and self-reliance. He is not
afraid of anything. Strange sights and
sounds interest him, but they do not
brighten him. He appears to be a unit
instead of a duality. For example. "A
paperweight Is showed off a table with
a bang. Instantly, with three times
the mental and physical ability
OF a fencer, the child responds. He
starts, he peers around curiously
seemingly at the moment the sound is
made. Selling a small stick. his father
helu IL up on level with the baby's
eyes. Alonzo, Jr., eniovs nothing 60
much as going through his evmnosfic
feats. He grasped the bar and held N in
the grip OF his chubby hands as nnch
as to say, All right. roadylp His father
raised the rod and swung it back ana
forth vigorously. The babv drew IN
MS Feet little, threw his head bnct
and hung on without difficulty Then
the father picked the baby up and stood
him on his hand, holding him ont at
arm length. Professor Stage tossed
the boy up and down lightly raising
MIN nearly TO the ceiling. Alonzo Jr
balanced himself easily. standing erect
on his sturdy straight legs, and laugh
ing as IL he enjoyed it thoroughly.
What was the first exercise vou
gave the youngster?" asked tbe visitor
1t was massage. properly speaking "
answered Professor Stagg. "Yom see
that, as n matter of fact. the ordinary
baby gets very little exercise. He is
handled with care, fed and nut to sleep
| determined to give every muscle :. III
Tie exercise daily, for. as said. the
baby was not growing at all. I COM
menced by rubbing him all over.
lxneaded his body, worked his arms and
legs and accustomed him to a few
knocks. See there, now" and the
professor gave the young athlete a
succession of right-handed punches in
the abdomen, tho baby standing erect
on the couch and laughing as IL he de-
rived a great deal Of fun from the nm
ishment. Il first noticed an improve-
ment in the muscles of the neck. In
very short time he could hold his
head erect. One day. when he was he
tween four and five months old. I put
him down on the floor, wondering n
he would try to walk on his own ac-
cord. He struck out at once brayelv
lifting his feet at each step as far as
possible from the floor. II looked quite
comical. He worked his legs up AND
down precisely as had been accustom.
ed to exercising them for him"
His day is nearly ideal. for havins
good time. at least" said his father
He eats, sleeps and has plenty OF exer-
else. Or rather / should say, he drinks
for he has been raised quite in the or.
binary way on milk, and nothing but
milk. Now that he is getting a gooc
size we are making small requisltioni
on the dairyman and occasionally TT,
the baby with bits Of bread. Every
day he has two hours out Of doors IN
the park, or is rolled along the boule
ward in the buggy. He takes rather
less sleep than most babies I think
probably because he has been taught L
find amusement in what goes on around
him New York Sun