The age-herald., 1900-02-18
WONDERFUL ATHLETIC
 BABY OF CHICAGO

Alonzo A. Stagg, jr., the little, son of Prof. A. A. Stagg, director of athletics at the University of Chicago, is a miniature Sandow. He is baby of eight and one half months old, and has had course of physical training since he was four weeks old. From that time the bady has been able to stand erect, balancing himself on his fathers hand held at arms length. He swings from a trapeze bar by his hands, stands on his head, walks and arches his back like an athlete. He can lie flat on his back and put his toe in his mouth. He can lle flat on 'his back and rise to sitting posture without turning on his side or lift ing himself on his feet or his elbows. This is done entirely by using the abdominal muscles, and Is beyond the power of n1ne men out of ten. The Stagg baby is proba- bly the strongest child of its age in the world.
 A. A. Stagg, jr., is tine only child of his parents, and he started in life with physi- cal equipment a little below rather than above the ordinary.
 ''At four weeks old" said Professor Stagg, "the baby weighed just what he did when he was born. He had a spell of ill., ness and at the time We hadn't much Idea that he would live through it. We'll, when l the fight the little fellow was having It occurred to me that perhaps l could ihelp him. That is the way his athletci training began"
 Today Alonzo, jr., weighs 21 pounds and at 12 months he will probably tip the scales at H pounds. Twentytwo pounds is the weight of the average baby at a year old.
 To hear of this 'baibys athletic prowess is to imagine pugnacious oyer-sized child or at least baby something out of ithe or dinary at first sight Stepping into ule nursery, the professor came back with a small bundle of humanity hugged up in his arms. It was laughing and kicking, and more a white dress and pink wool sack
 There now" said the professor, tossing the little fellow down uncermoniously on a leather couch. Instantly AlonZo, jr., righted himself and looked around. His eyes are big and peculiarly bright, his head long from front to back. But the most striking thing about the little fellow is his alertness. His whole body is alert, and he holds himself with air of confidence and self-reliance. He is on the qui vive for ev- cry motion, every sound in the room. He is not afraid of anything. Strange sights and sounds interest him, but they do not friglhten him. There is something so un- usual as to be almost uncanny in the ac- cord between the baIbys mind and his body. He appears to be unit instead of duality. For example. paper weight is showed off a table with a bang. Ins tantly, with three times the mental and physical , ability of a fencer, the child responds. He starts, peers around curiously, seemingly at the very moment the sound is made. Seizing a small stick, the professor held it up on a level with the baby's eyes. Alonzo, Jr., enjoys nothing so much as going through his gymnaStic feats. He grasped the bar and held 1t in the grip of his chub- by hands as much to say, "All right ready!'' The professor raised the rod and swung it back and forth vigorously. The baloy drew up his feet little threw his head back, and hung on without difficulty Then the professor picked the baby up by the back of his flannel jacket and stood him on his feet in the professors hand, holding him out at arms length. Professor Stagg tossed the boy up and down lightly, raising him nearly to the ceiling. AIonzo jr, balanced himself easily, standing erect on his sturdy, straight legs, and laughing as If he enjoyed it thoroughly.
 What was the first exercise you gave the youngster?" asked the reporter Tt was massage, property speaking" an swered the professor. You see that as a matter of fact, the ordinary baby gets very little exercise. He is handled with care fed and put to sleep. I determined to give every muscle little exercise daily for as l said the Ibaiby was not growing at all. | commenced by rubbing him all over. kneaded his body, worked his arms and legs and accustomed him to- a few knocks See there, now,' and the pnofessor gave the young athlete a succession of right handed punches in the abdomen, the baby standing erect the couch and laughing as if he derived great deal of fun from the punishment.
 T first noticed the improvement in the muscles of thiS neck. In very short time he could hold his head erect. One day. when he was between four and five months