The San Francisco call., 1904-03-07
Ne7O Sport for Boys.
By MALCOLM MCDOWELL
(Author shop Talk on Wonders OF the
Crafts.'')

Crafts')
Copyright. 1903. by Joseph B. Bowles)
Blacksmithing for the physical and
mental culture of boys is the latest
proposition advanced by educators. It
is proposed to use the fire, anvil.
I tongs and hammer of the iron craft
TO build up boy muscle and develop
boy mind at the same time. Observ-
ing teachers and parents have noticed
the fascinating influence which the
/ blacksmith's shop holds for the
average boy. Principals of manual
training schools have seen physically
weak lads transformed into active
sturdy boys after a years course in
the school workshop. The training of
/ the hands TO use tools also has trained
the mind along conservative lines. and
/ the muscular energy expended has de-
velOped physical strength.
Progressive educators have taken
note of these results from manual
/ training. and some Of them have de-
cided that blacksmithing contains
more possibilities for physical and
mental good to boys than any other
! trade. They reason that it is boy ma
ture to love action and noise. particu-
! larly when noisy action is brought
I into play to make things. The ring
/ ing of the anvil, the clang of metal
striking metal and the activity re-
/ quired of one who is working with
/ red hot iron give the boy the action
and noise which appeal to his nature.
It also has been observed by those
who intend fitting up miniature black
smith shops for youngsters that iron
workers who handle the heated metal
are, as a rule. strong. healthy men,
/ above the average intelligence. Black
smiths. rolling mill men, iron molders.
/ puddlers, steelmakers all measure
well above the average in physical
and mental strength. 1t would seem
that iron enters the very blood and
tissues Of those who handle IL: that
/ ii imparts its characteristics to those
who subdue it.
It is not the purpose of those who
! advocate blacksmithing for boys to
! teach them even the rudiments of the
trade with the idea they will follow IT,
/ There is not so much even Of the mar
ual training idea to the proposition.
| The thought rather is along the line
Of play. but play which will develop
the body and pleasantly discipline the
mind. The equipment is TO be Of the
simplest character-a light hammer or
two, tongs, a slight sledge, a small
anvil, an open coal fire and small sized
bar iron, round and square. cut into
short pieces. The little blacksmith will
/ have a leather apron and Will wear old
clothes because of the sparks
The entire outfit will rot cost much,
and if desired this cost can be decreased
! by getting a square block of cast iron
from some foundry instead of buying
an anvil.
1t matters little what the boy may
| attempt to make. he is bound to use
| every muscle in his body. 1t is we'll
| known that the left arm and shoulder
muscles are exercised less than the
right side, but the young iron worker
viii grip his tongs with his left fin
/ gers. and every time he strikes a ham,
mer blow he Will instinctively oppose
/ il with the muscles of his left arm
The mere act Of hammering will bring
/ into play all the muscles of his right
arm, back, loins and chest, for he will
work STOPPING over.
He viii be directed to heat his iron
and then make a square bend. This
is not so simple as it looks, and his
! first attempt will result in a curved
hook. After a few lessons he will be
| required to point one end of a square
bar, and so he Will be led along until
he can circle a light bar around the
/ horn of the anvil
All this time he is unconsciously alb
sorbing the great lesson of systematic
application; he is learning to lay out
work on a definite plan, and then me-
thodically following that plan to Sc
cure the desired result. exactly what
the skilled blacksmith docs.