New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-12
TO SAVE CHILDREN.
Physical Culture to Yard Off
Tuberculosis.

An athletic club, which fixes its dues at tho
extortionate figure of cent a week. sug-
gests an unusual departure in the world OF
clubs. Moreover. for many other reasons the
Children's Athletic Club Of Philadelphia. COM
posed entirely of the children OF the poor. or
ganized to fight by physical training the ravages
OF tuberculosis, marks important innovation
in the charitable work of that city. Mrs
Florence L. Williams, the founder of the club
has certain definite objects to accomplish with
the sixty little pupils under her charge. That
she is able not merely to bring muscle and
health in place of weakness and even disease
through a careful system of physical culture.
but also to develop trick team capable OF per-
forming acrobatic feats of no little difficulty
proves the efficacy Of her methods
For her clientele Mrs. Williams depends en-
tireiy upon the children of the crowded quarters
Of the city. where poor food and unhealthy sur
roUndings render child life unwhOlesore and
make physical development impossible. From
the children OF these quarters Of the city Mrs.
Williams has organized her classes. the men,
bership of which has grown from three 10 sixty.
But even here the selection OF members is made
from the weaker and the more anGernic: from
the children who already show signs OF the in
vasion Of the great white plague" whose tiny
arms and hollow chests Indicate lack of vitality.
With such subjects it is natural that at the
the mildest sort-lve minute drills with the
lighteSt OF dumbells. interspersed with frequent
rests. Special breathing exercises are prescribed
for the new members, and they are expected 20
continue this exercise at home One of these
exercises consists in the usual exhaliug and in
haling, but the method Of accomplishing it is
novel. The children ranged in rows with
their hands on their hips and each child puts I
quill toothpick in its mouth. Then at a word OF
trils and then exhale slowly through the tooth
pick. this device making the exhalation slow and
avoiding all chance of strain.
The fire drill is another important exercise in
the development Of lung power. AS the little
arms and legs get hard and the chests de-
veloped the more advanced pupils are taught 10
take the weaker ones across their shoulders and
carry them out of the reach Of the fanciaI
flames. But the ideal OF all the children who
belong to these classes is to develop strength
and skill enough to join the trick team for when
the danger OF disease has been banished and the
puny little figures with narrow chests ard
round shoulders have been developed into erect
sturdy bodies, then the gymnastic feats of the
more pretentious athletes attempted and
achieved before admiring public audiences.
The development of muscle is attended with 4
similar stimulation of the moral side OF the
child. and it is to accomplish the latter that
the penny weekly fee is charged. giving the
children sense Of membership and rightfu
claim to the advantages of the club, which IS
lacking in the mere charitable work. which does
not permit even the Slight contribution OF the
children themselves. The results of this physical
training are striking. Children who. when they
Joined the club, were too weak 10 endure even
the least firing OF the exercises, under thiS
regimen develop strong. healthy and even ath-
letic frames. Moreover. the tendency to con.
sumption is checked. and with the increase OF
physical strength there is corresponding mem
tai and moral development. Finally, the lessons
of the gymnasium the knowledge cf TIE proper
method of breathing and of walking. are 70
membered long after the actual class work has
ended and serve to keep the health the exercise
has won