Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-30
BRAIN AND MUSCLE.
The Athletic American Lad and Girl
of Today.
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
This is the day of days in the AmerI-
can athletic calendar, when the glorious
season of outdoor sports by flood and
held'' is formally opened A multitude of
| meetings are being held today by our
young athletes. They usher in a series
OF stirring events that will occur with
gratifying frequency throughout the sum-
mer and until autumn's chill brings to a
finale the open air games of 1896
1t Is a grand thing for the country and
its future that the American lad and
young girl with whom the nations future
will rest, have taken thoroughly to out
door life and its healthgiving sports We
used to be considered energetic but ex-
ceedingly nervous people, living In super
heated rooms in winter. careless of our
diet, with pastry the national dish,
dyspepsia the national disease and in
MIGRATING athletic sports almost unknown
among our rccreations That was In our
grandfathers days, and If the old gentleman
accomplished great achievements it was in
spite of, not because Of the non-athletIc
life he led.
How different everything is now! Look
about you at the young men and women
of the hour, devoted to golf tennis base
ball, boating. field, track and. water sports
Of all kinds, riding, hunting and what not,
and see the glow of health that is in their
cheeks. Does 1t not foretell the story of the
wrong with people so physically well buile
that moral cIearness of vision high am
billions and ability to strive and win must
necessarily go with it?
Craybeards of today even those whose
hair is lightly touched by the hand of time.
recall how few and far between were lth-
letic sports and meetings In the period of
their youth. The New York Athletic Club
as an instance. which now has its great
house, gymnasium and swimming tanks in
this city. and its grand summer home at
Travers Island for outdoor games, held be-
fore thousands of spectators, then contested
some of its championships in a vacant lot
IN Harlem in the presence of a handful Of
lonely enthusiasts.
Again. notice how golf links have null
tiplied, until every country settlement has
its meadow and hillside devoted to the
heaithgiving game.
The young woman of earlier days, who
would have been FRUSTRATED by the nerv-
Gus exhaustion of croquet on the lawn,
Is represented now by a grand young crea-
ture on the links who has thrown away
the croquet maliet for the golf club and
yields the latter with skill and strength
which tell that she has added physical
stamina to the American girls charming
beauty.
Look not only at the Thousands of sturdy
athletes competing In the games of today
the country over, and winning laurels IN
foreign lands as well. but notice how the
youngsters of the preparatory schools. some
of them only Knee high to grasshopper,"
are learning to love healthy sports
Isn't it great? Isn't it encouraging?
Doesn't it look though we should have
to recast that portrait of Uncle Sam and
make him. Instead of the tall. slim. lanky
fellow that he has been pictured, a brawny,
muscular, finely developed figure. ready to
whip all tarnation creation"-if need be?
And what does every athlete know? That
it is the powerful, we'll developed. self
confident fellow that is best natured and
best keeps his temper when he should, If
there is trouble at home or abroad That
iS the sort of "I'nrle Sam America 6
now developing. See him at the outdoor
games today.