New-York tribune., 1907-09-07

the advance that has been made in both the
theory and practice of physical education. Al
though training Of the body and practce Oh
athletic sports have come down to US from early
Greek and Roman days and the proverb Mems
sana in corpore sano" was uttered many years
ago ii has not been until the last twenty -fiVe
years that the full truth of this saying has been
realized and recognized.
Now. however. find educators not only ad-
mitting the truth of the proposition that sound
body is necessary for a sound mind and that any
adequate scheme of education should pfoNiue
for the proper and progressive Development d
the physical powers well as the mental fac
uIties. but we find educators acting on their
conviction Reflection viii show that this at
tention to physical education and development
has come none too soon. The development OF
American business life To say nothing of added
Iuxuries that have come from increased weaIth,
has resulted in a tax on the physical powers OF
the nation which possibly could not have been
met by the average physical development Of fifty
years ago
BLOOD NEEDED FOR BRAINS.
The only way to influence the brain is through
the nerves and the latter depend on the blood
supply. Without proper physical exercise the
blood supply is only limited but is OF poor
quality Students OF biography will find that
the men Of force and achievement in all ages
have been those of a sound physical equipment.
To go from the individual to the community and
nation. there is plenty Of evidence that the ma
The care of the body have not only been superior
physically but have also attained the greatest
mental eminence II cultivate the physical
powers the dynamic power of the brain will
increase as a direct result, but if we neglect the
physical side OF the body and force the brain,
both faculties will deteriorate.
The renaissance in physical education has had
far reaching results. Not only has ii been re
eponsibe for q higher physical development in
the individual but il has aroused a general in
in gle nd a
and sanitary methods OF living. This has re-
suited not only in a higher average of mentality
among the masses. but also told, in an
advance in moral standards
NEED OF PHYSICAL TRAINING
What n nation needs is not a few brilliant
minds. but large number Of intelligent. evenly
balanced men, who have the force Of physical
attainment and able to stay at their post
of duty when the more brilliant and physically
weaker man has been obliged to drop out OF TIE
race That the demands physical energy
have never been greater than those Of to-day.
with its hurry and hustle and nerve rackiug
strain is evident all 1t is fortunate then,
that the pleasures Of the nation have turned
more 10 real recreation (Which from the very
structure of the word means recreation of the
bodily powers), rather than to mere pastimes.
But back of this and more fundamental il ~
q cause for congratulation that the educators
Of our youth are o-ordlnating the development
Of the physical powers with the education OF
the mind. Physical training now reaches down
TO the lowest grades in public schools and
UP through the universities
This has reacted or the home, that now We
find parents planning for the physical develop
rnent Of their children from infancy and insist
ing that their education be obtained where the
proper relation of physical to mental training is
recognized most fully. At the present time
physical training is recognized in some form in
go colleges and universities. OF this number
ninety eight are doing organized work and sew
enty-two require physical exercise. The fact
that twenty-four include this work in that
uuired for a diploma shows the progress OF the
idea that physical development is an essen
tial part Of an education, not only should due
credit be given for work OF that kind but that
il should be a requirement Of the curriculum as
well.
HOW IT rs SUPPLIED.
Some three hundred cities have introduced
schools while in hundreds-yes thousands-of
the modern atmosphere doing what they
can for the bodily development of their pupils
Aside from this we find about five hundred
Young Mems Christian Association gymnasiums,
with three hundred instructors, scat
tered over the country a German gymnastic
society has about three hundred gymnasiums in
various parts of the United States. There
possibly several hundred athletic clubs with
eymnasiums No private school of any cOnse-
uuenCe now lacks gymnasium and an adequate
course in physical training. More than seventy
of the public school buildings in New York City