Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-16
DIRTY ATHLETICS
ON THE WANE
Y. M. C. A. INFLUENCE Is GOOD ON
SPORTS
Physical Director Braden Reviews
History and Holds Out High Ideal.
Talks from Actual
knowledge

| Special to The Herald
PASADENA, Sept. 15-George w. Bra
den, physical director of the Young Mems
Christian association gymnasium made
an instructive address to the boys and a
number of visitors this Afternoon at
o'clock at the gymnasium hall. DIRTY
Athletics" was his theme, and he handled
it in comprehensive and lucid manner.
Going back to the days of savage man
Mr.. Braden gave a history Of the brutal
and debasing sports of those wild men of
the woods and plains.
Coming down to the time of about 500
B. c., he said there were four prominent
nations devoting special consideration to
physical culture and athletics. They were
the Romans, Egyptians, Greeks and Per-
slams. OF the four only two-the Romans
and Greeks-took up the subject In ma
tional way. Though they accomplished
much, their standards were not high.
The Romans carried physical develop
mept to high art for the purpose OF de-
veloping warriors to be useful In their
great conquests Later this ideal was de-
graded with the flush of victory at arms,
preparation for contests with wild beasts
in their unnatural sports, carrying the
idea of athletics down to a very repulsive
form.
Greece, while in her early history she
encouraged athletics in preparation Of
warriors, later cultivated the form and
grace of physical manhood as
worship of their many gods. Still later
their worship assumed a subjective form
and they sought highest physical devel-
opment to approach the nature and form
of the Deity in their own bodies. A COM
Pete system of gymnastics and physical
training was developed ard employed by
the Greeks.
Coming down to modern times, Mr..
Braden showed that the English. Swedish
and German systems of athletics and
gymnasium exercises are all based upon
and partly copied from the old Grecian
system. Still the thought of preparing
fighters was prominent in the athletic
trairing of the middle ages and long af-
ter the days of knighthood.
Our American gymnasium exercises and
athletic sports are combination OF these
of Germany, England and Sweden, but
with constantly advancing ideal. Throw
ing aside as unworthy the incertive of
training the physical man to contest for
er held as an ideal that young men should
pursue physical culture for the good to
themselves which may be gained by 1t.
Having had many years experience as
athletic director in this state and In ath-
letic contests while he resided in Iowa,
Mr.. Braden was able to speak with much
familiarity of the dirty athletics which
has been all too common on the diamond,
in the field, on the turf and at the foot
ball goal He deprecated this phase of
professional athletics and pleaded for a
more general adoption of his ideal.
Football and boxing are two of the
hardest athletic sports to control, because
of the personal contact of the contestants
in match.
Mr.. Braden paid high compliment to
the good influence being exerted over
athletic sports by the Young Mems Chris.
ton association. Within the last year
more than Al 200 young men, representing
the association, took part in athletic con-
tests in various parts of the country.
Their influence is for high ideals ard
clean games Up to two years ago rowdy-
ism and cheating tactics were common
enough in Pasadena, but she has made
great reform, and now 1t is the rarest
occurrence IL anything but good behavior
is seen on Pasadena athletic field. rs
Tomorrow evening for the first time this
season the " M. c. A. gymnasium will
be open for exercise. Applicants for phys
ical work have been taking the examina-
tions, and class of seniors Is ready to
enter tomorrow. The regular formal open
ing and social gathering will be held on
Thursday evening, September 26
In the Y M. c. A. baseball game last
night the First Methodist church team
won from the All Saints by score of q
to 4. Murphy, Kelley and Richmond made
six runs each for the Methodsts Ben
nett. Risden and Backus did good work
for the All Saints. but could not offset
the week Unfolding.