The Washington herald., 1908-07-26

Prom the Chicago Trfbune. .
The athlete Of the future viii be the
/ child Of the athlete OF to-day At no
previous time in the history OF America
has SO much time and attention been be-
slowed upon the physical development
/ OF children People who themselves do
not go n much for athletics are Insist
/ ing on regular hours and nutritious diet
and plenty OF fresh air. but the athlete
with the family goes further than this
/ and says. Thou shalt train and 90
I through much gymnastics.' thereby add
/ ing an eleventh commandment all his
/ own TIE reason for this rigorous in
sistence IS that the athlete has been
/ through the miu and knows the ropes
and ne IS anxious that his children shall
profit from his experience
The athlete OF to-day does not spend
any time II waiting FOR this athlete Of
[ tomorrow 10 grow. He starts IN inme-
diately 10 help him grow. A great ao-
vocare OF this first stage n gym
I nasSics. known as the passive stage. IS
H Il Pearson. director Of athletics Al
the Young Mems Christian Association
! started IN 70 train my children when
they were mere babies" said Mr. Pear
/ SON and I got q lot OF fun out OF it. 7
/ can tel you. The passive treatment con
sists N manipulating the babies wee
arms and legs. bending them back and
/ forth. gently. OF course and In q svs-
Ienat!c massage OF tEe abdomen and
chest and the muscles of the neck. Many
people declare Il harmful 70 exercise a
small cAild. but I know this IS not the
case. for have a number OF my own
and have seen tEat the results Of the
passive gymnastics were most beneficial
70 them As they grew older / encouraged
| them u exert thenseives-tO cling TO nv
fingers and pull themselves I'd from a
recu-nbent position Il Is my opinion that
the real athlete is the one who gets this
training from bGbyhOod.
Train from Childhood.
over At the Chicago Athletic Club Fred
W Stone athletic director. discoursed
long and eloqUently on The subject Of
child training He declared that all
professional acrobats are trained from
childhood up. and that this and this alone
accounts for their remarkable agility.
The professional acrobat. in lis opinion.
never could have been a professional
acrobat had his training been commenced
after the hardening process OF bones and
narrow had begun
The proper way 70 begin the training
said Mr.. Stone. is 10 take a broomstick
and teach the child to hang from il while
you hold Il Al nrst Il viii be all the
child can DO 10 hang with al its weight
suspended Soon. however. this viii come
easier. and It VIII be able 70 cling while
YOU swing il back and forth The child
who learns TO do this exercise easily you
viii find 10 have increased greatly in
strength Of arms and chest. wrist and
hands Then. when I have any Of this
training 10 co I sort OF reverse the treat
ment. take hold OF the little ones
ankles and let them walk about on their
hands
The next thing I do is TO strengthen
the legs and feet and ankles. I teach
the child to hang bv his toes from the
brOOmstick- It usually takes some time
70 do this for the toes are inclined 10
be weak have two men hold the broom
stick and I hold the little feet firmly.
always have soft mattress under
meath the child TO prevent bumps. though,
as a matter of fact, 3 few bumps don't
hurt any youngster- This form OF treat
ment is invaluable in giving child con-
fidence and poise-
WsIking Good Exercise.
Walking and running are Two OF the
best exercises for growing children. and
I encourage those under my care to walk
and run all that they can without be-
coming fatig1sed These two exercises
bring into play the muscles Of the entire
anatomy and are especially beneficial for
hips. thighs. legs. and abdomen
Not long ago a director Of athletics of
the. Y NJ c A Gt the Ssventy-fourth
Regiment. before an audience Of 5000 per
sons. gave an exhibition Of the marvellous
strength and agility OF his two little
The first thing those little tylzes did
said Mr.. Stone. was TO run q race OF 20 /
yards You can't imagine how funny IT
looked 70 see those four little legs flying
along Then they did all kinds OF broom |
stick stunts. They hung by their hands
and feet they chinned. and they curled
the bar By curling the bar I mean that
they raised themselves up by their hands
and threw their legs over never In
my life saw such an exhibition OF muscle /
and endurance in such young children"
There are not four finer children in
America. according TO their proud father.
than the sons OF M. D. Dunno, manager /
Of the Illinois Association. and the father !
lays the fact Of their general superiority
10 their hygienic upbringiDg-
The Daily Programme.
These boys have 8 daily programme /
that seldom varies. AT O'Clock in the I
morning they arise and go out into the Z
garden for an hours work before break I
fast. Then they come In and sit down 4
to a meal Of fruit, cereals, eggs and milk. I
After breakfast they retire TO the school 1
room and spend the remainder of the /
morning studying with their mother, who I
acts as sole Instructor. Then comes a 1
simple luncheon and then more play 1
From until ; O'Clock the children spend /
a quiet hour in the schoolroOn. during 4
which time they prepare their lessons for I
the following DAY At 5 supper IS ready 4
and father comes home. Then comes
the crowning Joy Of the day
Boys says Mr. Dunno, get out your
paTaphernalia" Immediately there is a |
rush for dumbbells and boxing gloves and /
there follows an hour Of active exercise. I
The father acts as referee in wrestling 4
matches and enters into the sport Just 4
as enthusiastically as his sons He is. 4
IN truth, the biggest boy in the bunch. 1
TNmn~ 81 81