The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-02-04
When We Get a Y. M. C. a.

Can the Norfolk business men
come back?"
That question, as much as the prob
lem about Jim Jeffries, will be para
mount when the Norfolk Y. NJ. c. A. is
built Here's what is happening to
the business men of Kansas City, as
told in the Star:
"Now, gentlemen, line up; get in
line. That's right Ready now and
mark time. one two, three, four; one,
two, three, four. Put your right foot
forward and march single file. Right.
Come along now. Turn to the left and
keep going"
The speaker was +. b. Barnes, one
of the physical directors of the Young
Mems Christian association; the place
in the gymnasium on the fifth floor OF
the new building at Tenth and Oak
streets. The men in line compose
class of Kansas City business and pro-
fessiOnal men, who, like James J. JEFF
ries, are trying to come back" The
time was noon.
If you haven't taken much physical
exercise in recent years but stll fan.
Cy, when you think of your condition
at all, that you're a pretty good man,
go up to the Y. NJ. c. A. and let Mr..
Barnes take the Concet out of you
First, however watch some of the
courageous stiff-kneed fat men; some
of the stOrt. wnded lean men and some
of the soft-muscled short men try to do
things as Mr.. Barnes does them. Then
perhaps you'll take another guess as to
whether you desire to make the eXper-
iment.
The average man can't run a short
block without being windcd, so Mr..
Barnes says. The average man. who
takes no exercise looks like a molly
coddle in the Y. NJ. G. a. gymnasium,
but his case is not hopeless, and in
this new class-the business mems
class-they are taking the chaps who
work their brains from morning until
night, and for an hour, from ~ until
o'clock by Il process of physical cul.
ture, get the glood out of their heads
and rush it down in the direction of
their feet. The result is stcadying
of the nerves and new and joyous
appetite.
But that One-hour athletic drill is
funny and Mr.. Barnes, who is deadly
serious all the time, does, by his very
seriousness, give the casual visitor
many "A laugh. How he runs those
men around the gym and makes them
work.
"On the mat; get ready" said the
director. Follow me-"
The director stood on his right foot.
His left foot he grasped in his right
hand Then he hoped to the end of
the mat, mat about fifty feet in
length. The others were supposed to
follow. Most of them did; all of them
tried, but there were a few fat men
who broke at the half mile" post and
fell down laughing.
Around the gym to the starting point
again. This time it was jumping short
distances with both feet. Gamely did
the class follow their leaders. A few
tarried but they made fun for the rest.
Now, the turkey squat" said the
director And putting his hands under
his legs from the back he clasped them
together, and in that awkward fashion
started to lead his class to the end of
the mat again. This was a hard trick
ana some of the more experienced fell
down on the job. At the end of the
mat Mr.. Barnes gracefully bent his
head forward and turned a perfect
to follow. Quite a number turned good
somersaults, others got half way and
fell sideways, and the fat man at the
extreme end of the line refused even
to try.
There never was a man born. said
Mr., Barnes, as he was adjusting his
sweater, who didn't want TO be a boy
again. This sort Of place gives
b,, ,,r,ntpt,,y,tt,r -,
hour and play. It's fine thing. too.
1t gives him strength and health. and
he goes out feeling "A whole lot better
toward himself and everyone else"
Money makes fools Of some men.
while the lack of money has a similar
effect on others, there is never any
danger OF a shortage of the fool crop.