The Washington herald., 1910-06-19
MEMS SANA IN CORPORE SANO
Turnverin Celebrating the Centennial of Its Founding
in Germany.
in Germany.

| muscles: TO govern and facilitate the
play of the bodily movements: 20 assure
20 laborers vigorous limbs, good corporeal
tools; TO prepare for all men the ele-
ments OF robust health and a long life.
and finally, TO develop the physical en-
ergies, just as study develops the moral
energies
In speaking OF American athletics,
Prof. Arnold Werner Spanhoofd head
Of the foreign language department Of
the public schools Of the Capital. said:
Nowhere in the world have I seen such
careless and criminal neglect OF one
Of the most important factors in the
education of the young as here. It IS
astounding how little attention Is paid
in our schools 10 a sound and systematic
physical training Of the growing youth
and yet il is Of no less Importance
than spelling and arithmetic. What
does II matter whether our boys and
girls misspall some outlandish words II
they be strong and healthy?
"A sound mind in a sound body, the
mems sana in corpore sanO' OF Juvenal
is as true to-day as II was 1900 years
ago. The mind viii usually take care
OF itself, II we SUPPLY the conditions
upon which alone 1t can normally de-
velop. In Germany. the entire physical
development OF The child is in the hands
OF experienced. competent teachers.
These teachers are as proficient in their
department as we are in ours. and they
know many things Of which our Amer
lean athletes do not appear TO have the
fdintest idea for example. that ath-
Ietlcs are only means to a higher end:
that they involve the harmonious de-
Felopment Of all parts of the body alike,
and that the development of one set
OF muscles at the expense Of all the
others Is more injurious to health than
no athletic exercise whatever"
England is beginning to recognize the
advantages of physical training as a
means TO preserve the nation from de-
generation, To stem the alarming
growth of physical deterioration in Eng
land caused by the rush into congested
and unhealthy city life. a bill has been
framed for presentation TO Parliament
with the object of establishing a system
OF compulsory physical training for chill
dren. The bin seeks to secure universal
and continuous physical training for the
youth of both sexes, In order TO avert.
as far as is possible by such means.
the danger of physical degeneration.
All school authorities are to provide
physical training for both sexes for at
least two hours each week. the instruc-
ton to be impaired by properly qualified
persons. The training must be con-
unuous until the children reach the age
Of sixteen. A curious clause OF the bin
provides that no scholar shall in the
course of any physical training provided
under this act use or Re taught the
use Of any war weapon OF any kind
whatsoever.
important events in the history OF
American athletics were the organiza-
ton Of the first boat club, the Knicker-
booker of New York, in 1923; the first
baseball club in the same city In 1876:
the first all-round athletic club. the New
York. in 1865; and the introduction Of the
bicycle In the same year. and of lawn
tennis IT. 1874. The first Y. NJ c. A.
gymnasium was opened in New York. in
1863 In the late '70's and early SOS,
gymnasiums began to spring up every
where and how there are probably 4.500
of them in America, including a number
Of municipal gymnasiums, the first Of
which was established in Boston in 1889.
Amherst was the first college to make
physical education compulsory.
Millions of people are either practicing
gymnastics or are very much interested
IN the subject. So great is the popular