The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-03-02

stations should stop TO tnlnk Wnat
the stranger and incoming travellers
must think of the surroundings of
our two or more formal entries. The
muddy and otherwise un-
slightly conditions are depressing and
give a stranger the impression that
a people who will allow this state of
affairs to exist are careless in the
extreme and need an immediate
awakening to the pressing demands
of the neglected conditions.
Public Gymnasiums
In the time of Pericles the Greeks
were tauht that a perfect body was
a necessity. That it should be the
home of sound, healthy and clean
mind. They were trained Cat public
expense) with this end in view. Pub
lie gymnasiums were built, made
beautiful and equipped with all the
necessities to fit the teaching. The
boys were sent here at an early age
and given into the care of special
teachers. Around three walls of
these buildings were halls where the
BOYS gathered about teachers who
talked to them in a very plain friend
ly way, teaching them that the
beauty which comes from a we'll
trained mind is the greatest truest
beauty one con have. Mishawaka
needs to remember the teaching OF
Pericles and furnish gymnasium for
our boys who haven't the advantages
furnished the Greek boys. The boy
needs the same now as then, the
same teaching, the same friendly
talks to impress them that they are
to become the men, heads of famil-
les. the lawmakers and livers of the
future. A well-equipped Y. M. c. A.
will fill the want and the sooner we
can have one the better.
Public Baths.
A recent lecturer told us that the
word had resolved itself into two
classes. those who battle and those
who do not. So for the use of those
who would battle if they could and
know the health advantages that
come from a clean, strong body, we
need Public Baths. Then we may
hope that those who do not, may be-
come active members of the class
who do battle. Then too, the river
might not claim victims year after
year and the heads of families would
not dread the swimming season.
Medical Inspection.
When the child enters school he
should have medical inspection for
which we need appointed physicians.
IF the inspection shows anything
wrong with the child, anything which
might interfere with his progress in
school or his future usefulness, steps
should be taken to remove the cause
Many children are considered dull
and slow when there are affected
parts in their anatomy. Medical in
spection will explain many seeming
shortcomings, inattention and de-
linquencies.
Open Schools Houses
School houses are expensive build
ings. For this reason they should
be used for other purposes when day
schools are not in session. We need
night schools that will lead to Me-
cbancies Institutes, these institutes to
educate and finish expert help for
the factories. The buildings should
be used as social centers, places of
meeting for clubs and gatherings OF
all orderly kinds, especially for peo-
pie employed during the day. For
these reasons they should be well.
lighted for evening use.
Public Play Ground
This paper would be incomplete
without something said about Public
Fairgrounds. We need them just
as all cities do that are full of active
boys and playful girls. They should
be on grounds for that purpose alone
and well supervised. They should
be started in sections Of the city
where children are allowed to play
in the streets and then opened in
other parts of the city. We should
have a Play Ground League to ad.
vance public interest in this side Of
child life. The league should be
composed of persons who believe it g
sacred duty to furnish outdoor recre.
alton for growing children.
Open Churches
1t is a sad fact that there is q
drifting away from the churches OF
all creeds, not so noticeable in small
cities as in the large cities of the
East and West. Much press com,
ment is being made on this fact and
what is being done in some cities tc
stay the drift. The Brick Church
Institute, of Rochester, N. Y, OF
which we have all heard and read
is an oft-quoted example of modern
church effort to teach obligation to