The evening world., 1911-02-08

door exercise to
rich and poor. but
in the cities there /
are thousands of little girls who have
never been seven blocks from their W
homes n n really don't know now
to play. II was to help them that the
Girls Branch OF the Public School Attn
letic League was organized in my home
six years ago"
Mrs. James speyer made these re-
marks IN telling me about her Child
For II Is thus that she refers to the
Girls Athletic League, which held It's
annual meeting In her home at No. 37
Madison avenue yesterday afternoon.
Twenty thousand girls from eight to
fourteen years OF age who are pupils In
the publ'c schools are members OF the
League.
AT yesterdays meeting Mrs. Alfred
Seton Post was elected president and
Mrs. Egerton Winthrop n Mrs.
Speyer yice-presidcnts. The purpose
OF this unique organization, which Is
supported mainly by voluntary contri-
button, is the promotion OF girls ath-
letics in the public schools, and yes
terday James Creelman, member OF
the Board of Education, and Miss
Jessie Bancroft. executive secretary OF
the league, talked TO IN interested
group OF society men and women on
the value and progress OF the physical
training of tho future mothers OF the
race.
Perhaps I should not call the league
my chtld.'' Mrs. speyer very modestly
amended. FOR the idea aid not ortgi-
nate with me. But the first meeting
was held in my house, so I have a very
special interest In It's development. .
Need Athletic Training.
Athletic training is Just as import
ant to. girls as to boys. But expert
ence has proved that the same sort OF
games are not beneficial TO the two
sexes. The league has had the invalu-
able assistance of Miss Burchenal.
director of girls athletics in the pub
lie schools, and OF Miss Jessie Ban
croft, in determining what sort OF ply
steal training tend 10 the development
OF grace and strength in girls. The
answer found after years Of experiment
Is folk dancing.
Outdoor training IN the countr Is,
Of course. best of all. But thousands
OF poor children IN the cities never get
to the country. SO we have to bring
outdoors to them.
"Folk dancing 10 IDEAL exercise
for girls. It gives them the right
carriage. develops thsir chests and
prevents ~tubsroulosis. It has bssn
proven that improved physical
health mssns increased mental en-
--- aS.> Al-y x-H4 -Anfu In hi q
brilliant woman should nrst become
healthy
, Plans Of the League.
I'm the spring athletic contests which
the league will hold among the. 25s
schools which make up It's registered
membership. a certain standard OF
|, scholarship will be required, In the mid
die of May park fctes will be held. The
only requirement for membership n
the eague 10 that each girl shall be
examined and declared physically ii
to take part in the exercises. The mair
purpose OF our league Is TO promote
health n vigor among public schoo
, girls.
, I'VE did not hnd anything which in
. terested all girls until folk dancing wa
= introduced.
"The idea of health ana exercise
In much more acceptable to girls II
10 II accompanied by the idea OF
a beauty.
tn most tudious ana physi-
caily inert girl will learn to dance
II she thinks she viii bs made
, more graceful and beautiful as
= well a. moro healthy.
. Il was a most interested spectator o
. the leagues May fetes held in Contra
n Park last year. and | have never seel
anything more charming than the thou
c sands of little girls dancing In the opel
air.
e Heath r. beauty TO q very large cS
= tent, and OF course the health and phys
ical development OF schoolgirls mean
z the welfare OF the future race. Ever,
school enrolled in the league may sen
y,y teachers to our training classes. Eacl
teacher receives an hours instructio
"a a week aud in return for II gives a
y hotr's lesson to the girls' athletic club
in her school.
& The league was organlzed," Mr.
Spcyer concluded, because we !oun
that while everything possible wa
a being lone for the promotion OF boy
a athletics no attention was being pal
n TO the physical training Of girls W
. were o~rganized as an auxiliary TO IN
Boys League. But girls need physics
t~rainius more than boys. or rather the
" have 10 be coaxed more. our leagr
has made great strides since It's orga.
~ization. m We hope 70 increase o.
mem0egsaiy n ialosnss every year