Arizona republican., 1912-03-04
TO BE FINEST RACE.

"One of the finest object lessons" writes Prof. Meredith CleaSe in the March Strand, given to the British public on race perfection was on the occasion of the Olympic games. Some dozen different countries sent picked representatives from the flower of their youth. On the opening day there was a grand parade of the ma tiOns before our late King Edward l had the honor of assisting in the marshaling of this historic gathering The entire body, in countries, march, ed around the arena. and the unani- nous opinion was that the British contingent was by far the poorest specimen present, both in physique and department; as a matter of fact, the British section looked very much UHdersiZed. True, the British selec- ton committee could have placed a much finer and more representative body on the field if they had chosen. Apart from this demonstration at the Olympic gathering three years ago, there are no means today of judging which nation is the finest in physi- que. During my twenty-siX years experience I have examined and measured some hundreds of thou sands of both sexes and of all classes. am bound to admit that the aver age physical standard of the British race is decreasing in both height and general physique. while to my knOwl- edge, with one other nation-the American-it is increasing. The req son for this difference is not far to seek. In America those responsible for the welfare of that nation have fully recognized that the Over-crowd ing of cities, the increased hustle and hustle for existence, must eventu- ally mean the physical degeneration of the race if something is not done to give the only true antidote- sympathetic physical exercise. To- ward this end municipal authorities of all the larger cities have installed a plentiful supply of gymnasia. For instance, in my last visit to the state, six years ago. I found that Boston (about the size of Liverpool had no fewer than six fully equipped physi- cal training schools. each far larger than Englands largest (army. Alder shoD, and, above all. the cost of tuition is practically nil-they are state e-aided, and they are always full. The feeders of these schools are the public elementary school, where physical exercise is compulsory-and often. The result of about ten years Of this state effort to stem the tide Of degeneration is now being felt and seen. In another twenty-five years unhesitatingly say that America will be the finest race
 There is one most important fac tor in the state-aided scheme-the physical educator. or teacher, IS looked upon as a high class profess sional. and is paid high-class sal ary accordingly. As q matter of fact, the physical culture teacher is on the same plane as q medical man: many or the mhold medical degrees. conse- quently the physical welfare of the nation IS in the hands of compe- tent experts.
 The same conditions exist in Sweden-hence the Swede's perfect physique. which was so marked at our olympic gathering.
 Tn England. apart from very indifferent physical training in our elementary schools (public schools al- most nib, the physical welfare of the nation is left almost in the hands of private enterprise"