The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-05-17


should be worked out in advance
from October to May at least. Holi.
days ought to be gala days.
The pool and billiard tables now
installed, paying for themselves. are
much appreciated by the men, some
of the older, as we'll as the high
school fellows, whom we had more
particularly in mind, when installing
them. Since they were put in, on
October II, they have been used
twelve hundred and fifty hours, ac-
cording to receipts. Very many of
these hours would have been spent
in other places, at the same game,
with much less desirable environ
ment.
The bowling alleys have been ex-
tensively used this year. In pre-
vious years they have been, but us
ually at a financial loss to the as.
ISOLATION, owing to the heavy ex-
pense of keeping them in proper
condition. They ought not to be
removed again but put into good
shape.
The Physical Department.
OF this Mr. Allison could make
a far better report. The gymnasium
attendance was double last year.
that of the previous year. This
year the attendance was somewhat
smaller but still far in the lead of
two years ago. Shall leave the sta
tistical report for Mr.. Allison and
simply call attention to a few things
that were launched by him since his
taking up the work here year ago
last fall.
Physical examinations to the num-
Der of 17G were made this year.
Last year there were but seven and
the previous year nothing was done.
One can't tell in figures what this
means. A very large number of
those examined were in need of
medical or surgical attention. Every
member, at least those intending
to use the physical department
privileges, ought to be compelled to
take a medical examination. A bad
heart, weak lungs or some other
weakneass, may at any time, cause
a serious accident.
Summer baseball, through the twi
light league, has stirred the blood
of hundreds of baseball fans. Per-
haps nothing, undertaken in years,
has aroused so much interest. More
than a hundred men are lined up in
one or the other of these eight
teams. .. .
Reference to the Boys. q.
Mankato has no greater asset
than it's boys. 1t would be a mis-
take indeed. it seems to me, to do
less for the boys than has been
done, which has been far too little.
They are having their gymnasium
work but they should have their
health talks, talks on the care of
the body, swimming instruction,
first aid classes, outdoor hikes, out
door athletics for the physical boy.
The failure of the Boy Scouts,
which as you will recall was taken
out of the hands of the association,
to thoroughly organize and carry
out it's work, was a great loss to
this city, even if the organization
had only existed for a couple OF
years.
One hundred and thirty-three
boys were enrolled in gymnasium
classes during the past year. A few
took short course in the first aid.
They have had their time for swim
ming but no chance for special
coaching. In with their gymnasium
classes they have had their games.
That about covers what has been
and could be done for them in
the physical line. A few social
events, hurriedly planned and ex-
ecuted, constituted their social life.
Time or place permitted of nothing
more. They should have their mon
thly social, their bOb-sled and sleigh
ing parties, their skating parties,
their hikes through the woods, study
ing nature, UlIuS, SIC., stiiCy foiio"i"
play baseball, have their indoor
games under supervision and di-
rection Perhaps not strictly social,
rather educational but they should
have their orchestra (boys like toI
play their special reading matter
in their own rooms, their contests
in making things, seeing things, dis
covering things. They ought to
have their graded Bible class work,
meeting in the homes, taking eX-
etc. Their Sunday meet
ngs, divided, the older from the
boys, should be the most
carefully thought out and planned
Of any meetings held. The boys
ought 20 handle it themselves. Els
Dec:ally the older boys should be
lsed to religious work, where they
IAN do things. What can be done
has been clearly shown this past
winter by B. G. r. They ought to
nave their cabinets. They should be
sent to conventions. They should have
heir own rooms, where they can go,
Without feeling they are there
against the wishes of those in charge |
There are scores of things needed,
enough in Mankato alone to require
he undivided attention of a boys
.xnert