The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-12
CHAMPION ATHLETE
PERFECT SPECIMEN
OF PHYSICAL MAN

NEW YORK. Jan. 1.-THE per-
feet physical man has been disclosed
10 the world in the person of James
Thorpe, a twenty four-year- stu
dent ct the Carlisle Indian school.
This summer, at the Olympic games
held in Stockholm. SR T. zen, nv re-
ceived the ear of Russia's trophy for
winning the Decathion and that or the
king of Sweden for conquering In the
Pentathlon, the two inclusive events
compromising all athletic prowess.
and has Just finished in Americas
football season, acclaimed by every
one in the United States and Canada
as the greatest sil-round football
player tho ancient game has ever
produced
Thorpe is a Sac and Fox Indian
from the State OF Oklahoma, whers
he was bora, near Prague, the sou
Of Hiram Thorpe. He has been hailed
as the greatest athlete OF all lime
by the physical trainers of Europe
and America. and IL was decided by
some Of his friends here TO make IN
absolutely accurate record OF his phy-
steal proportions under such auspices
as would be officially recognized by
trainers over the world as a standard
OF development of the perfect mau.
BOARD Oh mS0aGdA AaQ pASSiIAs
experts, experienced IN measuring
athletes, was assembled at Carlisle
some days ago. and to DIR. Ferdinand
Shoemaker medical tn q actor OF the
United States Indian service, OF Dem
yer, Col and Professor Forrest l..
Craver, in charge OF tho department
of physical training at Dickinson col
lese. one OF Americas most veneer
able educational institutions, were as
signed the TASK OF making measure
ments Of Thorpe according TO the ah-
thropometric tables In use In Afherica
inn t.4Ee4s,H- Countries Inc
measurements were made ns theSS
officials under oath.
Proportions OF Thorpe
They represent the proportions OF
man who not only has established
the greatest world record for comoin-
ed endurance, strength. speed anu
agility. before the paramount athletic
tribunal, and has been recognized Az
football the manifest OF sports as
the greatest product of the game, put
nrho has In addition mastered nearly
sverv known sport. being prohciehs
IN baseball. tennis, lacrosse, nockey'
rasLethau handbail, swimming, skat-
ing and half dozen minor Sports.
At the present time Thorpe mas 3use
finished playing fourteen tremehooueis
hpra games Of football in the oriei
season of nine weeks allowed by INC
Carlisle school. He Is now trained 10
the lowest weight that he can normal
ly attain through tremendous phys!-
cal exsrtion, and Is also at the present
tine with his reduced weight at the
hiehes. noint OF physical efficiency
aver .ae ~ sffsefslae4g al. which =
single in,di1iNual haa evNr arrived.
casual Inquiry as to how close
Thorues assignments came TO those
ne an ahsoluteit perfect man brought
out tina Informal lion that the ideal man
heretofore has hot only existed soieiy
on paper but that physical experts
never actually knew in what superia-
tive development of the masculine
form would really result, SO far even
as approximate proportions are CON
cerned. nor did they know how far
DEVELOPMENT OF particular physical
faculties would allow of the perfection
OF other similar conflicting talents
where contrary factors were involved
As Pole vauster.
For Instance, while great pole vault
inc records had been established. 1t
was realized that increased weight OF
yaulter necessary to sustain him IN
great tests of strength would at some
point become too much for the all
to great heights.
Thorpe started training at the Carl
isle school like any one OF the Indian
studsnts who are wards OF the govern
ment. Glenn s. Warner, looked upon
as the greatest physical trainer and
football coach in the world. selected
Thorpe for high jumping after having
seen him as lad In overalls easily
clear five feet
Frequently Thorpe was called upon
to enter an event. for which he was
comparatively unframed. In order to
rive Carlisle a competitor against
their rivals in this particular event
The most notable feature in connsc-
ton with his physical growth has
been the svenness with which he has
built up to his present proportions, In
no way does he resemble the typical
strong man. No knotted or corded
muscles out OF proportion to his body
break the symmetry that Is the most
characteristic feature OF his physical
makeup.
Today the master athlete Of thu
world u = type, stands haif way -
"a -. n X