Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1913-01-31
SANE ATHLETICS
NOT DANGEROUS
Cornell Physical Director
Makes Suggestion to
Young Men

ITHACA. y. Y, Jan. 3O,-- me
bane OF athletic life in America is
that during the years OF young man
hood II is entered Into so intensely
and then abruptly discontinued In
later life" says Prof Charles Van
Paten Young. physical director at
Cornell.
Prof. Young himself played on the
Cornell football and baseball teams.
lie was a student in the theological
seminary al Princeton when summon
ed 10 the physical dictatorship at
Cornell.
Prof. Young agrees with Or TAFT
Mckenzie OF the University OF Penn
sylyania In decrying the tendency to-
ward specialization. but at Cornell
he has solved this problem to a large
extent By giving the requisite gym
nasinm credit-that Is. certifying
that a student has passed certain
number OF hours in gymnasium work
AZ required for graduation--to all
students who take regular form or
exercise a certain number OF times
a week. In this way the irksome
gymnasium drill Is eliminated. and
students may play tennis. skate,
walk, play golf or take other forms
OF exercise in lieu OF gymnasium, and
about 1900 OF them do so.
Danger In Quitting
Discussing athletics. Prof. Young
SAYS. 1T is not less athletics that
We want but more; more general par
,icipation. continued throughout
middle life and old age, | believed
that the only serious injury or last
inP harm done by participation In
athletics TO those whose organs are
sound Is In the case OF the young and
growing BOYS held 10 the stop-watch.
either too frequently or when not
adequately trained.
There is great danger 10 the
athedete I'm starting his training TOO
soon after a sickness. which has for
tho time being weakened the muscles
Of the heart and their power to re-
sist strain But the most serious and
tho most common evil Is the discon-
tinuine OF exercise. During a pro-
tracted training the system gradual
~ adjusts itself 20 the demands
made upon n by an enlarged heart.
II this vigorous exercise be suddenly
discontinued, as so frequently nap
mems when the ey-athlete enters up
on n business life, the additional
bulk of theheart walls and the extra
size of muscles become positiy"
source OF danger.
Endurance Counts Most
while In college the football
plaver and oarsman should play ten
mis-. handball and the like for out
doors. and take mp some such prac-
tice as boxing as an indoor exercise.
The track athlete should practice de-
velopment and more general forms or
eXerise. baseball, rowing and SWIM
ming. for outdoors. and all-around
gymnastics for indoors. II is the en-
tire discontinuance OF exercise Tor
certain portions OF the year fhd
then strenuous devotion to one par
ticular form during the other part
tina, Is 10 be condemned. II Is N
this respect that we are behind The
English in the matter OF exercise.
For many years We have regard
ed athletics as chiefly a form OF
muscular development As a mater
~ TACT mere strength OF muscle, or
even uuickness OF movement counts
very little. either IN a rowing contest
or on the football field, II II is not
backed by endurance and recup@r''
,icn. which are qualities OF the heart
or nervous system These are The
real fields OF athletic training.
There Is nothing better for the
heart than athletics within reason
and moderation. There is no inher-
ent danger TO the heart in athletics.
II the amount OF athletic work Is m
creased gradually and the heart is
given opportunity 10 adjust itself TO
the changed conditions no injurious
results will follow"