The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-21
HINTS ON HEALTH AND EXERCISE
(By Mac Levy of Babylon)

instructors-that football and baseball men, oarsmen, and others who special ize. in one particular sport to the ex-4 clusion of others, make much smaller a1l-round gains than the gymnasium worker, although they necessarily de- velop certain sets of muscles. That is the main objection to competitive athletics, as conducted at most of our colleges, they require so much time that the student is prevented from gaining that thorough and general de velopment of all the organs and mus c1es of the body that is necessary to health The loss to any nation through il1-health and premature death is the worst of economic wastes, as we'll as entaiIng a vast amount of agony to individuals Some day we shall learn that schools and colleges fall far short Of their mission when they do not educate the body as well as the mind. Until that day arrives. the medical profession and physical trainers will be kept busy patching up the old 'uns, and endeayvoring, as best they may, to build a structure of health on the foundation of neglected youth.
 WHY NOT GYAnNASIU1dS FOR
 APARTMENT BUILDINGS?
 More and more the inhabatants of American cities are coming to dwell
 
 fly hotel Building characteriza- ton being dependent upon the amount paid for rent While this type of pig con hole dwelling offers certain com veniences. it also has many dfsadyan- tages, not the least being that the tenants are deprived Of a sud1cient amount of fresh air and of a. place for taking exercise i'm the open. This is a vital objection, from the viewpoint of a physical cultlmfst, but it might be partially remedied if landlords would utilize the roofs of their buildings for: gymnasiums. Such a roof gym could be partly open, partly enclosed Bag punching, dumb bell and Indian club exercises. boxing. fencing and other forms Of healthfu1 activity with the aeconapa ndment of fresh air, could thus, at slight expense be made avail able for every family The early morning and evening hours could be set apart for the men, the after-sehooI hours for the youngSters, and the forenoon and early afternoon periods for the women or course, the open air of the country is the best place for exercise, but for the masses Of city dwelIers the roof gym would afford an excellent s1bstitute. The time will come when fresh air gyHnnaSiulnss will be added to steam heat, elec- tricity, gas, telephone, hot water as the Inducements offered by landlords
 
 ster1ants The builder who first puts such a. plan in effect will not only be a bene6actor Of humanity, but will, T firmly believe, reap a rich reward in dollars and cents have touched on this subject Of roof gymnasiTnI1s be4 fore. and intend to keep right on preaching it until somebody 1etarts sornething I have proved t1fat 1t is practical by bl1tlddng a private gym on the roof Of an eighteen-story butld. ing in New York, and will gladly offer suggestions to any landlord wi i1o wants to. make his apal tralent build ing so attractive that tenants will never leave it, and so healtFlful that they will never die. The man who ie the first to adopt this plan. and tc employ am instructor for month to give his tenants a start in scientific exercise and right living, WdII-if I am any prophet win a place in future encycIopedias as a. benefactor Of the human race And if. as is quite like ", he adds to his own bank account the most confirmed of knockers and grouches can hardly begrudge htrn the increment.