The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-14

side Of the Atlantic the German Americans are about the only people who maintain persistent and con sistent movenaent with this object in view The Young Mems Christian Associations, and the similar organ plished much in this way, but 1t is a drop in the bucket. The Boy Scouts hold out hope for the rising genera ton. More much more. is needed Exercise in youth builds a good foun- dation for manhood, bu1 a founda- ton is only a foundation, and not a. completed structure.
 In Germany the gynlnastic socfe- ties, such as the Turnvereins enlist the attention and enthusiasm of peo- pie of all ages and creeds and both sexes. The disciples Of Friedrich Jahn. the father of the TurnpIatz, have as their ideal the deveIopn ent of strong and shape1y body and the nnaintenance Of good health ithrpugh the right sort of exercise and amuse- nentS.
 The development of certain m uss- cles at the expense of others and of ten to the positive detriment of the health. in order that records may be broken, plays no part in the German program.
 The German ideal of physical train- ing was introduced into America. nearly a century ago, but it was not until about 1850 that the German population became sufficiently nu- merous to support local societies banded together in Turner JJnion Cincinnati Germans organized the first American Turngem einde in 1S4S and the movement soon spread to Milwaukee,. St. Louis. and other cit ies have a constd erable number of immigrants from the father1and. While the1 Turner's Of Germany | n. rT A side of the invaluable physical cuI- ture training. the American Turner's constitute one of the most inf1uential social reform bodies on the North American continent. They have been pioneers in many sociologic and eco homie movements for the benefit Of humanity. in addition to aiding in the spread of the physical culture move nnent among non Germans.
 Laws against child labor against filthy and unsa nftary tenements. against unsafe, poorly lighted and un- ventilated factories and workshops. and against adulteration of food, have long been advocated by the Turner's. They were leaders in the playground movement, and to a. large extent they inspired thS gymnastic and athletic features of the Y- M- c. A. and allied l bodies
 ] From the view point of an Arneri- can physical trainer, there is but one serious defect in the system as prsac- ] t1ced in Germany, and that is a Ien- dency to pay too much attention to the exercises which are peri ortneI in large groups and classes, and toe little to those sports in which. indi- Vidual initiative is developed. As an example, boxing has never found favor in Germany, and recent attempts to introduce the sport have been vigorously suppressed by the a4i- thorities- The manly art is on the .sverboten" list in the fatherIand.
 That the German opposition to box ing may be due to a. fear that Ger mans could not excel in that game can scarcely be alleged, as Papke, Ritchie. Wolgast and many other champions and near-chanpions have demonstrated that men of German blood can put up their fists with the best of them.
 Drills in which hundreds or thous- ands of people participate make a pretty spectacle, and they are useful, but not to the exclusion of the more individual types Of exercise, such as boxing and baseball, which develop mental as well as physical agility
 'rWomen.'' she sfmpered, ~are the flowers of creation, don't you think ?''