The Washington times., 1914-03-16
Science Saws
Tango Is a
Cure

IN CIENCE comes belatedly to the
~ rescue Of the dance craze that
needs no resculng. Science-in the
form of several doctors-declares 1t 10
a cure for some dozens Of physical ills.
Science points to various hopelessly
broken down men Getting the cases IN
detaiD who have lately been restored
to robust health by dancing. But now q
famous physical instructor sounds .
sane pessimistic note. Here Is his dc
tum.
There has lately been q tendency
or the part of American universities
and colleges to encourage athletic sports
In which the entire student body rather
than u picked few physical supermens
may take part. This is highly encourag.
ing to those who have the welfare Of
the next generation at heart It ID q
tendency that should be encouraged in
common and high schools as well as the
institutions of higher learning. The
boy who is both physically and mental-
ly active has a much better chance to
win success than the lad who develops
Drawn at the expense Of brain, or mind
at the expense of body.
'The endeavor to make physical OK.
erclse interesting, so as to enlist the
enthusiasm Of all students, may. how
ever be carried too far. II 1t Is true.
as reported in some newspapers, that
some of the classes at Yale have been
permitted to substitute dancing for the
.monotonous drills of the gymnasium.
then ! should say that the limit has
been reached.
That strikes me as a procedure very
similar to substituting chocolate creams
and pickles for humble roast beef and
potatoes.
Such studies as mathematics. his
tory. languages, and natural science
are often 'tiresome' and .monotonous'
to The youthful mind. A dime novel
provides mental pabulum that Is much
more enjoyable However, there are
| some old fashioned people who hold
that the sole end and aim of colleges
is not the giving Of enjoyment to their
pupils.
Dancing as an exercise is to be COM
mended. not condemned. Under proper
conditions dancing is a healthful
Of physical exercise. It develops bodily
pcfse and grace and suppleness. Yale
students and all others should dance.
by all means, but the dancing should
be supplementary to other more vigor-
"It cannot be used as a substitute
for those varied exercises Of the gym
nasium and athletic field which are de-
signed to develop all the organs and
muscles Of the body.
Punching bags. dumb bells. bars, In
dian clubs, boxing gloves. and other
gymnastic apparatus still have their
| uses, and the records of Yale gym
nasium show that the men who make
use Of them are vastly superior to
| those who don't. The assumption that
| gymnastic exercises are necessarily
dull and monotonous Is entirely a mis-
take. Nearly all people who are not
| too lazy to breathe find gymnastic work
means Of pleasure as well az OF
health. The gymnasium may not al
\ ways afford the keen delight that the
| dancing enthusiasts find in the ball
! room Chocolate creams also tickle the
| taste more than beefsteak.
Go right ahead and dancet Let JOY
| be unconfined At the same time. don't
{ link for a minute that you can dance
your way to perfect physical develop
| ment strength. and vigor one-tenth as
| readily as by straight gymnastics A
| certain amount Of hard work is neces-
sary to the accomplishment Of anything
worth while. Dancing is cure. But
far better cure is found in recognized
| lcal,sfheniCS'