The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-05-11

eighteen years in the training ssof ath- Ietes and the building up of run d oun. people, and is a recognized authority on ali subjects connected with ath- Ietics. phys ysieaI culture, and scientific exercfsce1. t Not long ago Dr. William G. Ander- son, director of Y aIeeII T Iversity Gym nasiun, was quoted in a newspaper as advocating the substitution of dancing for the exercises of the nasi
 Although I have been a. physical trainer for nearly asscoreAof years, T would hesitate to- take issue wit h sDr. Anderson who stands second toa none. airrorg the asillIn directors of the' world At the same time. the aHegations that dancing, valuable as sIsknoW it to bes cain take the place of gynnass m work was considerably more than F could swallow. It was disconcerting to effort had been wasted and that [. might better have been dancing master s <. : At shat. time I wrote that such a substitution as was attributed to Dr. Anderson was ia kin to the :stlbst itu- |. ton Of chocolate cream and pickles for hu n1bIe roast beef and potatoes q and suggested the substitution Of hc z ton for text books at Yale. <
 Through the medium of a comnun- ication to the New York Times I learn that pr. Anderson was misquoted, and that he advocates no such su bstitu4 .tion of dancing for other exercises as he was alleged to be responsible for ss5s Dancing alone will never take the place of gy nnastic drilL declares the Yale gynnasium director; the two should be wisely combined. Formal gymnastics have so much in their favor that they should not be entirely e1im- mated from our system of bodily de-s velopment, but the love for dancing should be utilized by teachers of gym nastics Pupils from schools where dancing Is the only form of bodily. de. velopnent, too often stand badly, walk poorly, have flat chests, round or. stooping shoulders. They are grace ful in their dancing evolutfons, but their bodies are unsynnnae aetrical. the arms neck and chest failing to show the strength or symmetry of the legs The teacher of dancing should adopt gymnastic movements, and the direc5 tor of physical training should teach dancing movements that have for their object poise. balance and grace.
 This is excellent advice. Every atI1- s1ete, or person who wants to become athletic. should take up dancing, pro- vfded they share the almost universal enjoyment of that pastIne- is to be pointed out, however. that while dancing cannot possibly be an ade- sauate substitute for other exercises. there are plenty of sports which serve as ssa bstltutes for dancing.
 It is true that spofse, balance and grace may be obtained from dancing. They may also be had from boxing. which has the added advantages of building up the muscles and the de- HveIopnlent ofscourage " hfle the boxer must also learn to control his temper,
 
 domst want to be und derstood as condemning dancing It is natural and light that young people should indulge their inborn desire for ryfhnic mo- ton and by young people" mean those who are youthful in spirit, ! though they may known hundred summers.
 l While admitting the merits of danc- ing as a mild form of D physic41 exer7 else, would urge young men to learn boxing rather than dancing, provided they get as much pleasure from it. Other things being equal. I will wager that spoise, balance and grace can better be obtained from boxing than
 from dancing.
 By boxing don't mean fighting One can get all the benefits from box ] ing without developing knockout punch. Of course, the amateur box l ing enthusiast will occasionally con fn6cL W1IhL a SIlnS1n38 piOW,ss pu ul, II II 1 does no more than sting. it is good fol what ails him. Among the Sons of Old Eli there are doubtless many petted | and pampered youths who would de rive lasting benefit from the boxing l gloves. Boxing bouts between gentle men should not be so strenuous as te raise bumps, but it is highly useful 1T reducing the bump of conceit ane lself-prides As for the alleged brutality O. boxing, the chance of suffering a. ser ious injury in 9 friendly bout with ths I gloves is no more than the hazard O. 4 dancing. Dancers occasionally slip an6 I fall, but dancing is not eond emned a I ssbrutaI' on that score.
 l In the course of his letter Dr. An I derson makes clear an interestins point:
 There are, roughly speaking, twt sI1rai ns-one for movement. the othe
 for intellectual activities. These. ar I closely correlated, are interdependene and the development of one will ma, l,terially assist when the other is to bs trained.
 .sFhe muscle brain is called the mo istor area, the Ro1andic division, and 4 like it's sister brain, is made up of mil I lions of cells. Just as soon as a, def l mite circuit can be made among tn, .E cells and energy is liberated slxi1les
 movement is the result. The musc1 has not a scintflla of skill in itself i I is merely a servant. "The greater the number of cir I cults, completed the greater the mus T cu1ar education of the person and tn T more reliable is the physical basis 0 sE psychic activity. Dancing isyalua,ble il I this respect because though p1easur able means permanent and trust .l worthy circuits are built. The mus I cularly versatile man possesses goo,
 brain substance which may be easil litrained mentally, but like gold hiddel .1 in the ground, is value1ess unless used
 The majority of college athletes stan
 well as students, many of them receiv
 ing high honofs-'s
 In boxing the response of the mus