New Britain herald., 1917-04-19


 disaster and unhappiness.' s.'-Publish- CTS note.
 can only point to the rosy cheeks, the more erect carriage, the sprinting step, the glad and ringing laughter of many "a girl who has found in the gymna- |sium and the pool of the Y. W. c. A. q chance to play, to forget the hard things which bother through the week, the weary hours spent at desk or In a factory, the rush to answer the whistle as 1t blows, to become young again by casting off for a few hours the burdens. In some cases too heavy for young shoulders.
 To these girls we point and leave the public of New Britain to answer the question is 1t worth while, this expenditure of money to save the girls of this city to make them fine, strong, women, it to take a woman . place in this world?
 This department naturally divides Into two lines of work. that done in the gymnasium and in th1 pool. Two gymnasium classes have continued their lessons through the winter; ;-tl1e Friday night class and a.. Tuesday morning class. The Friday night class had an enrolment of about 35, and is still continuing its lessons in preparation for q public exhibition in May. On Monday afternoons the High school girls come for an hour or two of recreation and instruction in basketball and indoor tennis. s Statistics for the gymnasium work are as follows:
 Total enrollment ........... 16S Total attendance .............. 970 Average attendance .s.B. ..S....a.. 4Ss
 Beginning with the New Year a social dancing class was organized with Mics Breckinridge as instructor This class was thoroughly enjoyed by the girls who joined. |, Number enrolled ........... s1 Total attendance .......s...... 222s Average attendance ........... 22
 A six weeks course in massage held from January to February 2 ;13 in which Miss Breckinridge gave the girls thorough training in niassage had an enrollment of with total at tendance of 40. average attendance, of 6.
 The untiring enthusiasm and energy of Miss Breckinridge, the instructor in the physical education has done much to make the gymnasium and pool work so successful through the past winter.
 The Pool Work.
 That many a girl is taking advan- tage of the opportunity to learn to swim in the Y. w. C.. A. pool is proven by the statistics given for the pool work Besides the value of the exer- cises, which is considered the best, it is ever the thought of each one that sometime the ability to keep afloat in the water may be the means of saving a life.
 If one would see what is being ac- complished one need but come down and watch the girls on some of the nights when the pool Is open, girls, many of whom short while ago were afraid of the water now swim or float or dive at will perfectly at home in the water. Others more ad. vanced, are learning many swimming strokes as well as all kinds of fancy diving. As the weather grows warmer our pool will become a busy place, many girls after a hot tiresOme day in the summertime coming for re- freshing, swim at night. Saturday mornings throughout the year in the Cn1lQrGn 8 tune CO use the pOOis Nku1CK to overcome any dread of the water they soon become regular little mer- maids in their ability to swim z and dive.
 The statistics for the pool are as follows:
 Swimming classes, enrollment :. 176 Private lessons @.. zS4 Total number of plunges ::... 3,1O3 Total entries in pool .......... 4,463 According to months:-
 Largest number in month, July. Smallest number in month, Feb
 ruary,' 1917. ...... ......... 1l9
 During the past year two swimming exhibitions have been given as proof of the work done by the girls. One large entertainment, the County Fair, was given under the combined forces of the social and physical education committees, to help raise money for additional needs in this building. un- fortunately 1t was very stormy night and the amount realized was much smaller thAn we had hoped for.
 Lunch Room.
 Miss Flora T.. Humphrey submitted the report of the lunch room commit tee which is given below:
 When one realizes that the lunch