Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-02-18

10 see our weaknesses. and ! consider
1t my duty as a loyal American to point
out the defects in our physical training
in order that we may have remedies 70.
them.
One of the first things | noticed in
inns country was that Americans of the
same chest measure az Europeans hac
larger thighs or you can reverse it anc
say Americans have smaller chests In
proportion to thighs than Europeans
Ihere are several reasons for this.
First: Almost universal mlitar,
training in every country in Europe
and its main object is to fit a man Il
stand long gruelling work either in
trench work or on the march" Ev-
erything is done to develop the ches
in order to get endurance and staying
force.
Second: European physical culture
and gymnastic work is aimed at all
around development with special atten-
ton to chest development
Third: American training aims more
at specializing in order to produce
champions in athletic contests
American trainers aim at develop
ing one particular part Of the body
that is required for the performance
. of a specific event and our trainers
cannot be excelled in the wide world
for producing champions in events
( that require a short supreme effort o.
nerve and muscle to win, but our
trainers have not been very successful
in producing many champions in
events that require lon sustained eff
forts. like, middle and long distance
races, downing, etc.
There must be a reason for the diff
ference in our showing for instance
in the short and long distance races
whe7 we have the Europeans in COM
petition, We have almost invariably
| swept the field so much 50 that coun-
tries which we have beaten have tried
| to get our most successful trainers
away from us and yet we have failed
| in the long distance and endurance
tests. Is it not time that we take
stock of ourselves and try to learn
| from those countries which have
shown the best in endurance test? Our
people demand a short. spectacular
athletic event rather than one showing
| grinding endurance and hence our ath-
! letes. trainers and promters have ca
tered to the taste Of our people. How
ever our own health and Wel-being as
a nation demands that gymnastics
| physical culture and athletics serve
some other purpose than that OF
amusement The present war in Eu-
/ rope mas proven what every real phys
ical trainer has known-that a mar
with good physical training is able &c
stand more hardships and is a far more
efficient soldier than one without such
training 1t is the best investment that
any nation can AXE.
There is a great difference of opin-
| ion as to the best method to follow
either gymnastics for children al
school and a few years military train
| ing for few weeks each year in early
manhood like they do in the Scandi-
navian countries, or follow the Swiss
plan.
But something should be done and
commenced soon. as it takes years tC
train either child or man efficiently
| We are getting enormously rich and
| also quite fond of luxurv and soft liv-
| ing. depending on our size and wealth
to finally expel an invader However
we might as well admit that we would
be in for good sound spanking in thu
| oo-,,- ~ IF with first GLASS