The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1919-03-06
WILL SHORTLY START DRIVE
TO PAY GYMNASIUM DEBT

To PAY GYMNASIUM DEBT
If you are at all surprised at the
wonderful record our boys made in
France, you would have understood
it all if you had been at the basket
ball game out at our high school
park last Friday night and had seen
the fierce and game, and yet clean
fight put up by the boys on both
sides The game was between our
town boys and the team of the Park
Field hospital corps. 1t was an eX-
citing game from start to finish;
land hardly less exciting and well
played was the game between our
high school girls and the Millington
high school girls. We won both
games.
Any of our citizens interested in
good, clean sport and in the we'll
being and physical training Of our
young people should go to our gym
nasium these afternoons and see the
young folks at play. Some of US for
get that the exhibition games be
tween the picked teams on Friday
nights are only part of the story
Of the basket bali activities Every
afternoon the young people play
boys teams playing boys teams, and
girls teams playing girls teams,
one team after the other, taking in
the young people Of the high school
and also those of the grammar school
from the fifth grade up, and some
in the fourth grade AT least 10
per cent of the high school pupils
play some in the course of the year.
and a LARGE per cent of the grammar
school children from the fifth grade
up, and it is hoped to increase this
per cent to at least 79.
However, there are a few in each
school who are not physically able
to engage in the basket ball games,
1t is proposed to take care of the
physical trainin9 of these by nlacing
in the gymnasium an indoor running
track, and also punching bags and
wall exercising machines, so that
every pupil in the schools will have
chance to take physical exercise.
When this is done, one going to the
gymnasium in the afternoons can
find some of the children playing bas-
ket ball, others exercising on the
running track and others taking
milder exercise at the punching bags
and wall machines.
We all know what delight the
outdoor field sports are in the spring,
eliminating in field day We all
realize what a great thing all this
is for the young people, both in
training them and improving their
physical condition, and in giving
them clean, healthy sports. Young
people and children must have then
play time, and are entitled to it, and
it is UP to the grown people to fur
Inish them the kind of play that will
help and not hurt them something
for the boys that will take the place
Of loafing on the streets or engag-
ing in other things that are not good
for them.
Our athletic field cost something
near $4,000, with its gymnasium, out
door running track, ball park, grand
stand and park for general field
sports, and it is said to be one of
the finest in the south. We are
proud of it, and have right to be.
There is still owed debt of about
81 ZOO on this outfit. 1t has not been
ascertained yet just what the cost
will be of putting in the inside run
ming track, punching bags, wall ma
chimes, etc.
Of course, the debt that is owed
has to be paid off Coyington and
Upton county could never afford to
have this splendid outfit sold for
debt. 1t would be disgrace.
A campaign will shortly be start
ed to raise the money to pay off this
debt and to put in these improve
ments. Get yourself ready to come
across and also be talking the mat
ter up with your friends. and ac-
quaintances. We have been putting
on campaigns for the boys over.
there We are going to put on one
this time for the boys and girls over
here.
Do you love, and are you interest
ed in the young people and in the
future of this country? If so, now is
the time to prove it.