Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-28
MAS CATHERINE E. rutland


TNHAT physical training is not only q good
L thing f'Nr women to adopt as n matter Of
health. but chat it offers considerable poss-
bilitics rs profession is the opinion of
Miss Cathcrin. f.. Rutland, director of phys
ical education ,at the Central Branch of
tho Young WoLnrn's Christian Association.
",rhe advanta US of sound and we'll
trained body are so great" said Miss
Rulaud. "thut II iv unnecessary TO do more
than mention this vhasc of a great and
highly diversified sLAicct. And they are
equally great whcthcN considered from the
standpoint Of personal physical health, tho
mental strength which almost invariably ac-
companies II sound phyNquc. provided OF
course. that there is some Nasis to start with
on the mental side, and as q possible profess
siona career.
1--WE hear much of the bruademng Of the
sphere of women in many ways, but in few
matters has there been grcaWr change in
the last two or three decades Than in the
relation of women and athieticn The day
of the 'clinging girl who was afraid of the
sight of blood and whom the unexpected
appearance Of n mouse threw into sMuethins
like Mysteries has gone, never to rctuen.
Is Boon for Nation
Women are all the better for this chn nge,
and so is tho Nation as well. The devcVNp-
ment OF athletics in women means stronger
race in the futurc-stronger physically AMI,
by reflex action, stronger mentally. llistoN
shows that those nations which had the mosS
useful national lives. not only in the work.
requiring physical strength, but in the arts
and other cultural lines were those who
were athletic.
"Thc two things. mental activity and
physical strength. seem inscparably bound
together. Naturally, there hayG been cxrrp-
tions and persons Of little physical strength.
if not actual weakness. have often achieved
great deeds in the arts and sciences. but
they were persons who succeeded in spite Of
their handicap. They accomplished what
they did, despite their physical drawback
and not because it gave them any advantage
I have little doubt that, were it possible to
prove it, there would be many who had
Derhaps an almost il not entirely CGuaI
mental endowment, but who failed because of
physical weakness.
As Profession
considered us a profession. physical
training offers many possibilities for women
It is especially attractive to graduates Of
the high schools who prefer Il profession
akin 10, but not Of the cultural arts and
sciences. For them it Is nearly ideal.
Like every other line Of work. the mental
abilities are employed TO II great extent By
the girl who takes up physical training pro-
fessionally. college education is, there
fore. Il decided advantage as n basis for
learning tho work, but it is not absolutely
essential.
"Whcn four wears Of further education
after the high school arc not pos>iblc, there
is the school for physical cducatiUn which
offers course Of three years, thus permit
ling the student to begin her teaching career
n Year earlier than the girl who has gone to
college. But while She is made thoroughly
competent by her trimming. she bas mis- ,cd
four very valuable years not only Of mental
truining but Of environment which proves
Of great use in her later work.
Work Not All Physical
"IIowrycr. the prospective student ,nOuId
moi be rnislcd into the thought that all thC
vnrl; of II physical director l. bodily. She
cnualIy important part in the directing of
thc pfiyEral upbuildng of others.
"rhr studies which she must master uro
semi medical, ar perhaps phyRIoIogiraI
would be the more accurate word aud Inuny
Of these courses arc, in my opinion moro
diRicult to master than the regular urudcmir
| course Of the colleges. She must also nos.
soss good degr"c Of Judgment and common
! sense.
! those under the care Of physical diIortor
/ whose own preparatory training hn+ been
! inadequate. She must know cNactly now
! gtand without OVERRIDING, and this alone Pc.
l,uirPs Keen observation ana considerable
! hygenic knowledge. Iu addition sLs must
| havA sufficient personality to meet difficult
! situations which arise st timss In thiss IN sa