Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-02-03

English opponents to athletics for
girls says DR.. MacCracken, rs about
as logical as urging young man not
to deplete his mental energies by
studying during the year, but to keep
them intact for the great crisis Of
examinations"
DR.. MacCracken Is supported In his
! opinion by DR.. Elizabeth b. Thelberg,
resident physician at Vassar for thir-
| ty-f0ur years, and Miss Frances Bal
lentine. head Of the department OF
physical education, who has directed
the athletics of the college for twen-
ty-seven years. Nothing in their exper-
lence has ever led them " believe that
athletics are injurious to women. but
then the system at Vassar takes into
account the fact that some girls are
weaker and should, therefore, be less
strenuous than others. This fact, how
ever, Is borne In mind In most institu-
tions providing physical training.
"Vassar presents living proof of our
system In the daughters and grand
daughters q physically trained wom-
en-" continues DR.. MacCracken. IF
acquired traits w@e hereditary, we
might suppose that some of the girls
playing on our present teams inherited
their skill In basketball and hockey,
along with their splendid physique,
from their athletic mothers, while the
sturdy babies Of recent graduates
would argue irrefutably that the in
creased range of athletics In the last
twenty years or so continues bene-
fetal.
"The English girl b physically
harder type to deal with than the
American. The popular idea Of the
English feminine type is based on the
drawings of Du Maurler; tall slight
and fair. In fact, the willowy Maudes
of England are far outnumbered BY
short, heavy girls, who look almost
squat to American eyes. They are
numerous in the manufac-
turing towns. This type is apt to
develop large. bunchy muscles, which
become fabby and degenerate unless
they are constantly exercised. This is
a bad thing, just as oyerdevelopment
of any part of the body is bad"
"The other day | saw fifty high
school girls playing medicine ball."
says DIR. Il. S. Copeland, commissioner
of health of New York City. ut was a
sight to draw tears from the eyes of
n grave digger. but one to put joy
In the hearts of all lovers of health
and youthful vigor.
II was glad to see this group of wise
young women. Their presence on the
playground gave me confidence In
heir own good sense and the fore
sight of the school authorities. A
school without hours for recreation
md without the provision of the
means for attractive sports is falling
hort Of its duty to the student. 1t
sn't enough to train the mind. The
land and eye must be taught by
hopwork or needlework. The body
must be developed by sturdy exercise
nd Out-of-do0r activities.
skating, skiing, snow-shoelng. cross
ountry runs, hare and hounds, sliding
own hill, baseball, football and OPEN
ir medicine ball are wonderful sports
Or the young. They are properly en-
outraged by school authorities.
"All work and no play makes Jack
dull boy, and makes Jill a pale ami
lo0dless miss.
II hope every girl and boy In every {
lgh school will not consider II too un.
lgnlfied to run and jump. to push I
nd crowd, to laugh and yell, to have !,
er or his full part In some sort of n
it-0f-door physical contest or activity. $
he medicine BALI used II. this way [
exactly what 1t is named, 1t is (