The Ely miner., 1922-02-03

English opponents to athletics for
girls" says Dr. MacCracken, sis about
as logical as urging a 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-four 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-
ience has ever led them to 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 of physically trained wom-
en-" continues DR.. MacCracken. .If
acquired traits were 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 is physically a
harder type to deal with than the
American. The popular idea Of the
English feminine type is based on the
drawings of Du Maurier; 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
especially numerous in the manufac-
turing towns. This type is apt to
develop large, bunchy muscles, which
become flabby and degenerate unless
they are constantly exercised. This is
a bad thing, just as overdevelopment
of any part of the body is bad"
.The other day I saw fifty high
school girls playing medicine ball, :
says DIR. r. S. Copeland, commissioner
of health of New York City. ut was a
sight to draw tears from the eyes of
grave digger, but one to put joy
in the hearts of all lovers of health
and youthful vigor.
81 was glad to see this group of wise
young women. Their presence on the
playground gave me confidence in
their own good sense and the fore
sight of the school authorities. A
school without hours for recreation
and without the provision of the
means for attractive sports is falling
short of it's duty to the student. 1t
isn't enough to train the mind. The
hand and eye must be taught by
shopwork or needlework. The body
must be developed by sturdy exercise
and out-of-door activities.
Skating, skiing, snow-shoeing, cross
country runs, hare and hounds, sliding
down hill, baseball, football and open
air medicine ball are wonderful sports
for the young. They are properly en-
couraged by school authorities.
Cali work and no play makes Jack
dull boy, and makes Jill pale and
bloodless miss.
81 hope every girl and boy in every
high school will not consider it too un-
dignified to run and jump, to push
ard crowd, to laugh and yell, to have
her or his full part in some sort of
out-of-door physical contest or activity.
The medicine BALI used il. this way
is exactly what it is named. 1t is