Show I I Exercise Defended Certain aspects of ot ph physical exercise I need to he be defended from the discredit Into which the they are likely to be thrown b by tho the abuses of ot niO modern athletics So long lorg as It Is maintained that the tho latter latter lilt lat lat lat- ter necessarily involve the Idea of ot a con- con test and and this point of ot view vie has lt its Ita ad advocates ad- ad we we are ara constrained to emphasize the fact tact that the dangers of ot athletic sports are arc primarily and almost entirely confined confined con con- fined to th their lr competitive aspects It Is not the exercise per se but bul rather the undue exertion ln In itt in the attempt to win or surpass that brings on the symptoms of ot overdoing the tho defective functioning of ot heart nn and kidneys TV We take no narrow or perverted view of ot tho the best Intent of ot physical training Tho fundamental fun fun fundamental definition of ot an athlete Is one trained or fit tit to contend In exercises re reQuiring requiring re- re quiring great agility or strength This does docs not call for tor a a. supreme effort I If It the element of 0 competition could be eliminated from our games gamos If It the tIre desire to win could be superseded ded by the jO Joy of oC pla play and end a pride In grace of ot movement movement move move- ment and skill In performance a great step In advance would have been bun taken Precisely In these features do gymnastIcs gymnastics s tics surpass the athletic contests that can call for the extreme torts of or most highly trained Vcr persons persona The TIre element of ot physiologic logic danger danier Is 18 almost entirely wa wanting In inthe tho the usual routine of oC gymnastIc exercises The They suffer b by comparison with the theother theother other oilier types o of bodily exercise Included In so o ca called lied athletic sports BO so far tar as all the 18 latter involve olve work ork outdoors and am under conditions which represent ent tho the Ideal Idea of or hygienic surroundings The Tire American public Is becoming converted con- con d to the tho need ned of or bodily exercise for tor torr great r at groups of ot the population young joung and old This Thin is a commendable sign In the opinion of or the Journal of ot the American Medical Association I ocla It If the competitive rea feature ture could be eliminated tell and athletics were conducted for the sake of ot the sport Itself the foremost dah dangers rs that now lurk lurkIn In th the struggle to win would vanish com corn It is III doubtless too late to re reform reform reform re- re form tho those who have been saturated saturate with the current notions that athletics are ares s synonymous non with a fight right for supremacy In our schools however the el element ment of contest content involving Imol a mere matching of strength th ought to b bo b fundamentally era erad erad- Tho The play pHy of children represents the truest Ideal of ot athletic sport port Graceful Grace Grace- ful Cui iii execution of oC movement mo and mild rh nv alry 11 for tor perfection can be associated with Ith forms of or athletics athletics' of or Increasing difficulty difficult in performance To de develop a n graded seQuence sequence se so- quence from th tho tue easiest games ames of oC early arly youth to the vigorous complex feats of ot middle life Ute Is Js a scheme w well 11 worth consideration consideration con con- conJ J on the part tart of those to whose J care the physiology of ot exercise Is In- In trusted A successful plan of regulated ted phy physical exercise might serve e to retain rome omo of or tire the personal ze zest cat t for outdoor sports which Is now too frequently lost In Inthe inthe the misplaced d enthusiasm for the dang dangerous dan- dan g extra of a 1 se selected so- so few tew |