PHYSICAL TRAINING

System and Equipment.

The department of physical training is in charge of Professor Welsh, who is assisted by Miss Palmquist. The Swedish system of training is used. The gymnasium has been built with careful regard to every requirement of the system and is equipped with the appliances that experience has proven useful in either general training of the treatment of particular physical defects.

Need of this Training.

It is held that physical health is as essential to happiness and usefulness as intellectual culture, that many physical disorders are curable and ever preventable by wise hygienic training, that there is a peculiar fitness in the physical training of young owmen and an urgent need of it during the pursuit of a college course, since their engagements when not at study, unlike those of young men, tend more to withdraw them from exercise than to invite them to it. In accordance with these views this College is providing for the bodily discipline of its students as carefully as for their intellectual training. The Swedish system is believed to be best adapted to the ends sought. It does not aim to make athletes, but to develop the respiratory and circulatory systems, promote the healthful activity of every organ and bring about symmetry of form and ease of movement. The gymnasium exercises are not, however, offered as a substitute for open-air exercise. All students should spend at least an hour a day out of doors. Provision is made for tennis, golf, and other out-door games.

Required Work.

All students are required to take a systematic course of physical training. Every student is subjected, upon entrance, and periodically thereafter, to a thorough examination by the professor in charge of the department, and the facts thus ascertained and the measurements taken are carefully recorded and preserved. If the examination should disclose reasons why she should not take regular class exercise, special exercises, adapted to her condition, are prescribed for her; otherwise she is assigned to a class. Class exercises are given three times a week for an hour at a time. Special exercises are given as often as may be prescribed in particular cases. All exercises are personally directed by the instructor, and every care is taken to prevent excessive exertion.

Zander Machines.

For special training the gymnasium is equipped with a set of thirty-seven Zander machines. These were invented and constructed by Dr. Gustav Zander, of Stockholm, Sweden, and are designed to correct deformities, overcome particular weaknesses and develop special muscles or groups of muscles.

Gymnasium Suits.

Students are required to provide themselves with a uniform suit for gymnastic exercises. Arrangements have ben made for the manufacture of these suits and they will be supplied to students at the cost of five dollars and seventy cents. For the sake of uniformity, it is recommended that they be obtained through the College agency.

Back to 1899 Program