Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/186

 l68 THE AMERICA.X JOCR.XAL OF SOCIOLOGY

To Boston we must return for the model as well as the ear- liest playgrounds, and for a large and liberal provision for needs greater in New York and Chicago than in Boston itself.

In the Charles Bank outdoor gA-mnasiums we have such a model gymnasium and playground. The cost of maintenance is about 55,000 a year for the men's gymnasium and somewhat less for the women's. I quote from the report of the superin- tendent, who is a "practical instructor in gymnastics and athletic exercises" :

The gymnasium, 450 X 1 50 feet, is inclosed by an iron fence, on the inside of which is a strip of green five feet wide, studded here and there with bushes and trees : inside of this is a running track, five laps to the mile. Within this the ground is fitted with gymnastic apparatus and places for high jumping, running, broad jumping, pole-vaulting, putting the shot, throwing fiftv-six pound weight, etc. The apparatus consists of swings, single and double, breast bars, climbing ropes and poles, one rope ladder, one inclined ladder, one iron Jacob's ladder, one perpendicular ladder, four pairs of flying rings, four single trapeze, inclined and perpendicular poles. This apparatus is suspended from two iron frames, each 160 feet long. We have also two sheds with twelve sets of chest weights, several horizontal bars, eight sets of paral- lel bars, two giant strides, two sets of quoits, two Swedish vaulting boxes, a bed of tan bark 45 X 20 for tumbling and various other exercises, and a large platform for class work, which I hold at 4 130 and 8 P. M. daily, Saturdays excepted, when one class is held at 10 :3o .\. m.

Individual instruction is given at all times except class hours. From early spring till late fall the average daily attendance is 1,500. The gymna- sium is open from 6:30 A. M. to g P. M. daily, except Sunday. About 200 attend the classes, and 125 young men receive athletic training daily. I give all the instruction myself, having no assistant. I have two men to look after the building, which contains 196 lockers, a general shower-bath room with five rain showers and nine sprays, hot and cold water. About 10 per cent, of those attending use the lockers and bath.

Boys over nine years old may enter and use the apparatus, and great care is taken that none shall use it to his harm. None under fourteen are allowed in during school hours. It is truly a cosmopolitan attendance; college stu- dents, sons of the wealthiest and most aristocratic families, and the poorest meet here on common ground and practice together in the most friendly spirit ; they learn to respect each other, and the influence which the institution has on the young men who frequent it is ven,- great, not only physically, but mentally and mora'.ly.

The gj-mnasium is open from April till about Christmas time, when the