Page:Indoor and Outdoor Gymnastic Games.djvu/19

Rh (Athletic League Letters; Games, No. VIII., p. 28, Dr. Gulick.)

We proceed to quote from Dr. Gulick's article upon the "Psychological. Pedagogical and Religious Aspects of Group Games," as published in the Pedagogical Seminary, Vol. VI., No. 2, and reprinted in the Association Outlook for February, 1900:

"The studies relate:

"(a) To the psychology of play, particularly the plays of Anglo-Saxon adolescent males.

"(b) To the relation of these play instincts to the serious business of life, and particularly to the higher social and psychical function of living.

"(c) To the ways in which the truly religious life of service to humanity may be best initiated and fostered in the boy.

"(d) To the directions in which organizations for fostering the religious life may well direct their activities. * * * We propose to examine the characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon young man as shown by his spontaneous plays, particularly his nervo-muscular plays.

"The chief interests and activities of the young of all races and of the higher animals, centre about play, and in no other direction may we expect to find dominant characteristics exhibiting themselves with the power and clearness we may in this spontaneous play life."

This constitutes our second reason for selecting the subject of games for a thesis.

"Thus it may be that we can get important light in regard to the dominant characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon young man by making careful observation of his plays. * * * We shall observe the progressive character of the plays through the life of the individual. * * * Attention is called to the accompanying chart entitled, "Anglo-Saxon Boys' Plays." By this title it is not meant that these plays are exclusively carried on by Anglo-Saxon boys, for they are inclusive as well as differentiating. The chart is to be read from the bottom upward. It