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 PHYSICAL CULTURE IN AMHERST 
 COLLEGE. 
 
 To the Editors of the Amherst Student : — 
 
 Whether any report upon Physical 
 Culture was made by the Trustees, through 
 their committee, (consisting of President 
 Stearns, Henry Ward Beecher, and myself,) 
 at the last Commencement, I know not, as 
 I was absent at the time from the country. 
 Having taken a deep interest in physical 
 education for a long time, and attempted 
 the last year particularly to post myself 
 thoroughly, both at home and abroad, as to 
 its present aspects and prospects, I beg the 
 use of one of your pages to express the 
 result of my observations and inquiries. 
 
 It happens sometimes to institutions as 
 to individuals, that they may have a good 
 thing without fully appreciating it, and 
 which it becomes their duty in some way to 
 make known to others, though not in the 
 spirit of rivalry or boasting. Such is the 
 fact, in my opinion, with respect to Hygiene 
 and Physical Culture in Amherst College. 
 It is the only large educational institution 
 in this country, and, I think, we may safely 
 say, in the world, where the value and im- 
 portance of properly caring for the body is 
 officially recognized and enjoined. During 
 an extensive tour in Europe, last season, 
 I found nothing of the kind in England, 
 France, Germany, or Prussia! In London 
 I met with Prof. Gorgie from Sweden, and 
 heard him give a lecture upon gymnastics, 
 recounting the history and interest on the 
 subject, as connected with education in 
 Sweden, Germany, and other countries. I 
 spent several days at Oxford, visited its 
 famous gymnasium, and inquired carefully 
 into its boating exercises, and found that 
 these were all voluntary, that as far as the 
 health and physical education of students 
 were governed by any regulations or 
 authority, the university as such was silent. 
 This same fact is true in respect to the 
 universities at Cambridge and at London, 
 
 ind also, as far as I could learn, of all other 
 
 .. 
 
 large literary institutions in Great Britai 
 But, how different is the state of things at 
 Amherst. This college has now had for 
 twelve years a distinct department of 
 Physical Culture, established upon the same 
 high ground as that of Mathematics or 
 Classics. We have among its teachers and 
 professors a thoroughly educated physician 
 as guardian of the health of the institution, 
 to see that the laws of Hygiene are observed, 
 to watch over the physical welfare of every 
 student, striving to correct as far as possible 
 all physical weaknesses, defects, and habits 
 injurious to health, and in case of sickness 
 advising and directing the best treatment. 
 It is also made his duty to give lectures 
 upon Hygienic Physiology, and the great 
 laws of life and health ; and in order to 
 preserve a sound constitution and thereby 
 prevent disease, a series of gymnastic ex- 
 ercises has been introduced as a part of 
 the regular college duties, and every stu- 
 dent, (except for physical imperfection,) is 
 required to take part in them, under the 
 inspection of his instructor. These exer- 
 cises are so designed and varied as to 
 exercise every part of the body in the most 
 natural and beneficial manner. It is no part 
 of the plan to develop particular muscles 
 for great feats of agility and strength, but 
 to train the whole body for its highest and 
 most efficient action. It is intended that 
 every muscle and tissue of the system shall 
 be developed in harmony with every portion 
 of the brain and faculty of the mind. 
 
 By this systematic training, 't is found 
 that the students accomplish far more in 
 their studies, thus elevating the standard of 
 scholarship in this institution, while their 
 constitutions in the meantime are not broken 
 down or impaired, — so that physically as well 
 as mentally they are better prepared for 
 the more public and responsible duties of 
 after years. It is also a well known fact 
 that, since the introduction of these exercises 
 there has been a decided improvement in 
 the health of students generally, and less 
 sickness as well as mortality. 
 
There are two features in this de- 
 partment which are peculiar and deserve 
 special notice. It was established by order 
 of the Trustees, after the most careful con- 
 sideration, and it has always received the 
 sanction of the entire Faculty. Its exer- 
 cises are not only compulsory, but faithful 
 attendance upon them, as well as careful 
 observance of the laws of Hygiene gener- 
 ally, are taken into account in making up 
 the rank and scholarship of each student. 
 
 Every year's experience has satisfied the 
 officers of the College more and more of 
 the great advantages derived from this de- 
 partment ; and, so great has been the interest 
 of the public in it, outside of the institution, 
 that the number present, from time to time, 
 at these exercises, has averaged each year 
 over four thousand persons. And so 
 hearty in the appreciation of these advan- 
 tages are the students, that they would dis- 
 pense with any other department in college 
 sooner than that of Physical Culture, The 
 true secret ot its success is found in 
 the fact, that the Trustees and Faculty, from 
 its commencement, have attached great im- 
 portance to it, and given it character by 
 making it one of the departments of the 
 College. The students also deserve much 
 credit for their zealous and practical en- 
 dorsement of these measures. 
 
 If such is the connection of the mind 
 with the body as to render all mental de- 
 velopment and acquisition greatly depend- 
 ent upon the strength and condition of the 
 physical system, is it not the part of wis- 
 dom and duty to see, that in the training of 
 
 youth, in the educational process, the laws 
 of the mind and body should be taken into 
 account ? Can any good reason be given 
 why the laws of the one should be ignored 
 or violated, when experience shows that 
 such a course so often results in failure ? 
 Are not the laws of the body a part of the 
 government of God, to which we, owe alle- 
 giance as much as those of the mind or 
 soul ? 
 
 Modern science, in connection with the 
 most advanced views of education, is teach- 
 ing us more and more every year, the im- 
 portance of good health — of a sound con- 
 stitution, in order to secure the highest 
 success in life; and this depends very much 
 upon the proper care and training of the 
 body in youth. It is becoming evident that 
 physical culture is yet to occupy a far more 
 prominent position in all our systems of edu- 
 cation than heretofore, and must ere long be 
 introduced in some form, into the regular.ex- 
 ercises of all our schools, seminaries, and 
 higher institutions of learning. We venture 
 this prediction, that in no department of edu- 
 cation will there be greater improvement for 
 the next fifty years, than in a more perfect 
 development of the human system and har- 
 mony of function, between the laws that 
 govern both the mind and the body. And in 
 no one thing will the history of Amherst 
 College be more noted or distinguished 
 than in the fact, that she took the lead in 
 this great reform. 
 
 Nathan Allen. 
 
 Lowell, April i, 1873. 
 
 LC Control Number 
 
 tmp96 
 
 026225 
 
r 
 
 019 953786 6 
 
JjJjBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 019 953 786 6