University of Virginia Library


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Page 50

PHYSICAL CULTURE.

The Appliances offered by the University for Physical Culture have been
in recent years greatly improved. The new Fayerweather Gymnasium, now
in course of erection at a cost of $30,000, will be the largest and best in the
South, and one of the best in the United States. It will furnish a room 40 by
90 feet for athletic exercises, completely equipped with the best styles of gymnastic
apparatus. Above will be the gallery for the running track. Below will
be the base-ball cage, the bowling-alleys, and the baths. Among these will be
a large swimming pool, tub-baths, shower-baths, and needle-baths. An ample
supply of hot and cold water will be always on hand, and a complete provision
of lockers and dressing-rooms will be made.

The Campus, recently purchased and graded for the Young Men's Christian
Association of the University of Virginia, is adjacent to the Gymnasium.
Upon it a running track one-fourth of a mile long has been accurately graded
and located, and constructed with the most careful attention to drainage and
ballasting. Room is also afforded for a base-ball diamond and several tennis
courts.

The Foot-Ball Field upon the grounds of the University has been
enclosed, and the exhibition games of foot-ball and base-ball are held there.
The subject of Athletics is under the general control of a committee of the
Faculty, and under the special direction of the Students' General Athletic Association,
which appoints boards of management for Foot-Ball, Base-Ball, Tennis,
Track Athletics, and so on.

Instruction in Physical Culture is in the charge of Dr. William A. Lambeth,
who is ex-officio Director of the Gymnasium. In addition to the regular
class-drills (consisting of free exercises and work with bells, wands, and clubs,
boxing and fencing), special exercises are prescribed for individual men. These
are based on a careful physical examination and anthropometric measures, and
are intended to correct weaknesses in special organs, and thus to produce uniform
and healthful physical development. The fees for the use of the Gymnasium
and the services of the Instructor will be prescribed later.