University of Virginia Library

PHYSICAL CULTURE.

Director, William A. Lambeth, M. D.

"That man has had one part of a liberal education who has been so trained in youth
that his body is the ready servant of his will, and does with ease and pleasure all the work
that as a mechanism it is capable of."

To enable its students to secure this training the University has provided an
admirable gymnasium, thoroughly equipped with all desirable forms of apparatus,
and ample grounds for out-door athletic sports, and has added to its staff
as Instructor in Physical Culture an accomplished teacher of Gymnastics, who
is also a graduate in Medicine.

The Fayerweather Gymnasium, first opened for use 15th September,
1893, was erected at a cost of $30,000 from the proceeds of the Fayerweather
bequest. The exterior appearance is shown in the accompanying cut. The
situation on the eastern slope of Carr's Hill gives immediate access from the
Campus, and proximity to all other parts of the grounds. The basement is entered
from the Campus. It furnishes tub, shower, spray and needle baths, with
dressing-rooms attached, enough to accommodate fifty men at once. Hot and
cold water is supplied, and a ventilated steam-dried locker is assigned every student.
It contains, in addition, two bowling-alleys, a ball-cage for winter practice,
a twenty-five by forty foot swimming pool, and a barber's shop. The first floor is
entered from the south porch, and contains the main exercise hall, the Director's
office, the committee-room, trophy-room, and toilet-room. The main hall
has a floor area of 3,700 square feet, and a maximum pitch of twenty-nine feet.
It contains all the latest appliances for securing symmetrical physical development,
as well as apparatus for gymnastic exhibitions. The second floor contains
the running track of eighteen laps to the mile, so graded as to permit speed on
curves as well as tangents, and the spectator's gallery.

The Campus, purchased and graded for the University Christian Association
at a cost of about $6,000, immediately adjoins the Gymnasium. It contains
a well-drained and ballasted running track of four laps to the mile, six
tennis courts, a foot-ball field, and base-ball diamond.

The Athletic Field of about four acres is situated on the southern side of
the University grounds. It has been enclosed and graded, and the exhibition
games of foot-ball and base-ball are held there.

The General Athletic Association, an incorporated society of students
and alumni of the University, chartered by the Legislature of Virginia, assumes
the special direction of Athletics at the University, and appoints boards of
management for Foot-ball, Base-ball, Tennis, and Track Athletics. A general
advisory control is exercised by a committee of the Faculty, the members of
which endeavor to foresee and prevent tendencies to dangerous or unwise excess
in physical exercises. A strict limit is placed upon the number and character
of intercollegiate match-games, and all practices which savor of professionalism
are discouraged by the Faculty and prohibited by the Association.

The Director of the Gymnasium has charge of the instruction in Physical
Culture. After a thorough physical examination the student is advised as
to the use of the various appliances, with a view to the correction of weak points
and the uniform development of the physique. The personal and family history
of the student, and any hereditary tendencies to disease, are given due consideration.
The class exercises are arranged at such hours that every student can
attend, and include instruction in all forms of apparatus, and in boxing, wrestling
and fencing. All exercises, whether individual or concerted, are under the
personal supervision of the Director, and are so arranged as not to encroach
upon time which should be spent in lecture or in study.

The privileges of the Gymnasium and the services of the Director are given
free of cost to every regularly matriculated student of the University.