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A HURDLE RACE 



three gymnasiums established by the 

 government, and the great benefits de- 

 rived by the cadets at West Point, who, 

 under the able direction of Lieutenant 

 E. S. Farrow, had already attracted the 

 attention of the country by their ath- 

 letic sports, soon caused the War De- 

 partment to regard athletics as an im- 

 portant part of a military education. "It 

 became apparent," as some wit said, 

 "that victories could be won by a sol- 

 dier's legs as well as his arms." Urged 

 by those in charge of the government 

 gymnasiums and by some of the officers 

 at West Point, the War Department 

 finally consented to introduce a system 

 of physical training at all the military 

 posts. 



The innovation was received by 

 many of the older officers of the army 

 with apathy, and ev^en with opposi- 

 tion. But by the younger officers — 

 graduates of West Point, who had seen 

 and experienced the good of physical 

 exercise — it was received with enthu- 

 siasm ; and they took it upon them- 

 selves to infuse into the men of the 

 regular army some of their own love 



for indoor and outdoor athletics. Every 

 post now has its gymnasium ; and in 

 pursuance of the present policy of the 

 War Department to encourage athlet- 

 ics in the army, most of the comand- 

 ers of the various departments have 

 directed that one day in each month, 

 designated as Field Day, be devoted to 

 athletic sports and exercises ; the ob- 

 ject, to use the words of the War De- 

 partment, being to "give the day the air 

 of a holiday devoted to wholesome rec- 

 reation." 



The soldiers have entered so enthu- 

 siastically into the new work that to- 

 day the sports indulged in by the 

 United States army are more varied, 

 more exciting and more practical than 

 those of any other nation. Not only do 

 the army sports comprise nearly every 

 kind of track and field games known to 

 the larger American colleges, but also 

 other sports, which are not seen upon 

 the college Field Day program. Un- 

 cle Sam's soldiers are now taught to 

 throw the hammer, to take the broad 

 and high jump, to use the swinging 

 rope and vaulting pole, to run at full 



100 



