104 



RECREATION 



on the field of battle. He must be in 

 fit condition to move quickly from place 

 to place ; to ascend steep hills and 

 mountains ; to circumvent forests and 

 streams, and at the final assault be in 

 good breath and strength ; and how can 

 the government better prepare him for 

 all this than by establishing, during 

 times of peace, an extensive system of 

 athletic sports and gymnastic exercises ? 



of sport, displaying substantial quali- 

 ties within him which years of routine 

 drill would probably never have 

 brought forth. There is an element of 

 battle in all athletic contests which 

 brings out the courage, endurance and 

 sagacity of a man quicker than any- 

 thing else save the din and strife of 

 actual war. 



That the service is at least more in- 



%$ji0»x&i0®N** m 



II 



CLIMBING THE IO-FOOT WALL 



Aside from the physical benefits de- 

 rived by the soldiers, there is another 

 way in which athletics work for their 

 good. The Field Day contests culti- 

 vate the esprit de corps. It makes the 

 men happier and more contented, be- 

 cause it relieves the monotonous routine 

 of barrack life and gives them some- 

 thing wholesome to think and talk 

 about. Many an awkward recruit has 

 raised himself in his own estimation and 

 has surprised his officers and comrades 

 and won their lasting respect by the 

 daring and skill with which he per- 

 formed some athletic feat upon the field 



teresting than before is indicated by 

 the fact that since the introduction of 

 Field Day sports there has been a 

 smaller percentage of desertions from 

 the army. This fact, together with the 

 muscular additions to the arms and 

 shoulders of the men, and the increased 

 expansion of their chests, must be very 

 gratifying to the War Department. The 

 money that the government has thus 

 far expended to further athletic sports 

 has proven a wise investment of public 

 funds. But there is much that yet can 

 be done to increase the athletic spirit 

 among the men. Of course, the facili- 





