12



CHAPTER VI
ATHLETICS

THAT to keep them in health, and to
strengthen and render active their
Bodies, they be frequently exercised
in Running, Leaping, Wrestling, and
Swimming. ' ' So wrote the Founder, Benj amin Frank-
lin, in his "Proposals Relating to the Education of
Yofuth in Pennsylvania," printed in the year 1749.
This early recognition of the importance of
physical exercise for the healthy development of
youth has prompted the motto of the Athletic
Association, "Mens Sana in Corpore Sano" — a
sound mind in a sound body — and has caused the
University to see its responsibility in the proper
direction of athletics so that the sport of the
students may not run to abuse or idleness. If there
is one feature in athletic management more dis-
tinctive than another at Pennsylvania it is the
enthusiastic purpose of both University Adminis-
tration and Athletic Association to get the largest
possible number of students to take part in sports —
to exercise with their friends in the open air with
competitive games as an added incentive.
There are sixteen games played at the Univer-
sity — football, baseball, rowing, track athletics,

basketball, cricket, swimming, fencing, wrestling,

178



ATHLETICS

gymnastics, tennis, golf, shooting, Association
football, Rugby football, and lacrosse. There are
'Varsity squads in all and Class teams in many of
these, and they are directed by competent teachers;
the active participants are close to a thousand men;
and with the development of adjacent land along
the river under control of the University, more
men will undoubtedly take part.
