Contemporary reports, from the news clippings
The packet of clips below, collected by my estimable friend George A. Thompson, follows upon yesterday’s publication at Our Game of “Baseball, Boating, and Gymnastics” (http://bit.ly/2VJ2epQ). These provide the reader of that story with a vivid sense of what it meant to be active — or sedentary — in Gotham in that period when baseball began. George reads all he can in newspaper coverage of New York City in the 1800s, a habit that led to his discovery of a previously unknown but now celebrated reference to baseball in 1823 (http://bit.ly/32gb4xS).
FROM: New-York American, May 12, 1827, p. 1, col. 6 — p. 2, col. 1
A Treatise on Calisthenic Exercises, arranged for the private tuition of Ladies. By Signor Voarino, accompanied by illustrative Figures.
When one takes up a book of this sort, it naturally raises the question — What were women intended for in civil life? To enchant mankind by feminine loveliness of person, grace society by gentleness of mind, contrast with the rougher sex their own far more exquisite fineness of spirit and divine sensibility of soul, be angels in disposition as in form, and so beautifully discharge all those duties which humanity assigns to them as the fountains. matrices, and consolers of the race that they seem rather beings to be adored that the mere equals and companions of men? or to box a lover, horsewhip a husband, “whop” a jarvey, and floor a charley?
To gentle and proper exercise for youthful females at school, no objection can be urged; on the contrary, the too-sedentary and moped-up system ought to be reprobated and discontinued. But when you come to teach grown up women — wives, mothers, and for aught we know grandmothers et supra, how to handle a pike and jump over a dinner-table — it is possible that the gymnastical part of education may be carried too far. And after all, even as it regards the juvenile portion of females, it has still to be demonstrated that it is much better to manoeuvre a long pole than to drive a hoop, employ the skipping-rope, open the chest with dumb-bells, render the limbs supple by dancing, and straighten the spine by playing at
See-saw, Margery Daw!
Signor Voarino apologises, as a foreigner, for an imperfect acquaintance with our language — perhaps he was not aware (as few travellers speak of them,) that we had diversions like these just mentioned, and many others of the same kind — such, for example (for our critical knowledge is limited,) as hunt the slipper, which give dexterity of hand and ham; leap-frog, which strengthens the back (only occasionally indulged in, we believe, by merry girls;) romps, which quicken all the faculties; tig, a rare game for universal corporeal agility; base-ball, a nonsuch for eyes and arms; ladies toilet, for vivacity and rapidity; grass-hopping (alias shu-cock,) for improving the physical powers; puss in the corner, and snap-tongs, for muscularity and fearlessness; — all these, and hundreds more, not so well known nor so much practiced in London, perhaps, as in the country, we have had for ages; so that it looks ridiculous to bring out as a grand philosophical discovery, the art of instructing women how to have canes or sticks laid on their backs. We would wager the value of one of our Literary Gazettes . . . that Betty the housemaid, uninstructed in the Calisthenic exercises, will beat the ablest pupil Signor Voarino can produce, in the twirl of a mop, the lavations of a broom, and all the forces and elasticities of action, in the superior as well as inferior extremities. Is it a bet? done!
The exercise prescribed by the Signor, and illustrated by the plates, consists chiefly of various evolutions of the arms and limbs, something like those of opera dancers and figuarantes [sic], only. we suppose, slower. Ex gratia: “Ninth exercise — The pupil, without changing her position, must bring the right hand forward towards the middle of the body, then raise it in a straight line above and behind the head, keeping the elbow at the height of the shoulder, and lower the arm sideways, so as to replace it on the breast; she must perform the same movement with the left arm, as well as with the right and left alternately, and lastly with both together. — See Plate III. fig. 9[”]
Now, who would like to see their grown-up daughter or sister, and far less their beloved sweetheart or wife, cutting such a figure as this “figure 9?” ***
FROM: New-York Evening Post, October 24, 1827, p. 2, cols. 1–2
Exercises of Females. — No absurdity is greater that that which associates female beauty with great delicacy of body and debility of constitution. ***
As the girl rises into the young woman, the active exercise which has been recommended, becomes . . . incompatible with the habits of the sex; but it should still be continued within bounds of propriety. ***
FROM: New-York Evening Post, October 14, 1828, p. 2, col. 3
[puff for the Academy of Fencing and Gymnastic Exercises, at the corner of Warren and Chapel streets, directed by Mr. Jumel; we pursue our business so, that we neglect our health; fencing gives “strength and action to every part” of the body, and is graceful; our militia in particular should study it]
FROM: New-York Evening Post, June 24, 1830, p. 2, col. 2.
[long puff for Fuller’s New York Gymnasium] *** Boys at as early an age as six or seven should become members, and all who value health will find that to the middle aged or the more advanced, it is even more serviceable because more necessary.
FROM: Morning Courier & New-York Enquirer, October 8, 1831
New York Gymnasium. [a letter, from “one who has long experienced the benefits of its exercises”, prompted by an ad announcing that it had reopened for the season]
The exercises are various. To those who are not fond of much bodily activity the game of quoit pitching is best applicable and can be practiced at such hours of the day as are found to be most convenient. The parties who join in this exercise in the afternoons are highly interesting even to lookers on. . . .
Those who are fond of jumping over a height or a great distance, or better still, as requiring the exercise of both upper and lower limbs, leaping with the pole, [may do so]. In addition to these, there are parallel bars. . . . Where the arms and chest are required to be strengthened, the horizontal bar is employed.
To persons, however, who are afflicted with the besetting evil of the times, Dyspepsia, the amusements of the gymnasium offer the most certain, the most speedy, and the most agreeable remedy. *** To all such, as well as the sedentary, and likewise the youth of our city, gymnastic amusements cannot be too strongly recommended. — A GYMNICK.
FROM: Evening Star, October 19, 1837, p. 2, col. 3
Athletic Exercises. . . . Mr. Fuller, the well known and much esteemed Professor of Gymnastics, has, at the request of his numerous friends, and in consequence of his increasing patronage, determined to establish a branch of his academy at the old stand, down town, in the upper floor of the front building №29 Ann street. *** Besides the usual exercises Mr. Fuller will have a Bowling Alley, Quoit Ground, and Pistol Shooting. Also sparring and fencing. ***
FROM: New-York Spectator, August 8, 1839, p. ?, cols. 2–3
** [The omnibus] is a great convenience in a city like ours, . . . but its good offices are shamefully abused by the citizens. There is a great deal too much riding done in it. — Time was when people were in the habit of walking to and from their places of business, thus securing for themselves a reasonable share of exercise; but now pedestrians are rarely to be seen in the streets, going any distance — and the hosts of omnibusses go up and down full, at all hours. — Men and women seem to hold walking in horror; few have courage to use their legs for more than a hundred yards of so; and as to encountering a journey from Wall street to Waverley Place, except in an omnibus, the thing is utterly out of the question.
*** The constant demand of trade for shops and ware-houses, has induced numbers of the citizens to occupy dwellings in the upper part of the city, where they have, undoubtedly, the advantages of pure air and water; but these advantages they neutralize by giving up the use of their own legs, and dispensing even with that moderate exercise which a walk of a mile and a half, or two miles, twice a day, would afford them. Instead of giving their muscles and lungs a fair chance, by a small job of extra work now and then, they go from breakfast to the omnibus — from the omnibus they step into their offices or counting-rooms — stay there until dinner-time — then take the omnibus again, and from it step down to the dinner table. . . . ***
Exercise in New York: 1820s & 1830s was originally published in Our Game on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.