PHYSICAL FITNESS A VITAL FACT
Up to the time when this world conflagration started, a man's physical fitness was merely a matter of individual interest. The general health of the community was important, but that fact was not sufficiently pressing to do much more than attract the attention of the health boards, and perhaps a few recently organized and semi-philanthropic bodies. But suddenly there flamed out a war in Europe, and at once the countries involved found that upon the physical fitness of the people would depend their lives and freedom. It was no longer an academic question. It became an immediate and vital fact.
In September of 1914 the writer placed the following suggestion on the top of his syndicate athletic article:
AMERICANS AWAKE!
Guard your shores and train your men,
Teach your growing youth to fight;
Make your plans ere once again
Ships of foes appear in sight.
Teach new arts until you hold
In your bounds all things you need.
Then you can't be bought or sold;
From commercial bonds be freed!
If Manhattan rich you'd save,
If your western Golden Gate—
Train a field force, rule the wave.
Every day you're tempting fate!
Build the ships and train to arms,
Make your millions fighting strength
That shall frighten war's alarms
Ere they reach a challenge length.
He was immediately assailed as a militarist, and yet, had we but taken those preparatory steps, millions of lives might have been saved.