Gym rats in Liberty

Liberty Herald, May 1917

Much Interest Manifested in the

Public Gymnasium for Liberty

Residents of Liberty are awakening to the needs of the proposed public gymnasium, the movement for which has been quietly agitated for some weeks past.

One thousand dollars had already been definitely subscribed toward a fund for constructing the building, and a building site has been offered. Another of our public-spirited citizens, it is said, has offered one thousand dollars toward this institution, if certain provisions be complied with.

A gymnasium would undoubtedly be a great help in improving the physical and moral tone of this community. One of the best ways of making good boys out of bad boys is by giving them something to do, and it has never been found difficult to induce boys to take an interest in gymnastic sports.

1923 

If America is to be numbered among the red-blooded nations of the earth, the prevalent physical degeneracy must be done away with. Every community has need for strong, self-reliant young men and women and physical culture will be a great help toward making them become so.

By all means, let us have this proposed gymnasium. It will only take a small number of substantial subscriptions to make it possible, and Liberty can well afford the cost. In fact it cannot afford to be without it.

Note: Turns out, the world war got in the way and, by 1923, Liberty was still haggling over a school and a gymnasium. They eventually got one built but there's no telling how many boys were lost to sloth, bad breath and deviant behavior for want of a vaulting horse.