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Winning the Gym Contest

‘Way back in the early ages of our civilization, almost before we had entirely ceased
to be prehistoric—that is, so far as Bryn Mawr was concerned—to be specific, when we
were Freshmen, there was a Sunny Gym for us. Really Iam not joking, gym-time was
‘“‘moontime, noontime, fun-time,’’ to us once. I know it seems hard to believe now, but
I have pretty good authority for it, since when it got abroad that I was about to part with
my treasured impressions of our gym contest to the public, several well-known members
of 1906, notably original third divisioners, who had reached promotion when the third
division ceased to exist, came to me and with tears in their eyes entreated me to spare
no painsin prodding deeply the secret nooks of my memory for the microscopic grains of that
now rare stuff called Joy-in-Gym we once possessed. They wanted to be able to have it
vividly recalled to them that such a time had ever actually existed. As Freshmen, we were
a most exuberant class, and our great enthusiasm had to have an outlet somewhere. So
gym, where we abandoned ourselves and bodies to the tender mercies of Dr.Smith, seemed
to be a fitting place. Under her fostering care and Miss Bessie Bell’s, we marched and
counter-marched, with strict, soldier-like precision, did dumb-bell and free-hand drills
with flawless accuracy. Gym was a lovely place! We looked forward to each drill with
great expectations, for here only was true joy in living, fit ground for the display of our
great talents. All the year, egged on by the sense of emulation a coming contest brings,
we scanned Dr. Smith’s face for words of command, divined them almost before they were
said, and presto, they were executed. Then would come warm words of praise and com-
mendation, and we would go away from the drill, feeling yards higher in the air; the sun
seemed to shine brighter, the campus to look more beautiful, and life itself to have a
sweetness never before so keenly felt. And so the days flew by on the wings of the angel
Gym. At last came the eventful day of the contest itself. We were in a great flutter of
excitement, Most of us had hardly slept all night with thinking of it. What if we should
lose, after all our faithful training of the year, after all our enthusiasm! We dared not reflect
too deeply on such an event. And then 1903 had had three more years of gym work than
we! It was clearly folly to hope. But 1906 was determined not to let others see them
faint-hearted, so they marched, with spirits low, carefully concealed under their dark
blue blouses, and heads high. ‘‘Veni, vidi .’ Anxiously we awaited commands,



and, as little tremblingly as possible carried them out, while 1903 sat in a surprisingly
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