Never before in the history of the University have such throngs of men made use of the various facilities for recreation as this year. Although in the past no definite records of the attendance at all the gymnasiums have been kept, yet the arrangements of dove-tail schedules made necessary this fall indicate the pressure for space. One factor, however, there is this year which has never before existed and that is the Physical Training Department with compulsory physical exercise for Freshmen.

Squash, boxing, swimming, basketball, wrestling, handball, fencing, bowling, and indoor baseball claim their devotees in a ratio somewhat similar to the order given above. Mr. Schrader of the Physical Training Department also conducts four sections in general athletics for Freshmen every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon. It is the plan of the department to enroll every member of 1923 in some organized sport, preferably one whose attraction and benefit will continue in after life, rather than in a class of calisthenics.

The great majority of the Freshmen, however, have entered these regular sports, either as candidates for the 1923 team or in the sections practicing under Coaches Anderson, Connoly, Danguy and others. One of the most interesting of the sections is that under Connoly in the boxing room of the Hemenway Gymnasium. Usually over fifty men are sparring with an imaginary partner at the same time with the result that in the neighborhood of 150 men report there for glove work at least three times a week.

Large Class of Novices at Big Tree.

At the Big Tree Pool, in particular, swimmers abound. Mr. Harry Elport is there daily to instruct swimmers, but on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday he manages three groups of thirty-five Freshmen learners in addition to the twenty-five who practice for the Freshman team.

Besides the small army of yearling athletes, a great many upperclassmen make use of the pools, the basketball court, the bowling alleys, the handball courts and the array of apparatus which lines the walls of the gymnasiums. In squash, in the courts of the Randolph Gymnasium, more men exercise than in almost all the rest of the informal squads put together. Daily the fourteen courts are filled at half-hour intervals from 1.30 until 6 o'clock affording a game to over 300 men.

The Physical Training Department hopes to relieve this congestion to some extent when the main room of the Freshman Athletic Building is opened; an event likely to take place before the Christmas holidays.