Figure 1.--Here we see boys in a New York City public schoolboys during their calisthenics. I am not entirely sure just what was involved here. Calisthenics and dtrill were part of the physical education program at the time. All the boys seem to wear white shirts, knee pants, and black long stockings. Presumably these are not gym clothes but their ordinary school wear.

Here we see boys in a New York City public schoolboys during their calisthenics. I am not entirely sure just what was involved here. Calisthenics and dtrill were part of the physical education program at the time. I think though that they would have engaged in some kind of sports activity after the calisthenics. This calisthenics session seems more aconcerbned with posture than a warming up exercises. Note how they have been taughtt ti hold their hands stiffly. The picture was taken very close to 1900. Although this is a public school, apparently, it is interesting to note the uniformity of dress. All the boys seem to wear white shirts, knee pants, and black long stockings. Presumably these are not gym clothes but their ordinary school wear. Note the hightop black leather shoes. One or two of the boys seems to have a dark jacket or sweater, and several seem to be wearing neckties. At least two of the boys have white knee pants instead of the more usual black. You can see the fastener of a stocking supporter at the knee of a boy in the foreground with white knee pants. It is sometimes suggested that the rather tight knee pants, the long stockings worn with supporters, and the shirts with ties would be uncomfortably restrictive. Perhaps, by today's standards this would be so, but the boys seem to cope with fairly vigorous physical exercise while wearing tighter and more uncomfortable clothes than today's schoolboys would put up with. Of course schools were less well heated in those days and boys were used to dressing more warmly.

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Created: 3:43 AM 11/14/2006
Last updated: 3:43 AM 11/14/2006