What is gymnastics? / By Jakob Bolin.

  • Bolin, Jakob, 1863-1914.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: What is gymnastics? / By Jakob Bolin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in Sweden. Hence, politics became more prominent in its external manifestations in the former than in the latter country. But the spirit was the same in both. Rothstein may not have noticed it, because there was no need of the Swedish gymnasts becoming barricade heroes. Ling’s work was also soon taken up by the Government, his pupils were, to great extent, military officers, and thus it happened that in time gymnastics in Sweden became somewhat aristocratic, contrary to the intentions of Ling, while Jahn’s creation had to fight many a battle with the powers of the State, and therefore retained its demo- cratic character, and even became a hall-mark of pro- gressive opposition. Therein may be sought the internal causes of such differences which were not apparent in the beginning, differences which include both good and bad features of both systems to-day. In Sweden, the work of Ling became recognized, and hence freed from the dangers arising from the tendencies of irresponsible persons to “improve” upon that of which they have only perceived the surface. In Germany any leader of a Turn- verein considered himself competent to invent and ar- range new forms as they suited his fancy. Then there necessarily came in Sweden a time when the rules and regulations laid down by the authorities appeared more important than the spirit, when the form was maintained, while the life disappeared. At the same time the oppo- site tendency was noticeable in Germany,; the spirit was that of old, but the forms in which this spirit was clothed fell to tatters. No wonder, then, that Rothstein con- centrated his energy upon the formal methodical side of physical education, while, apparently, at least, looking down upon its social, mental and political phases. Though it must be admitted that in reality he laid all needed stress upon these features, too. But the Germans
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