Monday, Oct. 11, 1937

"Especially Scandinavians"

Only an adroit photographer can snap lean Prime Minister Arthur Neville Chamberlain in such wise as to make it seem that he might have a paunch (see cut), but the same is not true of John Bull and last week His Majesty's Government launched an enormously costly campaign to make currently flabby Britons fit. To establish more playing fields and pay the wages of gymnastic instructors. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir John Simon, who seems as lean as the Prime Minister but unlike him distinctly more pink-faced, has budgeted this year about $12,500,000. Mr. Chamberlain, broadcasting on a Kingdom and Empire hookup, last week inaugurated the Fitter Britain Campaign with this plaintive cry: "Many people still seem unaware of the benefits they might obtain for themselves and their children if they would only take what is offered them!"

Dictators Stalin, Mussolini and Hitler lead the world in making millions of young people take healthful exercise whether they want to or not. but Neville Chamberlain was too wise to ask his British audience to look with admiration on the bronzed, athletic youth of any place except Scandinavia. "I am afraid," cried tentative Orator Chamberlain, "that in this matter [physical culture] some other nations, and especially Scandinavians, have got ahead of us, but I am confident we shan't be long in making up for lost time! ... I appeal for a concentrated and determined crusade against ignorance, carelessness and indifference about health."

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