Newspaper and magazine articles about John Hulley

1865 Nov 11 The Porcupine – The Founder of the Gymnasium
Lord Stanley proved last Monday that there is something after all in blood and breeding; for he did what your Liverpool flag swells never did and are ever likely to do - recognize as a gentleman a man who takes “a salary.” Lord Stanley knows what enthusiasm is, although he has very little of it; and he perceives in Mr Hulley, not “a queer person we've got at the gymnasium, and whom none of us can manage” but a man who, having devoted himself soul and body to what he believes to be the promotion of the highest truth, and the inculcation of the soundest habits, and having had success throughout England far above any previously achieved in his
department of effort, did himself establish, and is the be-all and end-all of, the Liverpool Gymnasium, which is, in some respects, the finest in Europe. Its failings are no fault of Mr Hulley's. The bad taste of some of its details have, if common report is to be trusted, been contrary to his wish, and the only difficulties in its future are likely to arise from Mr Hulley not being treated with confidence and deference which are his due.

Be it distinctly understood that we speak from no private information. The hand that pens these lines has not been grasped in the gymnasiarch’s vice since the gymnasium was built; the writer has never been within its precincts, and he knows only what people are saying out of doors. The public, and the shareholders in the gymnasium, particularly will be surprised if we tell them that Mr Hulley - who alone of all concerned knows anything practically of the business, is actually held a greater distance then than an ordinary secretary, and does not attend the meetings of the board. This is no injury to Mr Hulley; it will probably save him from softening of the brain., which many examples in Liverpool show is a contagious complaint. But it is a great injury to the company - so great an injury
that, unless than the nature of things has lately altered, it is exceedingly likely to jeopardise its success.

The effect of Mr Hulley not being included in the list of the Mayor’s guests on the day of the gymnasium opening was only an additional slight. It gladdened our hearts when Lord Stanley virtually rebuked directors by referring to Mr Hulley as one who was receiving no real recompense for the functions he was performing, and who deserved to be highly esteemed for his works’ sake. Those who know Mr Hulley, are aware that, besides these claims to respect, he is a gentleman, and the son of one; has moved in society, which merchants are not likely to reach; and acquits himself in society, not only unexceptionally, but in such a manner as to render him a welcome and notable guest. However, these are considerations with which we have little to do. It needs no prophet, and no Lord Stanley, to tell us that a man may be a gentleman, although he foolishly calls himself a gymnasiarch but it does need someone to tell the gymnasium shareholders that if they want the enterprise to succeed, they must teach its honoured promoters to trust, and not to slight, the man upon whom it entirely depends, and in whose absence the new Liverpool Gymnasium would pass entirely out of the public mind, and cease to be a public institution.

1865 Nov 18 The Porcupine – Mr. Hulley’s Brain
The Gymnasiarch was complemented highly by Lord Stanley last Monday evening week, at the opening of the emporium of muscularity in Myrtle-Street; but the Albion of the previous Monday, in speaking of the building, awarded Mr Hulley an amount of invidious praise that must even have staggered our local Hercules himself. After a gushing opening. It remarked –
The Liverpool Gymnasium had its birth in the enthusiastic brain of Mr Hulley, the gymnasiarch,
who is accumulating to his credit a heavy debt of obligation against the manhood of Liverpool.

The sentence reads to us marvellously strange. It makes us think that brick, water, and foundation-stone have all issued from Mr Hulley's cranium, making it as it were, a mental building-yard, or a brain which, like one of Pharaoh’s serpents, is a capable of producing immense tangible efforts effects from infinitesimal beginnings. Perhaps Messrs. Holme and Nicol might be induced to enter into negotiations with Mr Hulley for this marvellous organ of his.

1865 Dec 16 The Porcupine - Muscular Music
By kind permission of the Courier, which permission, by the way, we omitted to ask for, we reprint the following advertisement: -
Wanted, a pianist, and hour a day, for days a week. -- Apply at the Liverpool Gymnasium, between the hours of 11 and 12 o'clock.

Being somewhat puzzled to understand the meaning of this appeal to a neglected genius, we dispatched our smartest boy as ambassador to the Gymnasiarch, to make the necessary enquiries.

The object appears to be to provide the orchestral accompaniments, without which gymnastic excellence cannot be achieved. Those who have witnessed at Hengler’s Circus, the graceful evolutions of the “Bounding Brothers of the Breathless Bungalows” will remember that many of the feats performed are greatly aided by the efforts of the violins, and that Mad’lle Smitherini’s jump through paper-covered hoops – the flight of the balloons, we believe it is called - would be nothing without a sympathetic bang of the big drum.

The Gymnasiarch, fully alive to the advantages of music, but apprehensive that the shareholders of the gymnasium might not tolerate such a draw up on the dividends as a full orchestra would cause, has decided to engage a pianist, and during one hour a day, on four days in the week, the performances of the Gymnasium will be enlivened by popular piano-forte selections from the best composers. The parallel bars exercises will go pleasantly to a few bars from the “Barber of Seville,” while the high rope and flying ladder will be attempted to an spiriting chord or two from the opera of “La Gazza Lantra.” The boxing, under Professor Mace, will become a lively set-to the tune of the “Battle of Prague,” and at the close of the entertainment the various gymnasts will pose in the arena, the Gymnasiarch, in an elegant and defined attitude, being the centre figure, the pianist devoting the last few minutes of the hours engagement to a grand burst from “Robert the Devil.”

The idea is a good one; and, if a Mayor performs to Saturday Evening Concert music, it appears to us to be natural that a Gymnasiarch should seek to enliven his programme with a little music of an equally meritorious character. If this scheme is to found to answer, as we believe it will, the Gymnasiarch will perhaps go so far as to add a little red and blue fire on special occasions.

1866 Feb 10 The Porcupine – The Gymnastic Festival
The Festival at the noble Gymnasium, in Myrtle-street, on Thursday evening, was in every respect special and unique. It noticed, design, and execution. It was entirely admirable, original, and attractive. There are so many points of deep interest in the subject, some of which were ably and feelingly indicated by the Rev. Nevison Loraine, in his address, that we are at a loss which to select as the text of a few necessarily brief remarks. The presidency of the gallant "Hero of Delhi," Sir John Jones, K.C.B.; the interest of the contrast between the dear feeble children sought to be benefitted, and the dear, healthy, cheerful children, whose exercises formed so charming a feature in the programme; the glorious promise for the future embodied in so many energetic specimens of young manhood and vigorous youth; the lesson on the value of enthusiasm - fanaticism if you will - conveyed so strongly in the public career of Mr Hulley; these points, and many more, press for notice, but must perforce be remitted to another occasion.

As we surveyed the dense ranks of spectators on this occasion, the thought suggested itself forcibly, of how short a time (since this athletic creed was popularised by Mr Hulley) had sufficed to make gymnastics a real interest of our social life. There was no dilettantism in the performance - no histrionic sentiment - it was all earnest, helpful, enjoyable work sound to the core; no languor, reserve of energy, or straining for effect, but such a vigorous effort as Englishmen could force when their hearts are in what they do. And that this feeling of thoroughness was fully shared by the spectators was abundantly proved, not only by the hearty and general applause, bursting forth frequently all through the evening, but also by that suppressed excitement during the contests and exercises, so easily recognized a crowded assembly, but so hard to describe in words.

It would be a pleasure, and one that we find it hard to deny ourselves, to notice in detail the items on the programme. To dwell on the harmonious regularity of movement in the bar, club, and dumbbell drill, a clever neatness of the fencing and boxing -especially the cunning activity of Mace and the lithe elegance of Durbec, the muscular power and cleanness of the jumping, and the daring grace of the feats on the ropes and rings. But we must, at present, confine ourselves to the pleasant duty of offering our heartiest congratulations to our athletic friends on the brilliant success of the Festival. We doubt not their conviction that they never put forth a God-given strength in the holier cause than that of helpless infancy; and, from what we have seen of the genial goodfellowship, it is unnecessary to express the hope that it may never be put forth in a worse. It is no ordinary pleasure that we had this record, a fact in the highest degree creditable to the Corporation of Liverpool.

On Wednesday without a division, the council voted £100 per annum for the furtherance of the same good courts. In the children's names, we have, too, to acknowledge with thanks a donation and a subscription received this week -

           Mr Isaac Jackson & Co                              £5   0 0
           Mr Wm Knapman (annual subscription)  0 10 0

1866 Feb 17 The Porcupine – The Gymnasiarch and the Children’s Infirmary
The Assault at Arms, which so much delighted all who witnessed it, at which we briefly noticed last week, has resulted in obtaining towards the new Building Fund for the Children's Infirmary the sum of 50 GUINEAS. Mr Hulley, in handing this substantial donation to the care of PORCUPINE, expresses the great pleasure he has had working on behalf of the institution. It was a pleasure which he had for some time contemplated, and he hopes to be able to renew it annually. Other kind friends have born in mind suffering children of children of the poor during the past week, and we have a special pleasure in acknowledging the following: --

Ash Wednesday Offertory at St Bartholomew's Church, Roby, per Rev. G. J. Banner, Feb. 14 1866, £2 16s 7d.

This weeks contributions therefore stand thus:
                              Mr John Hulley                                 £52 10 0
                              Offertory from St Bartholomew's  £   2 16 7
                              Brother U.                                         £   0 10 0

1866 Mar 24 The Porcupine - A Real Move in Physical Education
Rarely, indeed, do we comment by anticipation on public entertainments, but an announcement has been made by Mr Hulley, which deserves to be taken out of the ordinary category.

An Assault-at-arms is to take place at the Gymnasium on Wednesday night, which is no mere exhibition of prowess, but the inauguration of a system by which we may well hope that physical education will be permanently and considerably advanced. To Mr Hulley belongs the honour of establishing the physical culture as a pursuit in the north of England, if not throughout the country, and the success he has achieved has exceeded the utmost anticipations of the few who believed in him, and placed in the most ridiculous light those who ridiculed his endeavours. All that can be done by unfaltering example and by contagious enthusiasm has been done by Mr Hulley, and, beyond this, his direction of the movement has been as wise as it was energetic. He has made himself an authority on his favourite topic; his gymnasium is a model with which athletic students all over the country are eager to compare their institutions; and it only remained for him to develop a system by which it would be possible to constitute the judgements of the gymnasium, as acknowledgements of physical prowess and skill.

This system has now been arrived at. The practice of prize and medal giving - open to great abuses -- has been displaced by a scheme of diplomas, which will be assigned to competitors according to their achievements. There will be diplomas of the first, second, and third class, and thus each competitor will have in this possession an official and indubitable recognition of his powers and an incentive to further exertions, either to excel or to maintain the position previously obtaining. We doubt not that in a very short time the diplomas of the Liverpool Gymnasium will be sought far and near; for the distinction will be a truly valuable one, and inflexible impartiality and exactness of Mr Hulley's management will always maintain its value. One example of Mr Hulley's wise and steady policy is to be found in his resolute adherence to the policy which he has advocated since the beginning of his public life, that of requiring from every competitor, a general proficiency. No diploma, whatever will be granted to anyone who does not obtain marks in, 1st, a foot race; 2nd, high running leap; 3rd. long leap; 4th, climbing a rope with hands and feet; 5th. rising and sinking in parallel bars; 6th, swimming; 7th, putting 36lb. shot.

It must be evident to every one that when not even the lowest diploma can be gained without the possession of the amount of proficiency thus indicated, this certificate will be far more valuable than if it were given, as prizes too often are, for abnormal proficiency in one particular exercise. The latter principle develops high and showy achievements, but it is at a cost of general unhealthiness. The former requires from every competitor, a perfection of condition and powers which, though ideal in completeness is practically very easy to gain under a proper system of training. The advantage of a high standard of perfection is indisputable, and we feel convinced that the establishment of these diplomas, which can only be won by real work, will produce a general quickening throughout the country of physical culture.

When we look abroad, or even around our own homes, and see the signs of physical degeneracy which abound, and which are it to a certain extent, the natural results of sedentary lives, we cannot but feel alarmed at the future of our race, which cannot but be destined to still greater deterioration, unless the course of things is changed by some strenuous effort. That effort will be best made under Mr Hulley's generalship, and it is very gratifying to find that he has laid his plans so wisely that, while ensuring the utmost popularity for his institution, he as surely lays the foundations of its real and vital supremacy as a University of Physical Education.

1866 May 12 The Porcupine –The Athletic Festival at Llandudno
The forthcoming festival of the Athletic Society, at Llandudno, will be one of the greatest and most important events of the century. It will, in fact, form a red-letter day from which future historians will date of the commencement of civilisation, and the first step in the march of intellect. Several of the crowned heads of Europe have promised to attend and bring their wives and families with them. Mr Hulley, who has lately styled himself the Gymnasiarch of the World, has made every arrangement for the reception of visitors, so that the crowned heads need be under no apprehension of not being able to secure lodgings.

As the houses at Llandudno are limited in number, Mr Hulley has ordered several thousand tents to be pitched on the shore during the festival. He himself will sleep in the sea, clothed in his bathing-dress, and chanting himself to sleep by singing, in his rich tenor voice, "A life on the ocean waves." The Emperor of China contributes twenty-million coloured lamps and a pound of green tea to the fund which has been formed by the inhabitants of Llandudno for the purpose of inducing visitors to visit their bay during the forthcoming season. We understand that a Mr Shem, Ham, or Japheth, has been over to Paris, and secured all the bathing-dresses made on the continental principle. Any lady or gentleman visiting the residence of this Levite, in Hardman-street, will have one of these dresses presented to them, together with the half of a five-pound note for them to forward to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for unpaid income tax. In case they do not wish to negotiate a bathing-dress on these conditions, we have no doubt that the owner of the articles in question will supply a complete suit at a very moderate price.

To-day there will be launched a six-oared gig, which has been built for the members of the Athletic Society. It has been constructed, we believe, for the purpose of taking the members of the society – ninety in number - from the Prince’s Landing-stage to Llandudno Bay. We are not yet aware how the Gymnasiarch of the World purposes to take all his athletes over in this marine conveyance; but we understand that he is at present studying the problem that so puzzled Archimedes, respecting the man who had to take a fox, a goose, and a bag of corn over a stream. He has already solved the calculation, "If Tom's father was John's son, what relation is John to Thomas?" and no doubt will eventually at a correct solution to the problem at which he is now so assiduously working.

We cannot conclude this preliminary notice of the forthcoming festival better than quoting the peroration of Mr Hulley's great speech at St Georges Hall Llandudno, on the occasion of his being presented with the thanks of the town: - "What," said the Gymnasiarch, "is the result of a pure mind? - a pure body. How is a pure body to be obtained? - why, by abluting in the bay. What says the poet – ‘Thy towers, Bombay, gleam white, they say.’ Need I say more.
                                                Tempora mutantur, mens sana in corpore sano, palmam qui Meruit ferat.

We understand that Mr Hulley has consented to forego his title of Gymnasiarch of the World for that of Llandudno Bay, or Bey of Llandudno. In addition to the calculations we have already spoken of his being engaged in, rumour states that he is also hard at work designing a figure of himself, which is to be cast in pure gold, and placed at the bottom of Bold-street. It may also interest some of our readers to inform them that Mr Hulley has just had completed a costume of infinite finish. The jacket and inexpressibles are composed of the finest flannel; and on the collar of the first-named is, embroidered in gold, the arms of the Athletic Society, encircled by a wreath of oak leaves and acorns. The boots come half-way up the calf of the leg, and are made of untanned leather; the tops are bound with scarlet morocco, while a bullion tassel dangles from the front. To complete the costume, he wears, for what earthly reason we are at a loss to imagine, a Field-Marshal’s sash, which is composed, as our readers are aware, of alternate half-inch stripes of crimson and gold. He has not yet decided upon a head-dress. How about a cocked hat?

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