Newspaper and magazine articles about John Hulley

1867 Jul 1st Liverpool Mercury – Athletic Society of Great Britain
It appears that John Hulley took a back seat in the organisation of this event because the report of this event which read: “And the programme was got through very shortly after the appointed time, and this act of itself testifies to the completeness of the arrangements. A better managed Olympic festival has not been held in Liverpool; and this is in great measure due to the exertions of Messrs J.B. Lee and W. D. Hogarth, who, after winning many laurels in the ranks as competitors, this year appeared in the character of joint honorary secretaries.”

1867 Jul 2 Birmingham Daily Post - Athletics at Liverpool
One or two of the successful competitors at the recent meeting of the National Olympian Association in this town proved equally fortunate at the Olympic Festival held at Liverpool at the close of last week. They were altogether 220 entries for this meeting, which was presided over by Mr Hulley.

1867 Sep 2 Liverpool Mercury – Llandudno Carnival
On Thursday last a grand carnival was held at Llandudno under the direction of a committee of visitors, headed by Mr Hulley. During the day, as the programme has it, "in order to restore a light on the evenings amusements, a bazaar for the sale of Chinese lanterns was extemporised on the parade." At a little after 8 p.m., a grand procession of boats, illuminated all over - rigging them astern - with lanterns and coloured fire, was started from the landings steps.

1867 Oct 9 Liverpool Mercury – Liverpool Gymnasium
Mr Hulley has introduced chorus singing as part of his curriculum at the above institution. In a brief address to the members last evening, he recommended its practice as a most effective means of strengthening the chest and vocal organs, stating that it had been adopted in the continental gymnasia and the most satisfactory results attained.

1867 Oct 10 Daily News –
From Mr E. G. Ravenstein, President of the German Gymnastic Society, London, and Mr John Hulley, Gymnasiarch of Liverpool, we receive a Handbook of Gymnastics and Athletics (Trubner and Co.), with numerous woodcut illustrations from original designs. We must content ourselves with handing over the volume to those who desire to excel in physical exercises.

1867 Oct 30 Liverpool Mercury - Local News –
The gymnasiarch and the Essayist. Mr John Hulley, the "gymnasiarch," was sued yesterday, in the county court, before Mr J. K. Blair, the judge, by Mr John Harrison, a medical gentleman, of Congleton, for recovery of £5.

His Honour enquired what the £5 had been incurred for.
Plaintiff: For 70 copies of an essay on physical education.
His Honour: Did you write this essay?
Plaintiff: Yes.
His Honour: Did you get Mr. Hulley to take a number of copies?
Plaintiff: yes.
His Honour: how many?
Plaintiff:£5 worth. I sent him 70.
His Honour: For the £5?
Plaintiff: I have a letter acknowledging their receipt.
His Honour. Did you apply for the money,?
Plaintiff: Yes, there is no question that the defendant has disposed of them, because they were ordered before they were received.
His Honour: Have you made a personal application for the money?
Plaintiff said he had not, and explained, as a reason for not doing so, that he lived at a distance from Liverpool - on the borders of Staffordshire and Cheshire.
His Honour: Have you never written to the defendant? Plaintiff said he had, frequently.
His Honour: Mr Hulley is not here? Mr Hime (registrar): No sir. He has not taken the slightest notice of it.

A verdict was given for the plaintiff, for the amount claimed, with costs.

1867 Dec 10 Liverpool Mercury – The Liverpool Gymnasium
Amongst the visitors to this institution was M. Mauritz Rubenson, the Swedish writer. This gentleman is well known for the warm interest he takes in physical education, some most able articles having been written by him on the subject. He has just returned from America, where he has been for the purpose of inspecting the principal gymnasia and public schools. He expressed the great gratification derived from witnessing a class practice, and spoke in the highest terms of Mr Hulley's system, stating that the Liverpool Gymnasium was the most complete of its kind in existence.

1867 Dec 24 Daily News – Liverpool Gymnasium
Upwards of 1000 ladies, together with about 30 of the leading medical men of Liverpool, assembled at the gymnasium on Saturday evening last for the purpose of witnessing a series of exercises gone through by a large number of the members of the ladies classes, and illustrative of the class practice. Dr Grimsdale presided, and at the termination of the exercises delivered an address on the importance of physical education for women. Addresses were also delivered by Dr Nevins, Dr Hakes, and Dr Denton, &c. At the close of the proceedings a vote of thanks was proposed and passed unanimously to Mr Hulley, the able director of the institution.

1868 30 Mar Liverpool Mercury – Assault-at-Arms
On Saturday evening an assault-at-arms and distribution of diplomas took place at the Liverpool Gymnasium, Myrtle-St. There was a large attendance of spectators, the space devoted to whom was crowded with ladies and gentlemen. The chair was occupied by the mayor (Mr E. Whitley), and amongst others present were General Bellysis, Colonel Sir John Jones, and Colonel Bourne; Drs. Batty, Oxley, Waters, and Desmond; Councillor M. Williams; and Messrs P B. Drinkwater, Forget, Manifold, F. Lyster, T. Haigh, and J. Christy.

The programme of exercises which were gone through by the members of the various classes, under the direction of Mr John Hulley, was the following etc. In his speech the mayor said that he regretted that owing to the recent commercial depression the numbers connected with the institution had rather decreased during the past year. At the same time, however, he was glad to find that the average attendance had very greatly increased. He would have expected the latter circumstance, for it was impossible for them to have gone through the various exercises in which they had appeared that evening, unless they had been regular in their attendance. And he trusted that with the return of commercial prosperity the members of the gymnasium -- which was a credit to the town, to Mr Hulley, and to the gentlemen who erected it -- would increase in numbers, and that instead of hundreds there would be thousands. (Applause.)

Last evening, Mr Burnham appeared at the Liverpool Gymnasium in Myrtle-Street, and after instructing a class made a few observations in reference to the different athletic schools throughout the world. Addressing a numerous attendance of a ladies and gentlemen, and also the members of the gymnasium, he said that he had been the proprietor of an establishment of that kind in New York, but the corporation had taken his ground, and he had removed to Brookland. Prior to completing his new establishment, he thought it advisable to visit the various gymnasia in the Old World, and the first he saw was the one in which he then stood – the Liverpool Gymnasium (Applause.) After going through the list of these institutions established in London, Paris, Berlin, and various other places, he concluded his remarks by stating that he had come to the conclusion that the Liverpool Gymnasium was the most complete of all - not the largest, certainly, but the most elaborately fitted up. There were only two persons, he thought, who endeavoured to introduce anything new in athletic exercise - for the Germans adhered too much to the old system - and these two persons were Mr Hulley and M. Paz, of a Parisian gymnasium. He (Mr Burnham) taught a number of young ladies himself, and he was glad to see that those of the opposite sex attended the Liverpool Gymnasium. In conclusion, he wished them every success, and gave them an example of a dumbbell exercise himself to music.

Subsequently a class went through club exercises under the leadership of Mr H. Pearson. At the close of the preceding Mr Mcnaught proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Burnham, for his interesting remarks and expressed his pleasure at finding that Liverpool took the lead in these matters, which he hoped it would maintain. At the same time, he assured the members of his best wishes and cordial co-operation in their work.

1868 Nov 3 Liverpool Mercury – The Liverpool Gymnasium
The directors of this institution, in their report, state that the commercial depression, which existed at the time the last report was issued has continued to prevail, and has seriously militated against the success of the institution. The accounts to 30th September last showed the total receipts to have been £1184 1s 7d, against £1630 4s 3d in 1867, and the expenditure £1298 2s 9d, against £1410 17s 3d in 1867, leaving a loss on the year of £114 1s 2d, without putting by the usual reserve for depreciation: had this been done, the loss would have appeared as £316 15s 9d, With a view to placing the advantages of the institution within the reach of a larger number of persons, the directors have reduced the terms for evening membership to one guinea per annum, and they are assured that a large accession of subscribers may in consequence be expected.

It has, however, come obvious to the directors that unless the gymnasium is appreciated by the public, at any rate to the extent of making it self-supporting, it would be absolutely necessary to close it all together; it is to be hoped, however, that this alternative may be avoided, and that the next season may prove completely successful. The ladies classes continue to give satisfaction, and, it is believed, productive and much good. The directors acknowledged with pleasure Mr Hulley's zeal and welfare of the institution; also the valuable service of Mr. T.W. Read, secretary. (also in Nov 9th edition)

1868 Dec 9 Liverpool Mercury – The Liverpool Gymnasium
The annual grand athletic fete in connection with this institution took place last night at the Gymnasium, Myrtle-St. There was large and fashionable attendance, showing that a taste for gymnastic exercises is growing at only amongst the youth of the town, but also amongst the fairer sex. Mr W. Rathbone, M. P, presided, and there were also present Messrs G. Melly, M.P., C. P. Melly, C. Langton, P.B. Drinkwater, G. Holt, W. D. Holt, H. C. Tunnicliff, C. Stoess, the Rev. Nevison Lorraine, the Rev. W. Banister, Dr Collingwood, Major Bousfield, &c.

(List of programme of exercises) The different performances were watched with the closest of interest by the spectators, and the gymnasts reliably and frequently applauded for the skill, agility, and strength which they display.

During an interval in the programme, The CHAIRMAN rose and said –

When I was asked to take the chair at this evening there seemed at first something incongruous with my Quaker education in presiding at an assault-at-arms. (Laughter.) But this incongruity was merely verbal, for the assault to be made by Mr Hulley's regiment is not one for the purpose of spilling blood, but for the purpose of infusing fresh blood into the human frame -(hear, hear)-not one for destroying life, but for preserving and invigorating it. (Hear, hear.) I am sorry to find, from information given me by Mr Drinkwater, that the bad times have told upon this as well as upon other institutions. But the directors have adopted the wise course of reducing the subscriptions to a guinea, which I trust may be followed, as other reductions are, by the increased consumption of a commodity is so necessary to the well-being of society. (Applause.)

While on this subject I am requested to mention that there is in connection with this institution, a club to which any member may belong by paying an additional 10s. a year, and where he may read the papers and have tea or coffee in the evening. (Hear, hear.) I will not delay you long from the pleasures of the evening, but I should not be doing my duty if I did not say a few words on the importance of gymnastics to society in general, and to Liverpool in particular, where so many spent the greater part of the time In sedentary occupations. (Hear, hear.) By the safe use of gymnastics not only is the body strengthened, and the power of enjoying the fruits of our labour increased, but even the success of a business is promoted by the increased vigour of our bodily frame, which tends to stimulate enterprise and prevent our judgement being weakened by that alternate elation and depression which is the natural consequence of ill health. (Hear, hear.)

The gymnastic institutions of Germany have long been famous, but our French neighbours, with that in élan and impulse for which they are so celebrated, have gone ahead, I believe, of both Germany and England. In England, indeed, until very lately, gymnastics, as a science, were almost practically unknown. The best specimen is the Grand Gymnase at Paris, unless our gymnasium here rivals it. I believe we have here all the same appliances, and our gymnasium is conducted on the same system as that of Paris, while we have the advantage of a lower subscription. (Hear, hear.)

Notwithstanding the discouragement of the past year, I am sanguine as to the future of the establishment, because we have on our side two great powers in the community. First, the medicine men, were strongly in favour of gymnastics under the judicious and cautious management of Mr Hulley (Hear, hear.) I have myself seen most wonderful improvements in health, strength, and beauty effected by following out his advice. Then a still greater power than the doctors are the ladies, who have who have warmly taken up the cause of gymnastics. (Applause.) I consider it one of the best auguries of the future success of the gymnasium are the ladies’ class. (Hear, hear.)

To their hands, we commit our cause, and hope they will induce their husbands, brothers, and sons to follow their good example. (Applause.) The chairman, concluded by thanking the gymnasts for the exertions they had made for the entertainment of the company, associating with the compliment the name of Mr Pearson.

Mr PEARSON, in reply, said he trusted the gymnasium would prosper for many years to come, and that it would have many opportunities of meeting their friends there on similar occasions. At the close of the exercises, Mr C. LANGTON proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Rathbone for presiding, and in doing so, congratulated him on the distinction he had lately obtained in having been elected as one of the parliamentary representatives of his native town. (Applause.)The Chairman briefly acknowledged the compliment, and the proceedings terminated.

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