“‘Here’s to another year and years and years of steady nerves, clear brains and vigorous health.’”
“Duncan is a body-builder and a good one. There are others in town all good ones. The town cannot have too many of them.” (Hawaiian Star, January 27, 1912) (Advertisements noted that Duncan’s Gym was for ‘Manly Men.’)
“‘If we can have a boy for two years, say from the age of twelve to fourteen,’ said Duncan, ‘we can make a well rounded youngster of him, and in addition to that the spirit of, true sportsmanship and love of the gym work for the work’s sake is so ingrained in him that he will never stop it.’”
“We don’t aim to turn out prizefighters, but we do aim to put a person in such shape that medicines and physicians will he unknown to him for a long time to come.” (Evening Bulletin, March 1, 1911)
“Duncan’s gymnasium isn’t half big enough to accommodate the youngsters who are anxious to join in the classes, but although the space is limited the boys take delight in playing the games that will make them stronger and fairer in every way.”
“A visit to the gymnasium will show hundreds of devices that have been built to improve the bodies of the youngsters, and the older people as well. Mr. Duncan has gone to much trouble in securing wheels and hundred s of implements of exercise that make for the building up or the youth.” (Star-Bulletin, May 3, 1916)
“At the recent Indoor meet held at the gymnasium a number of the parents looked on, and watched what the boys had accomplished during the class periods.”
“Many of the youngsters had gone into the classes with little of what one might call ‘pep,’ but the feats performed during the meet was enough to convince the mothers and fathers that the boy had been ‘learning the game.’”
“The meet showed the boys how to win; and how to take defeat.”
“The ‘thinking’ races were a big feature of the afternoon’s entertainment, and the race was not always to the swiftest.”
“A number of incidents happened during the afternoon that proved that the boys had teen taught to ‘play fair.’ One youngster with rosy cheeks who had been making a success won in a race, and after he had crossed the tape acknowledged to the referee that he had missed one of the relay pins.”
“In speaking of this incident afterwards Mr. Duncan said: ‘Things of that kind do the boy more good than a medal won, and I always try to encourage the boys to play fair at any cost.’”
“‘I wish that I had more room so I could cater to more of the boys and give them more room for the accomplishment of athletic features.’”
“Each afternoon many of the businessmen of the city spend an hour or so at the gymnasium, and the universal opinion is that it is more than worth the time spent.”
“Among the men of the city are many who have taken a deep interest in the youngsters, and at the recent track meet John Guild and Fred Wichman donated cups to the boys who competed in the various events.” (Star-Bulletin, May 3, 1916)
“Because of the great success made by GM Duncan in building up the weakling, there is much interest in his competition this afternoon. Mr. Duncan has divided the boys into two groups, the Reds and the Blues, and there is certain to be a number of events stated.”
“Fred Wichman said, ‘Mr. Duncan is doing a great work in developing the youngsters in every way, and he richly deserves credit for the manner in which he has helped the boys.’ Many of the leading businessmen of the city patronize the gymnasium and all join in singing praises for the manner in which the exercises are handled.”
“‘Mr. Duncan is doing a great work for the youngsters and for the older men as well. I use the gymnasium every day and find that it builds you up, and you can see that it has made the youngsters stronger. I would like to see a larger building where more boys could receive benefits from the exercise.’” (Guy Macfarlane) (Honolulu Star Bulletin, April 25, 1918)
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