Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-07-10
ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Q
are essential to the full Development of
the body, We can imagine some who
would denlur to the assertion that they
were necessary to the development of the
mind. Great geniuses, they may tell US,
have often been remarkable for a quiet
retiring character, aud dislike even from
childhood for boisterous amusement
That instances may be brought in proof
ofsdch a position we dare not deny, but
that it stands as a general rule, or any
thing approaching to it, is manifestly
false. The history Of developed genius
is all the other way. The Greek and
Latin poets were all, or nearly all, ath-
letes. Horace's sentiments are known t6
all the world. Catullus goes so far as Il
boast of his training: Ego sy,nnass; u
Ros, ego cram .aecus oles," and other poets
were equally ingenious. And if We turn
to our own country, we have not to looa
far for striking Instances. What says
Sand hare loved thee, Ocean and my JOY
Of youthful sports on thy breast to BE-
Borne like thy bubbles onwards from boz
l wantoned with thy breakers" aa--.
But what need Of looking even 30 fak
when We can turn to the prince Of potts
himself? Who shall say how much tha
mental development of the matchlesa
Bard Of Avon was due to the bold ana
vigorous exercises Of which we get
glimpse in the daring, though perhaps it.s
cxcusable, raids on Sir Thomas LuoyH
deer, in the hardy company of the poach;
ers? But we are not going out of ohs
way to prove by examples that vigorous
bodily exercises is requisite for mental
development Those who know anything
about schoolboys will have only one cplns
ion about ssmopes." Books are an excel.
len, thing, and 80 is butter; but, unless
you can lay solid foundation of bread id
the one case and vigorous exercise in the
other, the books and the butter will BOTH
be useless. So. sab,
Allowing, then, the advantages, aana
even the necessity Of athletic sports, the
real practical point is to settle where ads
vantages end and evils begin. .Sihc8
physical perfection should be subservient
to the intellectual and moral develops
ment Of the man, it is clear that the
bounds Of discretion may easily be over5s
stepped. Racing, jumping, boating, and
ericketing are open to few dangers, bus
wrestling and boxing should be natrenisea
with greater reluctance. Galen altogethi
er disapproved OF wrestling 10 che gyniz
nastic curriculum on account of the int:
minent risks that were run Of fracture and
dislocation. Boxing, too, is Of dubious
prudence, in spite of all that young men
may think to the contrary OF course Il
is very grand thing to be able to mains
tain ones right against half dozen coal,
beavers, or to figure as the champion OF
injured responsibility against insoleht
blackguardism, as Sr Robert Clifton did
a little time back in the public streets -
But these are exceptional cases, and few
men can be pointed out who are disting.
uished both as pugilists and scholars
But the greatest and most dangerous
abuse, and one that ought most ssd ulous.
y to be discouraged among young men;
is what is teehm cally known as "trains
ing" Who cannot appreciate the indigs
nant periods of the ancients when they
decry the insane discipline of oyer-enthuss
lastic athletes2 Then as now they studied
to bring their bodies to a pfetnattrs perz
lection, at the expense of both mind and
body for the remainder of their lives -
Those who have gone through the sewers
est training beoume in the end dull; list
less, and stupid, subject to numerous disz
eases, and in many instances the ultimate
victims of gluttony and Drunkenness
Their unnatural Vigour seldom lasts more
than five years. It was especially re-
marked by the Greeks that no one who
ii boyhooa won the prize at the Olympic
games ever distinguished himself afters
wards. The three years Immediately pre-.
eeding seventeen are years Of great mental
development, and nature caHnot at thss
same time endure any severe taxing of the
physical constitution. Prudence, there
fore, especially at this critical period Of
life, must ever go hand in hand With v,sss
our, for the evils of excess outweigh by
far the evils Of deficiency. But; as ieug
as due bounds are preserved, athletic
sports may ever be hailed as the best
friends both of mind and body. The
Duke of Wellington is reported to have
said, when he was looking OH at d cricket
match, that as long as these were the
sports of Englishmen, they need never
fear invasion. To this we think ve mag
add more powerful encouragement, foF
we sincerely believe that, as long as athles
tic sports hold their proper place in ouf
educational establishments, we need never
fear the invasion of degeneracy nor the
tyranny Of ignorance. Westminster
Gazette.
How AN OLD LADY Cora FREE RIDE:
The Conductor of Baltimore city car