Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-09-04
PROrnssxoNAE ATRhNEAs.

A part of the English press has made
haste to suggest that the death oil RENroRrH,
the osrsmsn, WAS the result OF poison. No
one here imAgines that such was the case.
The man was subject to Eta, and the natural
result of 9 life such as that which be had
led for the past FIVE years was 10 produce
disease of the heart and consequent disorder
Of the circulstory system. RENFoRTH
doubtless rowed himself to death, and SO
far from his sudden death at the oar being
a matter Of surprise, it is sirAuge that nature
has not heretofore revenged herself in like
manner upon other professional athletes
who hayehRbitually overtsgked their muscles
and recklessly overdrswn their stock Of
vitality.
1t is to be expected that this sad accident
will be made the text Of countless sermons
against athletic sports, and it is slso TO BE-
expected that il condemning the suicidal
course pursued BY men ike RsSFoRTH ell
lovers Of muscular pleasures and contests
will be Unfortunately warned of the wick.
edness of thir ways. But there ia a wide
distinction between the Harvard or Oxfcrd
students who row an occasional race during
their university course, aud men who pursue
rowing az the occupation Of their lives.
The same distinction applies to all athletic
sporss. Base ball, pursued as a pleasure
and properly Subordinate to the real bust
ness OF life, is not only blAmeless bot de-
serving tbe wsrmsst encouragement ofthose
who have at hart the physical well-being of
the future American. The professional
p.a7eT Of base bal is not, however, accom-
Phshing - particularly noble destiny for
himself or adding in any great degree 10
the welfare OF his fellow-couBtrymen, 1t is
Ihe men who make Of what should be 90
amusement q profession Who bring to
athletic sports Whatever of ~reproach just
now attaches to them.
Il is doubtless true that no wide popularity
can be gained for any muscular sports with.
out sooner or later calling into existence a
class OF men who make such sports q means
OF livelihood. Nevertheless their existence
as certainly to be regretted. Poor RENFoRTB
WAS, according to ell testimony, an honest
gallant fellow and for that very reason it is
ell the more sad that be should have ADOPT
ed = profession which required him to pass
his life either In fierce muscular contests or
IN weeks of Wesrisome preliminary training.
To train for a SINGLE race and then TO row
over q course of reasonable length may be q
positive benefit TO the amateur rover; but
TO train and row month after month 10 as
certain to shorten life as is the excessive
use Of alcohol or opium. The professional
roveris committing what may bss compare
lively slow but none the less a certain
suicide. II ia to him that the structures Of
those who eondsm athletic sports apply
not 70 the man who pursues them with
moderation and for the purpose Of amuse
ment.
That baseball matches have been in
may instances perverted to the purposes Of
gambling and won and lost by triokery and
fraud is due chiefly to the employment of
professional players. Men who play ball
Tor recreation have no temptation to "selr"
a msNoh game, aud shus destroy its interest
oy taking away from il all sembIance of a
trsh Oh SElh' But 10 The professional MIA
yer the temptation TO accept mopsv n, tho
condition OF permitting himself 10 ho Aa.,.D
is sometimes too strong to be re.i,t.a ia.
the employment OF Professional pIavs,, H.
has ruined the once popular English COW.
of cricket, and if our own 49, ~
ever losses the respect of the comn."a
will be because professional nI.1.-..m
have made ii the easy prey of biAcilsa, 40
OF gamblers.
The Harvard and Yale boA,;uv-ms,
need not fear that the fate of Reuforth will b
theirs. To them r~owiugis notNhe Occupatio
of their lives, and training is but an incider
of their college days. But when the o,
fell from the nerVelegs band Of the po,
gladiator who lived by ovcrtAsking Il
who's plendid powers which nature had giv'
him, q terrible warning was given to the mt
make az amusement the hard occupation
their lives, and whose errors and weakne
Sses are the reproAOh Of innocent, mob
healthful sports,