The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-08-30
OUR ATHLETIC COUSINS.


Lords, the other day, between the Boston and
fhiiadeaphia Clubs afforded clear proof that il
ne American youth are not so generally ad-
dicted to athletic sports rs their knsman upon
thus side Of the water, the cause is not to be
scught in any physical degeneration. The
athletic qualities displayed were quite up to
the English standard, and, indeed, in the mat
ter OF FIELDING seem t. have excited the envy
ef our best cricketers We hear nothing but
the most enthusiastic praise 0. the dex erity
displayed in catching the ball. and of the ac-
curacy OF the eye and strength OF arm shown
in throwing it up.
We scarcely think it likely that "base
ball will ever take its place in this country
IS rival to cricket-among men at least
Among boys tor something very like it = is
already, under the name Of g FOUNDERS,
played to considerable extent. But cricket
in the eyes of Englisrmen is, we believe, val
ued TO great extent on account Of the very
reasons which have prevented it from really
taking root in America. The Americans are,
IS nation, SO lusy, SO bent upon getting on,
that the greatest IN .rit game can possess in
their eyes is that it can be played in three
hours. But with us, game that lasts all
day, or even two days, is on that account all
the more popular.
The American national game, however
seems to have many merits Of its own. But
the world in general viii care less about the
rival merits of cricket and base ball than
about the new ascertained fact that in base
bah, the Americans have got national
game" Hitherto It has been assumed by all
observers, native and foreign, that in respect
to devotion to athletic exercises and out-ot-
door sports the American youth were essen
italy different from our own, and approached
more nearly to the youth of the European
Continent. We have scarcely ever opened a
book dealing with American life, which has
savsr ed more or less forcibly to this contrast
But it would seem tn It q tendency to athletic
ism innate in the English race is ut length
breaking out in the Americans. Some signs
Of this have been making themselves mani
fest within the last few years in he
new born taste for rowing which has
sprung up in America. Speaking broad
", it may be said that hitherto the
people Of the United States hav diff
fered from every other people of British origin
in being wanting in their passion for out door
exercise and open air sports, which may b.
said to be the most distinctly marked charac-
teristic Of the people Of this country. Austria
Liza and New Zealand are as much given to the
cultivation OF the muscle as we ourselves.
Neither at home nor in our Australian colonies
has it, as ia as we are aware, been ever neces-
sary on the part Of the medical profession to
insist upon the nation taking more exercise.
But from the United State; the complaint OF
do tors has been constant that exercise and
fresh air are not taken TO the extent they
ought to be- Indeed, some observers have
almost gone the length Of persuading us tnat
the American women do not take any exercise
at all except SO much as can be obtained by
swinging backward and forward in rocking
chair.
It is an exceedingly curious thing that we,
who possess probably as unpleasant climate
as any habitable country, should be most fond
Of exposing ourselves to it. But the fact is
unqaestiOmable, whatever may be the explana-
ton, it is the characteristic in us which strikes
most frrcibly all foreign observers Of our
insular customs NJ. Taine, in his "Notes
on England" refers to it over and over again,
and ascribes no Insignificant number, both OF
cur vices and virtues, to this single cause,
besides speaking no language but their own,
and never reading. Mr.. Disraei has pointed
out another characteristic of the English aris-
tocracy-and an English aristocrat is. after all,
merely an Englshman who can afford to lead
the lite he pleases they live in the open
air" Now passion for open air in this
country implies passion for vigorous exer
else; since during the gre.ter part Of the year
doing nothing in the open air, that delightful |
lastime of more Southern countries, would be |
but delightful here.
Our athletic tastes we have exported with |
sur institutions to every country we have colo |
nized except America. The students in !
American schools and colleges have hitherto
been always described as resemble G far more |
closely the students in q French Lycee |
than the schoolboys at Eaton or Harrow, or
the undergraduates of our English universe |
ties. Most of our readers must have learned, |
either from reading, or from actual observa-
IL 5: I.
French and an English schoolboy. The |
English boy is educated, one may almost say. |
in the moments that can be spared from out
door exercise. Indeed, SO great is the amount |
Of time devoted to play that scarcely week
elapses without a 'etter appearing in the |
papers from some patertamiias, who com
plains that his son at school is being |
taught nothing but cricket and football, and
who not unfrequently concludes his letter
by asking with Sidney Smith, the ques-
ton which has been somewhat hackneved
by frequent quotation, but which will bear
repetition, ''Where is the use in having the
body Of Hercules when we nave good laws
over our heads, and when pistol, porter or
! coach can be he hired for shilling?" The
French schoolboy on the other hand II he
acquires the body of Hercules which he
very rarely does must acquire it in the
Outdoor exercise OF all sorts,
except walking and drilling, may be said to
be unknown. Such games as are played
would be thought in this country to be more
ct f,r girls than boys, and it has been the
very general complaint, that by far too large
. share of the French boys time is given to
study, and an undue strain put upon his unde-
seloped intellectual powers. In these particn-.
lars we have always been given to understand
The American schoolboy spproximated much
more closely to the Gallo than the British
model But there seems to be now. in the
United States, some signs Of reversion to-
YARD the athletic tastes Of the mother country
And this, provided it is not allowed to go TOO
ar, is unquestionaply subject for congra u
alton.
BRAEDnr, WINES, SWEET OIL, Erc.-Among |
he large importers Of foreign vines and liquors,
,ur esteemed friend, Mr. U. Bassetti, Nos. 20 and
2 Peters street, near Poydras, ranks among the
Uremost. BY every arrival from Europe he re-
,e;ves fresh goods such AZ brandies, wines, |