The Portland daily press., 1875-11-01
Athletic Sports.

HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.
Athletic Sports.
The Field Day at Brunswick on Saturday,
of which an account is given elsewhere, was
notable and significant event and should at |
tract the attention not only of everybody who |
has friend or kinsman among the students, |
but also of all who have an interest in the |
kind oftraining which is bestowed on the boys |
who are TO be controlling spirits in the ma
ton twenty years hence. The almost utter
neglect of physical culture in the schools and
colleges in the past and the rather contempt
uous subordination of bodily powers to men
tal-as if the two were not compatible-has
produced race OF men in the higher walks
of life who ought to be ashamed of their un-
necessary infrmity. 1t is probable that there
is not one professional man in ten in this city
above the age of thirty-fve, who could run
quarter of mile at full speed without seri-
GUS injury to his vital functions, even if he
arrived at the end at all. 1t may be said that
professional men do not want to run a quar-
ter of a mile at full speed, but the incapacity
to do so implies imperfect circulation, de-
rangement Of the digestive organs, general
unsoundness of wind and limb, and conse-
quent deterioration of the brain action. One
Of the most deplorable sights on our streets
is the appearance of crowds of men in the
prime of life riding to their business in car
riages or horse cars-shrinking with babyish
self-indulgence from this little scrap of exer.
else which is put by circumstances in their
way, when nine in every ten of them ought
to be able to enjoy five mile walk and to
derive from it an exhilaration better than
they can find in artificial stimulants.
The signs of the times point to change
in these vicious habits and promise better
set of men for the next generation. If every
| professional man in Maine could have looked
| upon.the exercises at Brunswick the effect
would have been wonderfully wholesome.
| The proficiency there displayed implied
careful way Of living, regular habits and an
abstinence from all things which enfeeble and
deteriorate the body. The spirit of emulation
in manly sports is a stronger incentive 10
| good living than are moral precepts or con-
scientious scruples. 1t is not at all incompat-
| ible with them, but comes to reinforce them
| and make them attractive. Goodness, under
the new regime, is not confused with dyspep-
sia and tendency to early death, but has for
its natural products the brightest face and eye,
the stiffest arm and the switest foot. Vir-
tuous conduct becomes attractive to the nat
ural boy when it ensures him good oar in
the boat, goo1 place in the foot races and
enables him to throw base ball three hund-
red feet. The abounding vitality which, in
the earlier and worse days of the schools,
used to eXpend itself in riot and dissipation,
in night carousals and inordinate consump-
tion Of alcohol and tobacco, now finds nat
ural and healthy expression in the gymna-
SUM, on the ball grounds or on the river.
The heroes of the college are not now those
who can hold the most rum without spilling,
whose orgies are widest, who hover nearest
the verge of expulsion and who were former
ly looked upon with admiring eyes by the
freshmen and emulated by the sophomores.
The digito naonstrari men of this time are
the stroke of the college crew, the pitcher
of the college nine, the best runner,
L
stead of nurseries of vice are becoming
schools for virtue. Solictous parents may be
happy in the assurance that when their boys
60 to college they are coming under better in
fluences than can be found elsewhere, that
they will be surrounded by every incentive to
correct life and habits, to which they will
be almost compelled by the powerful impulse
of public opinion around them. They must
eat simple and wholesome food, abstain from
stimulants and narcotics, go to bed early and
take abundant exercise. No rules of the col
lege, no interposition of the faculty, no good
advice ofparents could effect this !; nothing but
the general opinion of the students is sufi-
selfindulgence. And the best outcome of all
this good practice is that the habits of self
denial acquired during these four critical and
formative years cannot fail to remain and
exert most benefcent influence over the
whole future life of the man.
The full measure of good feeling in this
point is not yet attained; it is only promised.
At Bowdoin, which we may take as illustra-
tive of the tendency in colleges generally, the
interest in athletics is growing most hope
fully. The college government takes an in
terest in the matter and certain amount oi
exercise is practically compulsory. The ten
dency needs encouragement and the friends
of students and college should see to it that
so great good be not lost or impaired BY
lack of sympathy and help on their part.
natural fear will exist in the minds of pa
rents lest the physical training be in itsel
hurtful when carried to high degree. Il
must be remembered, however, that indo
lence and sef-indulgence will check the vas
majority of the boys from over training, ant
that the enthusiasts are under direction O
, men of learning, experience and good jud 9
ment. And it must not be forgotten tina
the alternative of the training would, il
many cases, be indulgence in strong drinl
and tobacco, Ioisy nights and useless days
and all the varieties of dissipation into whicl
overlooking life and high spirits are likely t.
I lead young men removed from home care ant
: restraint, and wrought upon by the iniuenc
Q Of each other; all of which is more wastefu
I, of physical and moral fibre and more danger
GUS in every way than any amount of physi
cal training could possibly be. The break
ing down of oarsmen and other athletes OF
ours generally in the case of professional
who alternate periods of severe training wit
periods of gross selt-indulgence and 'icer
tiousness. The regular, gradual and inte
| lioent muscular develonment of x,orno ,,,o