Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-07-31
The Age Of Nonsense.

Our base ball days are over; yet while
they lasted, nobody improved them better.
We believe in base ball and all other kinds
of athletic amusementS for boys as pas
time, but not us a business. What we OBJ
ject to is the cost of time and money, the
dissipation of habit and thought, and the
general Splarge which belong to all sorts
of physical pastimcs, as at present con-
Quoted.
We take up the great papers of New
York and Boston, and very often we find
the larger portion Of their space devoted
to frivolous matches upon land or wave.
First, we have the regatta at Cape May,
which we understand involves neither
skill nor prowess, bur simply the sailing
capacity of certain yachts. The occasi on
is deemed of sufficient Importance to call
the President Of the United States from
his scclusion at Long Branch, and the rev.
enue cutter, Tallapoosa, is sent to convey
him and his boon companions, Borie,
NllllNioJ ttnN huDCSOl, W UllC SCCuC. lCIC
was an assemblage Of thousands, but the
wind refused to blow, and the royal party
were discounted. Then we hear of the
Vice President making haste to attend the
rowing match at Saratoga, and for weeks
the public ear is stuffed and stunned with
, bulletins about the college boys. We have
, horse races, boat races, shooting matches,
and ball matches everywhere; and it seems
to be thought necessary to report even
their minutest features. 1t all tends to
excitement and dissipation, of which we
have already far too much, and makes a
diversion of public thought from matters
of greater moment, which really cannot
be afforded.
If our college boys want physical devel-
opment, there is the gymnasium, there is
the Connecticut river, there is the common
all these offer them facilities for exercise
which won't cost them cent, and need
not bother the public with frivolous cor
respondence. They canhave all they want,
the kind they need, and just when it may
| be most useful. Instead, the annual re-
gatta is in their minds the year round
not only the few who are engaged in it,
but the whole class or college is drawn
into the vortex; and to certain extent,
as the time approaches, the whole COM
munity. The whole thing is supremely
ridiculous when regarded rs for any other
purpose than Il gladiator show for the
amusement of the populace. There is an
unwholcsome excitement about it which
is unfavorable to the object which college
boys are supposed to have in view, and it
is species Of dissipation from which
many of them never recover, especially il
other designations become associated with
it, us is apt to be the case. We think the
time will come, and very soon, too, when
college faculties will see cause to forbid
these intercollegiate matches, whether
with the oar or the bat.
The same thing is true to n less extent,
of the boys of our own city, and all other
cities, perhaps. We do not believe there
is u teacher here who has not felt the
base ball .furore to be an embarrassment
and nuisance. There might be a great
deal more base ball playing with great
deal less fuss. An impromptu game be-
tween members of the same school would
answer all the valuable purposes of the
recreation without the mischievous ex-