Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-11-10
ATHLETICS IN COLLEGES.

ATHLETICS IN COLLEGES.
The faculty of Harvard College have, at
last, come 20 the conclusion that athletics
must be admitted as one of the regular
branches of study in the curriculum of that
University They have long stood opposed,
in sort of half-hear:ed way, to the practice
of connecting the name OF the institution
with such northumberland pursuits as rowing
and baseball playing; but now they reluc-
family acknowledge the fact that the physical
element OF young manhood must and will
have its expression, and their best way is to
recognize and develop it according to the
highest methods of physical culture. Hence
FORTH then, it will be understood that the
Harvard boat crews and the Harvard baseball
mines belong, legitimately, to the institution
whose name they bear that they are author
lied by its government and are, In u meas
urc, under its protection and control. The
policy Of liberation and reluctant permission
is to be exchanged for one of approval and
sympathy. A regular committee on athlet-
les has been appointed by the faculty, and
this committee has issued II set of rdes which
provide first, that no college association
shall compete with professionals second,
that 10 person shall assume the function Of
tiainer or instructor on the college grounds
without Il written permit from the commit
tee third, that no student may take part in
any athletic sport or competition without
previous examination and permission by the
son shall be allowed to row unless he can
swim.
The wisdom of thus taking under its con-
troll, and providing with system of rules
and instruction, the physical element in col
eye life, we think must result favorably for
Harvard. 1t is undeniable that the prestige
and popularity Of a college, in the eyes of
young men, depends largely upon other than
strictly educational advantages. The ma
iority of young men compare the attractions
rather than the solid inducements of the var
ious institutions of learning which compete
for their patronage. Such aud such col
all the deliberation they exercise in the mat
ter. And among the attractions which,
however unfortunately, have such an inilu-
cnce in determining the choice of young mer
steal display are first Most young mer
either possess good round bceps, or are
confident that they can develop the same UT
der proper physical training. In youth The
distinction between brain and biceps is very
clearly marked, with decided preference il
favor of biceps. How, then, TO develop The
one while countcracting the complete cvapo!
alton of the other is the question with thu
average collcgc-goins young man. The III
stituion which presents the best advan
: tagcs for doing this, other things being
equal, will be likely to enroll his nam'
upon its catalogue, and be honorct
with his occasional presence in the recitation
and lecture loom. 1t is useless to argue will
young men the foolshucss of such standard
of educational advantage; they fold thei
, arms and feel the biceps, and that Is enough t.
u
: fabby convolutons of pia mater to back it
So, we say, Harvard will be likely to deriv
, advantage from admitting athletics to he
| curriculum. 1t will be an advantage to he
{ in the number of her students; it will give
c certain distinction TO the broddest iDstltutio
h in America il will advertise her claims i
: the most popular manner it will make he
c the centre of the most general enthusiast
= of youth.
d But we doubt whether the example OF Hal
A ward will be followed by any other cduc'
Y tional institution in America. There are Gel
Y tain reasons why ii is the wisest, and indce
: the necessary course for her, which do ne
d apply 10 other colleges. Harvard hi
c virtually submitted to the s,hlct
Il craze to degree equalled by 4
C other college She has, in II name
compromised herself, and the only way no
d to retrieve her reputation and vindicate III
k conduct is to openly assume what has bee
Y allowed by imputation. 1t is said tina, mo
Il than once, the sports in which her unde
:. graduates indulge so freely have been reco
If uized as legitimate by one of the profcsso
G. acting as referee. Harvard has become full
Y identified in its spirit with the athletic Graz
X and it is not only wise thing that 81
"a should acknowledge it, but it is the thing C
lr pccted of her by the public. Her cour
s. should he taken rather as II warning than
IN an example by her sister institutions, v
ne do not believe in what is called athletics
r. colleges. We do believe in physical cultur
at but not If the competitive or profession
r.. kind. We believe that there need be no Ike
ia distinction bet wcen brain and biceps. TIL
mn may be developed together, the one buidi
nj up the other. Good muscle feeds brain, a
,st good brain feeds muscle and both cxchan
n their products to the good OF tho nerves o'
ed which those products pass. The symmet
or. cal man is he who cultivates equally his
telec,ual and physical powers The GYM
an, SUM is illy associated with the lect,
ID. room; but when gymnastics get to be a
.od lelics they lose their value in the building
prc brain
i'u The latest extension OF the art OF phot
ha rapby is its application to political c.
'oN vass. In ex-Secretary Robeson's .,
'ir- trict the Democrats are circulating p
Az tographs of his enty-flve-thousand {
IAN lar hous. in Washington, as visi
inc proof that he has more money Than he {
oy have acquired honestly. For u like purp
lch the Rcpubicap faction in Minnesota ODDo
hey to Senator WINDOWS reelection has put
I'M circulation in that State photographs Of
ter V;rdo,,. W,shipoton houso Non,,o,,