The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-10-24
ouI.oE.pooR SPORTS.
Immensely valuable - Mental and Moral
Helps, but They should Be Enjoyed
WfaeIv.

OUT-OF-oOoR SPORTS.
Helps. but They should Be Enjoyed
Wisely.
Hardly any other change in our COM
mon life has been more noticeable dur
ing the last twenty-five years than the
rapid development of enthusiasm fol-
open-air sports. Then games of ball,
such as are played by the hundred every
day at present, were almost unknown.
Now every daily journal has its base
ball column. Tennis probably never
had been played on this side OF the
Atlantic; now tennis courts are abund
ant. Boat racing was attempted. if at
all, only in tentative fashion. and the
annual Yale and Harvard University
races had but begun, in rudimentary
form. Shooting was confined to few
persons; now 1t is the object of many
large and well organized clubs, and
contests have become international.
Horse trotting was not uncommon, but
had not been developed as it is to-day,
and mile in 2:40 caused as much adj
miration as one in 2:10 docs now.
Yachts were built and sailed. and the
America, by winning the famous cup,
mad given yachting a strong impulse.
but such flyers" as the Puritan, the
Priscilla and the Genesta were un-
dreamed Of.
To-day one sees and hears the evil
dences of interest in athletics upon
every side, and. if he have not actually
passed middle life. he must be an I'M
usual person who is not conscious OF
hearty and abiding interest in such
things. This is by no means low and
vulgar taste, as is charged sometimes.
On the contrary, it is thoroughly
healthy, honorable and improving.
Like every other inclination, it needs to
be controlled and directed properly, or
it may be injurious. but, If 1t be regu-
lated, it is a real blessing. No observ-
ing person, old enough to remember
how people looked quarter of cen
fury ago. can walk our streets without
perceiving how many more persons
there are now than there were then
who are robust and muscular; through
whose veins evidently runs good, rich,
red blood; who have the signs not
merely of great strength, but also OF
endurance, and who need not fear COM
parison physically with any other men
and women on earth. The narrow
chested, pallid, wrinkled, nervous,
worn-looking people are not all gone
from among us, but they are much less
numerous than they were formerly.
Now this is a beneficial change. 1t
means great deal for the future of the
No nd 10 dt,n
probably more than to any other one
cause, to the fact that as a people. we
have learned to enjoy and practice out
of-door sports. Our girls, even, are
growing as sturdy. relatively, as our
boys. We fill our lungs fuller Of Gods
sweet, fresh air, and oftener than in the
past. We harden our muscles and
quiet our nerves by walking, riding.
rowing, or whatever our fovorite sport
may be. And we enjoy that quiet, in
MIGRATING sleep at night which God
has ordained to follow the thorough
but not undne exertion of the bodily
powers
OF course open-air sports have their
dangers. That Of accident is no greater,
when due caution be observed, than
one risks in an indoor life. That of
| over-exertion needs to be specially re-
membered, for enthusiasm and the de-
| sire to become expert sometimes tempt
one too far. But the two great evils
| which beset the favorite out-of-door
sports of the day are betting and Sab
bath-breaking. Betting is the curse OF
all sorts of sport. Too often IL
degenerates into reckless gam
bling, and in some cases it even
seeks to determine the issue OF
contest beforehand. Sabbath-break-
ing, thus far, has been connected with
base ball and yachting chiefly, but. il
it be not checked before long by re-
form in public sentiment. it will cast its
evil shadow over the whole broad field
of sport. One capital help in checking
| it will be found to be the Saturday half
holiday already, and most properly, be-
coming common. These are grave
dangers, and their mischievious tenden-
cies should not be underestimated.
On the other hand, the immense
value of out-of-door sports must moi
be forgotten, and the fact that, in spite
OF their actual and possible evils they
are of real mental and moral help
They develop the body into greater
vigor, and make it more of a JOY
merely to live. They entertain and re
lieve the tired mind, relaxing the strain
of business cares. They train the eye
the hand and the Judgment. They de
mand that self-control and temperance
be studied and practiced. They edu
cate the temper. They help to teach
the lesson how to bear adversely calmly
and prosperity without self-conce,t
They stimulate the love Of this beauti
full world in which we live, and many {
careless mind has received through
them impressive reminders of the ex
istence and goodness of the great Gre
ator Himself Like most other thing
in this world, out-of-door sports arr
neither an unmixed evil nor an abso
lutte blessing, But to him who is will
ing to enjoy them wiselyth they are among
Gods best gifts. The Congregational
l .aI