Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-01
THE RICHMOND DIsPATCH~wEDNESDAY, JANUARY I, 1880

this: their friends must help them. and the
public press too must bear share, by the
criticism which gnthers around their public
play. There arr fnany things which can
be said by way Of EXCUSE: but excuses are
usually :" blinds Rough play does
not appear with the best teams; 1t is
the result of the rise of selfshness and
temper among men; when temper gets up
hard knocks are inevitable. All these
are true, but their truth points
the lesson. The game Is q fast one, and
on this account II makes special demand
on self-controi. and inst in this way Is ca
paple Of being helpful for healthy moral
discipline az we'll as for physical. Indeed,
moral trimming must go with the practice.
else there cannot be good play. The
noisy. boisterous team shows bad form.
Good playing means in any player quick.
eye. ready action, mind alert to All
possibilities, and purposes sct on the
success of the team "a a whole. As
everywhere in life. selfshness shows
badly. and temper and eagerDess for per-
sonal honor. The game does not allow Tor
personal achievement, by contrast with
that OF other members of the team. being
regarded rs an end il claims that the sue
cess of the team be the end, and this by
explicit. urwavering determination to
make the success of the team the domi-
nant thought. These are valuable require
ments for moral discipline, aud every
player should lay them to heart. This is
the demand of public opinion If adverse
criticism is 20 be averted. The key of the
situation is lf-discipline-strong moral
life. with strong physical energy. But
there Is
TEAM DISCIPLINE"
as well. and not only the captain, but ell
Che members of the team are concerned in
seeing this maintained. The man who
shows selfshly or gives way TO temper,
and inhicts needless injury under passion
must be made TO feel that the COVER
ment of the team meets him sharply
in cool moments. and that exclrl-
sion will be the inevitable result If
he does not visibly gain in self-com-
mand It ought to be so, and must be
40 if the team is TO make a record Of which
IL can speak with satisfaction. Any slack
ness here means sacrifice of repute for the
team. To step back from first rank to
second rank is easy. The record will tell,
and it lies with the members of the team
to find the cause. Morals and athletics 90
together. There is still more to be said.
carrying us deeper In our appreciation OF
the dignity Of human nature.
Loudness means roughness, but louCness
often means also v,ilgarity and improprie-
Il
clines man TO suppose that strong lam
guage is symbol of strength. This is
another Of the blinds" Strong language
leads to insolence. in the midst of which
surplus language flows in, which takes to
swearing, rs if it were not disgrace to the
speaker. wrong to all associates, and a
sin against God.
RESULT OF wEIL-DrIEcrED ATHLETICS.
If the responsibility Of life is properly
measured. neither man nor woman VIII
think lightly of physical exercise, but will
see the value Of good daily share OF mus
cular EFFORT. The lesson is for our young
women az for our young men. IT Is vain to
look for vigorous health without active ex-
ercisa well sustained in the open air. The
public health will gain, moral tone will adj
vance. religious strength and joyfulness
will find new scope. obtaining wider range
of influence in many unexpected ways.
quite lost to view when we fail To carry
with Us the impression that all parts Of
our nature must be disciplined by action,
end must be brought to work in harmony.