Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-07-29
ATHLETICS CRITICIZED.
Editorial correspondence OF the New York
Observer


Editorial Correspondence oil the New DIX
Observer.
This is the season of college commence
ments and summer schools and institutes.
1t NAV not be out of order to say a few
Things at such time about students and
their WAYS. There are two classes of
youth who 90 to college in America.
One class are eager for knowledge as a
means of success and usefulness in life,
the other class desire the Independence
and freedom from home restraint, and
the social life which a college or uni
yersity Affords :. Rich and poor compose
the first class the second is largely made
up of the sons of rich and well-to-do
parents. In former years the scholars
gave tone and character to our institu-
ions, and the reputation of some of them
is largely based upon the honor and fame
which these alumni have won. But a
new standard has been set up in the last
twenty wears. Not scholarship nor good
fellowship, but athletic championship is
the test of institutional pre-eminence.
Youth are eager to enter the college which
stands first in football and baseball, and
is at the head of the rowing list in the
country. And parents are as proud to
have their sons stand well upon the
'diamond," OF hold high place in the
Crew." as other parents once were to
have their sons gain prizes in oratory or
composition. College officers and presi-
dents have not escaped the infection. In
more than one instance men have been
entered at college and supported in
their college course, in order that their
professional ability as ball players or
oarsman might be employed to win
games or races for prospective Alma
Mater, whom they would honor in no
other way. Youth is copyist, and easily
follows such lead. 1t is no wonder,
then, that the majority of young men in
champion college know more of the
technique of athletics than of science or
literature or art. Colleges are classed as
boating or ball colleges, and the colleg-
ians prefer sporting matters and "events'
to either politics, business or religion.
The student class still exists, but it nc
| longer controls, for with athletics have
come eXtravagant habits, large eXpendi-
/ lures of money for trainers, umpires and
paraphernaia of the ball field or boat
house. Learning is modest in its eXpen,
SEES, and its appliances do not call
for outward show, however valuable they
may be. The prominence and push Of
the muscular collegian has for a time
hidden and outshouldered the scholar.
But he is there, and will find his way
into the world to instruct, enlighten and
bless it, after the hurrahs which gree
the winning crew have been forgotten
and the baseball champions have failed
on every other field.
1t is sometimes claimed that Drawn anC
brain go together, that the winning ath
lete and the successful scholar are unite(
in one person, but this is true only in few
instances. \ sound mind in sounC
body always insures the best reults
But an abnormally developed muscula
system is not sound body. The win
ming crew are often brought fainting t
the shore, and are for weeks incapable o
any intellectual eXertion; the broken
ointed and lame and winded relic of ;
ball field is not fit to cope with mental
gymnastics after his bodily squirt is over
Moderate and regular exercise is perfect
" in harmony with high grade o
intellectual proficiency, but the muscula
straining demanded by athletic trainin!
is unfavorable to mental growth, ant
practically does not coeXist with it
Where one athlete is fine scholar, fit.
are destitute of scholarly character oil
ambitions.
1t is not unlikely that there will be
reaction from the overgrowth of physic
al culture and athletics in our colleges
Some parents already sympathize will
the father who being asked not long sine
''What college will you send your son
to-" answered: "well, I've decided moi
to send him to college at all he plays
very good game of ball already" Other
are seriously considering whether th'
chief end of man is to sit on rover
bench in preference to the judicial bencl
or in the chair of medicine or theology.
Thoughts like these occupy SOM
minds even when they are watching tn
contest of rival "teams." Not Ion!
since sat upon grand stand for severa
hours and looked intelligently an(
critically uron the chosen mines of TIVE
great colleges as they fought the BATH
of the ball. The prominent player
were protected with wire cages over thei