The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-23

ENC every true scholars soul The Spring
fieri R<p~s2sean. in recent article. criti-
csssd vit just severity Gen. Francis A.
Walkers address on college athletics -
rnisehieyous teaching because il vas so
iIspropostaonsss in praise Of physical
prsswess, 20 depreciatofy Of scholarship In
eoGs pasison. 80 derogatory 10 the spiE-
isesi nature Of man" The Repsbss-
e1ss might have gone further and
chsii<nged the truth Of Cen Walkers
statement in which he asserted thai -
generation ago. inst before the var. the
cosssge hero was . creature OF abnormal
he&i, bad digestion and feeble nervea
Physical force, dexterisy and endurance.
capacity for action. nerve and viii power.
west for little or vent for nothing. % far
~ public admiration was concerned. Men
Of BUSINESS. men Of affairs. men OF pru-
dencc, moderation and real ability were
crowded out Of our legislative halls By
shr.iLvoiced deciaimers. Who couid catch
the ear Of nation given over 70 the lust
Of zig words" This Is mere fiprancy,
and ID not true. Ii Gen. Walker will turn
70 very delightful book written by IN
eminent graduate Of Harvard. the Rev. 0.
u. Buckingham. he will find out that the
OF their bodies in the days when
EEsrson. Lowell. Holmes, Parker. Wen
deis PhiIiips, Winthrop and Charles Sum-
ner graduated as they do today: and il he
via look At the longevity roll Of Harvard
he siil find out that excellent care was
taken Of their bodies by these men Of
sous, whom General Walker describes -
the product Of "the characterization
and sentimentaIism Of the last quarter Of
the eighteenth and the first quarter Of the
nin9tensh century, which had created
falss and pernicious opinions concerning
perspnaI character and conduct"
Ts pretend that this age lacked physical
powsr or virility among its scholars.
orasD,s and statesmen shows Ignorance of
the facts. It is . notorious fact that the
''ide.aiists" and ''sentimentaiists" Of the
age sneersd at by Gen. Walker werc -
rule men Of unusual vigor OF mind and
bods. and lived TO . good old age. OF the
ant4slavery men who followed Phillips
and Garrison 50 per cent. lived to . great
age. Phillips and Sumner were men
Of magnificent physique; were fine
fsnrsrs and boxers At college.
SuEsner was . famous swimmer,
and Phillips 70 the last day
Of his life. was keen judge of the good
poissts Of . horse. Lowell was an athlete
up 10 So The college boys Of Harvard
between 1890 and 1850. which certainly
muat cover tho period when Gen. Walker
discovers his average college boy with
''abaormal head. bad digestion and feeble
nerves." were not only the most famous
boys shat Harvard ever graduated. but
the famous boys" attained . remarkable
average longevity; they lived to old age,
and had fine health to the last hour, even
~ Holmes and Winthrop have today.
These Harvard men or their sons were
prosnpt to 60 to var and fought like
cavaliers.
Tas Republican fairly answers Gen.
Walker. when it says:
''Nhen the war came there was no lack
Of oil these qualities in either the field or
the forum, In either military or civic life.
Shsx and Lowell. Putnam and Bartlett,
R'ck and Dsvens, and how many others,
Fraiacis Walker among them, acted on
Emerson the transcendentalist's maxim:
Right thou scest. rush TO do But also
Suraner In the senate. Dawes In the house
Of representatives, and 90 from all the
stars up to that browning height, the
presidency filed BY Abraham Lincoln
thef also showed strength Of will. firm
ness Of purpose. resolution to endure and
caracity for action, not less Importantly
because they had been spcech-maker' and
writer Sad. indeed, would the war have
bees, and its outcome. il these great traits
hnsS been owned by none but athletes; It
mutt he feared that the nation would have
gosss by the board"