The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-26
COLLEGE ATHLETICS.
The President Of the North Caroiins Uni
versity STAND by the Boys

c. Weekly News and Observer:
To reporter OF the News and OBJ
server yesterday President Winston. OF
the State University, expressed his views
In regard to college athletics, and espe-
cialiy intercollegiate match games.
Athletic training, he said, is recog-
nized element in education. Some univer-
sites have a quarter OF million dollars
invested in appliances for athletic culture.
At the United States Naval Academy,
where / wGs a cadet in 1870 we we're re-
quired not only to perform military and
naval drills, but also to SWIM to box,
to fence With the foil and broadsword,
to dance, and TO practice gymnastics one
hour a day in the gymnasium. This
training produces men. The same sys-
TEN prevails at West Point. AT Harvard
the physical director examines every stu
dent and prescrlbes such physical cul-
ture as will strengthen his weak or I'M
developed organs.
The Greeks placed physical culture by
the side OF intellectual. AS a boy Euri-
pidcs won foot races and singing prizes
on the Olympic course. where afterwards
he received the poetic crown. The first
requisite Of a gentleman" says Emerson,
is that he be a good animal" The great
men Of all ages and countries have been
| fine specimens OF physical manhood.
Washington. Webster, Gladstone. Shake
speare, Goethe, Humboldt, Joshua,
Caesar. Napoleon. Moses. St. Paul and
Martin Luther were men OF great physi-
cal power and endurance. The sound
| mind and the sound spirit ere strongest,
happiest and most useful when they dwell
in the sound body. The Roman satirist-
philosopher had not studied life in vain
when he said, "Nobis orandum est ut
/ SIT mems Sana In COrpOro FaUO'
| 1t is a common belief tina. educated men
I are not usually successful in lite. This
! is an errc-. as statistics show. but there
are enough failures TO make a plausible
basis for the belief. Most Of these IAN
Ures are due to lack OF proper physi-
cal culture at the critical period in life.
Many young men develop their minds
at the expense Of their bodies, and, when
| they go out into life, they lack the physi-
cal power necessary TO sustain them. The
result Is genteel idleness, disappointed
ambition. or even vice.
| Athletic culture at the university con-
sists in systematic gymnastic training
under skilled instructors in the gymna-
stun, running, leaping, boxing, fencing.
| football, baseball and tennis playing.
| From 4:3O o'clock In the afternoon until
! o'clock, nearly all the students are en-
gagged in some OF these kinds of physical
| ABOUT SeNtnlN-Ikt are III IHt
| gymnasium, between thirty and forty
| play tennis. as many more play football or
baseball. Some walk in the woods. others
read in the library or gymnasium. while
/ others lie on the ground too lazy to DO
| more than watch their comrades who are
] engaged in physical developments.
| There is no college work at this hour.
| The lessons and lectures are ended for
the day. The time given to athletics is
confined to the period between 4S0 o'clock
Z. NJ. and supper.
| Those who object to football and base
| ball do not understand the games The
four best scholars in our senior class were
members of the football team last fall.
| The captain Of the team last fall was
| a slender, delicate boy, when he entered
| the university Iae present captain was
| the smallest man in his class when he
| entered the university. He Is now strong,
robust and well-developed
| Members or the football and basel ball
| teams voluntarily undergo a restraint as
| 10 food and personal habits which is
| conducive TO good health and good char
acter. They pledge themselves 10 OBJ
serve proper diet, not to use liquor nor
tobacco and not TO keep late hours. The
moral effect of this self-imp osed discipline
| is worthy Of the greatest praise and adj
miration. In its tour TO Atlanta last fall
not member Of the university team made
a bet, took drink q liquor, or con-
Quoted himself otherwise tina 1 as a high
| tor ed gentleman. Only three days were
| lost during the whole session by the soot-
| ball team.
| young man came TO the university
| In bad health. with weak lungs, much
| damaged by smoking cigarettes He had
| contracted the habit elsewhere. and he
10 crfx~ frfa
! argument with him; begged him, ridiculed
| him, threatened him. He said his parents
were willing. his physician was willing.
| ne was going TO smoke. THE power Of
| the judiciary was exhausted" l gave him
| up. Soon he became a candidate for the
| ball teaming, went into training" took
| the pledge and quit smoking Let those
whose guns are loaded so heavily against
| ball playing turn their battery against
| cigarette smoking. which does much harm
| morally. physically and intellectually
| while athletic culture does only good.
| To sum up the whole matter: College
| athletics, including football and base
! ball, are Indispensable to proper physical
| education. They consume no time that
is requisite for mental work. Indeed. It
would be better IL more time were given
! 10 athletics precisely as il would be bet
ter II lawyers, preachers and other brain
workers took more physical exercise. The
| self-restraint OF the football and base
! ball teams is a source of great moral
| power. The manly self-reliance and the
fine physical development. secured at the
| same time as mental culture. are won
/ derfully fine equipment for the battle OF
| life. The physical exercise and the self
| culture tend TO repress vice as we'll as
| rowdyism.
| There can be no vigorous athletics with
| out match games. Without the Olympic
| clan gymnasia.
! / sincerely hope that every college and
every school in North Carolina will main
tain a football team and a baseball
team. Those colleges that forbid these
games. or forbid match games, will soon
| realize their mistake. The proper course
is to control, regulate and perfect ath-
| letics. You cannot repress the buoyancy
and enthusiasm and animal spirits OF
| young men. They will seek an outlet IN
vice. immortality, rowdyism. or some
other unhealthy form, II you prevent
their enjoyment In vigorous. healthy
| games. Old people should not forget that
they were once young. The true teacher
will guide and inspire all power. AND
young men will respect and follow author.
ity which respects and sympathizes with
their natural instincts
Easter Pictures.