The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-27
Value of an Athletic Training.

II is perfectly true that our young
men should not go 10 college merely 10
get their bodies trained, but II Is also
true that they should not 90 there mere
~ 10 get their intellects trained. Far
above bodily strength, far above mere
learning, comes character. No soundness
of body and limb. no excellence Of mental
training-admirabl though each OF these
is-can atone for the lack Of what In
oId-fashioned phrase would be called
the virtues; for the lack Of courage OF
honesty. of sef-control, Of temperance
of steadfast resolution. Of readiness TO
stand up for ones right, and caretulness
not to infringe on the rights Of others
Now, Of course. many OF these qualities
are not conferred by athletic exercises
any more than they are conferred by me
study OF Latin or Greek, but there are
others which certain courses OF study 90
tend TO bring out. and yet. others which
are most undoubtedly strengthened aud
developed by the demands made upon
them in playing the r0ugher and manller
sports. especially outdoor sports. In
perfectly peaceful and commercial CIV
ilization such as ours there IS always
darger of laying too little stress upon the
nore-virile Vlrtues-upOn the virtues
which go to make up race OF states
men and soldiers, of pioneers and eX~
plorers by land and sea, Of bridge-build-
ers and r0ad-makers, Of commonwealth
builders-in short, upon chose virtues for
the lack of which, whether In an indiVid'
ual or i'm a nation. no amount or re-
anement and learning. Of gent'eness and
culture. can possibly atone. These are
the very qualities which are fOstered by
vigorous, manly out-of-dOOr sports. such
as mountaineering. big-game hunting.
riding. shooting. rowing, football, and
kindred games.
OF course. If these sports are carried
TO an excess. they do harm, exactly as
excessive study or excessive devotion 70
business does harm; and equally. or
course, they are beneficial very largely
in proportion 10 the extent 10 which they
are followed and shared in by the classes
Of our population which most feel their
need Professional sports are Of small
consequence, and, in so far as they have
any consequence al all, are good merely
in that they excite these who look on
and admire the performances 10 try to
take part in similar ones OF their own.
IL Is a good thing that the young mer-
chant or lawyer. young bank-clerk, or
dry-goOd's clerk. should belong 20 To-
cal baseball nine and should have a
chance now and then for an hour or
tWO's brisk exercise This Will give tone
'ttf ~ itto bDdN anu MS lulO1s ana Will
Offset the evil consequences Of merely
sedentary occupation. But the only good
resulting from seeing a battle between
two paid professional mines IN the emuia-
ton excited in the minds OF the younger
portion Of the on-lOokers 10 try their
own hands at the bat
The great development and wide-diffu-
sion and practice OF athletic exercises
among our beople during the last quarter
o. century (this diffusion taking place
precisely among those classes where the
need of Il was GREATEST has been a
very distinct advantage % our national
type. cfly the other day. Mr. John Bur
roLghs. In speaking upon this very point
dwelt iron the improved physique OF the
Young American OF the present day as
impaired with his predecessor OF twenty.
FIVE years. back. This is as IL should be-
/ woul1 be on IN thing for this republic
III we deyelored on the lines Of the Nv.
zantinc and Benealese. II our merchantile
men learned nothing but how % make
money and our lawyers students. and
men OF trained inteilects generally. grew
70 unite "the heads OF professors with
The hearts OF hares. Harper Weekly.