The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09

/ VIM - ANAAANN VS. SAAA~ VI N1S tNAA AAeAN
into the enemy's hands, IL the only resource
for avoiding a hostile score. In brief,
football Is a vast wressle, wherein tho
line Of wrestlers suddenly concentrates
uron some selected point Of the opposite
line, and breaks through BY weight, carry
ing a player with the ball in his hands.
The ball Is q nag, TO be carried forward and
planted anew with every successful effort,
nearer the desired goal. IL is q mere
emblem marking the progress OF the
fight. It is not in fact in IL. The con-
test is one Of muscle, directed and ap-
piled with whatever effectiveness drill and
agility can help IL to. There are rushers,
and backs, and half backs, but in the crucial
moments all are rushers, seeking to drive
their W bodies forward with the ball
tied to one OF them, by crushing resist
ance. An analysis Of football will cause
an advocate to rub his head in calm won
der that sue a sport can have risen to the
top Of undergraduate rivalry.
In the simple bluntness of truth, football
IA the most brutal exercise ever permitted
outside Of the Roman circus, or Of such relics
OF barbarian savagery "a the "%purring"
practised by English miners. Since gloves
were established In the prize ring, its rough
ness, compared to footballs, has sunk into
sheeplike in~signifcance. That may explain
why so far as the fun of the thing is con-
cerned, nine-tenths of the collegians eligible
for the eleven or the nine, IL compelled to
choose, would probably choose the eleven.
No other sport compares with football in
continuity and fervency Of action, and In the
interdependence Of the players. The pitcher
and catcher and the far fielder taking the fly,
often do all there Is to be done decisively in
baseball; but not so with football. About
every play takes in the solid side, for all it's
worth, always against the face Of bodily
hurt, SO that the game RACES with a
rush and fury that carries the excite
ment born in the middle Of the field,
straight to the back Of the seats, making
players and spectators alike all boys
again. Its devotees come without number, |
worshipping it, with It's f~ierceness, as the |
grandest tussle in which young giants can
take part and live; and sympathizing phi
losophers agree that its exploitation of the
body and It's influence on the mind and
character, warrant all the sacrifices made
inevitable by its violence.
As for the issue between those who would
wipe football out entirely from the inter
collegiate curriculum, and such admirers as
DR.. SHATTUCK and the two Presidents quoted
with him, the prevailing sentiment must
still incline to preserve the sport, even
through the fearful discredit put on 1t this
year, arising chiefly from a particular epi-
sode, in reference to which we will add q
plain word or two to the comments heard
already. Unfortunately for football, by
its nature 1t hangs ever on the
ragged edge Of outrage. An act Of
HINKEY's, reported with a heavy pre-
ponderance Of evidence, and Of especial
because Of its fragrant a~trocity,
in bringing down on him personally q great
amount Of severe condemnation, has aroused
In the university he plays for a spirit OF
partisanship for the man perfectly recklesso Of
the interests Of the game. The defend
ers of HINKEY argue that HI is a good
that he is quiet in his habits
and enjoys the respect Of his class
hat various other accusations made
against him are unjust, and that he has
been singled out for blame and gets more Of II
is his due; that other men have com-
brutalities not reported or noticed,
and that under the circumstances HNKEY
deserves support rather than censure; and
rumor has told of schemes looking to his
special glorifcation.
HNKEY may have been piled up with
charges with as little reason as
The piles of football players often lie over
The man buried with the ball, and, con-
srary to the evidence, he may be In his sober
heart one Of the best of fellows. We know
Of his characteristics at college;
but we are frank to say that stern decency
would have driven him of the football field
n the game with Harvard at Springfield in
1899, never to come back, and that in choos-
ng to pat such proves on the back by
making him the leader and then rallying In
praise OF him after another similar out
BURST, Yale has hit football a blow as stag
yering and as far below the belt as that dealt
he game by the frenzy which seized the last
contest at Springfield. 1t is idle to reply
hat, IL he goes, others should go with him.
fortune has named hin with Justice, and
hat being so. his continuation as a light
# the game stands for the federation, or
ather, IL necessary. the approval by his
University of the things in football
which no one will have the face to
ay are tolerable. What happened at
springfield two years ago we saw. What
S said to have happened this year we are
orced to believe. Trying to make a refuge {
or HNKEY out Of unjust charges and col {
egiate good character, while IL doesn't I
the facts condemning him, is but I
title less eficacious than the Springfield g
for damaging football. II conduct G
Ike his is liable under the pressure of col ,
craftsmanship to make every under
participate in 1t by defence Of the
srpetrator, the glorious crucible of foot
all must before long grow cold and empty. I
He Mosto Ftnden Wordes Newe. d