St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-01
POPULAiS SPORTS.


who make no professions of godlineSs,
but are lovers of public decency. may
bemoan the fact, it cannot be disguised
that many of the most Objectionable of
sports are rapidly increasing in public
favor. We are accustomed to sneer at
the Spanlards and Mexicans because of
their fondneSS Tor bull fights, and yet
we tolerate i'll our own midst sports that
are quite as brutal and debasing as
these. Dog fights and cooking mains
ara relIshed as keeniy by large class
as they ever We're, while prize fighting
creates widespread interest among all
classes, and football is the rage among
our faShionables. 1t is now said that
polo. with all its hazards, is to be re-
vived, and features added which will
liken it to the knlghtly tournaments of
the middle ages.
1t is not surpri sing that pugilists
should be wOrShiped by the lower
classes, whose conception of superiority
reaches no higher than brute force. But
every day we see evidences of the inter-
est their encounters possess among men
of pretended refinement and high social
position. In almost every assemblage
criticisms and comments are heard upon
the personal prOweSS OF the champions
Of the fiStic arena. Their daily habits
are watched closely, the effects of their
exercise and practice are carefully
noted, and every point having possible
bearing upon forthcoming tests of
science. skill and endurance is topic
of everyday conversation. There are
scores Of business men and church
members whose first search of the
morning newspaper is devoted to the
ascertainment of the latest phase Of the
dispute which is expected to result in a
battle between brawny Ethiopian and
the acknowledged master of the eau
casian race in point of physical prowess.
The talk about it is not furtive. but
open and oftentimes obtruslve, and is
heard upon the streets, in the corridors
of the hotels, and in public convey
ances. Old men and young. saint aud
sinner, lawyer and doctor, and even the
preachers and editors seem to be in
fected with the prevailing mania. All
deprecate such exhibitions in per-
functory way. but express the hope that
the difficulties that stand in the way Of
the meeting of the pugilists may be
overcome and the question of superior
ity determined.
Meantime college presidents are dis
cussing ways and means for lessening
the barbarity of football playing among
! the students. They seem unable to
agree, and there is every prospect that
| the close of the coming season will show
| as large a number of deaths and dis
ablements as did the last. The sport is
fashionable not because of the skill re-
quired of the players, but because it
affords an opportunity for display of
physical endurance and barbarity. The
strongest man treadS upon the weaker,
and often mutilates him. No care is
taken to avoid collisions. To gain pos.
session OF the ball and send it whirlng
through the air is the only point at issue.
and everything is sacrificed TO that con-
sideration. Bicycling, too, has become
profession. Moderate exercise on the
wheel is conducive to physical develop
ment; but recently that which should
be merely an exercise has become a
sport. ong.diStance races are all the
vogue, both for professionals and anna
teurS, and in the strife for supremacy
hundreds of young men have been
manned for life-ruptured or wind.
broken-and will drag out miserable
existence until death comes to their re.
lease. The benefits to be derived from
moderate exercise on the wheel are wei
understood, but the temptation to excess
is great, and, instead of an erect and
well-moulded physique. the devotees o.
the road races are today lot of round
ShOuldered beings. with calves abnOr.
mally developed and chests unnaturally
contracted, fast sinking into consump
tives' graves. For, if properly INDUCED
bicycling develops the lungs and thu
neither eXtremities to health-giviDg anG
symmetrical degree, while racing com
pels the rider to bend forward, thus con
tracing the lung area and compresSins
the vital organs out of their normal posi-
ton and interfering with their func
tiOnS.
The tendency to carry sports to eX-
tremes seems to be inherent In Amer
Jeans. If given diversion takes the
public fancy, everybody rushes pell
nell into it. 1t soon runs its course
and gives place to some new fad. per
haps an Improvement and perhaps the
reverse, until the whole people seem tc
have gone mad. A balance wheel is
| Notwithstanding that will prevent
men from rushing into wild excuses of
fancied pleasure or exaggerated sport
Until moderation in ali things shall
cause of the pleasure they give to spec