New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-09
FACTS NOT FICTION. W1NTED.

nh. University Of Pennsylvania through the
so,.ro,orv 70 tbc corporation very properly III
,.;,o. an Investigation of the charge that its
football team is n scmi-profesSiohai aesreS'
tion of players who are not iairy eh"'i." "
compete with the clcvcns or o'ner Colleges
This charge has been repeatedly maze III pr''r
ous wears and is being pressed WIN cons'"-
or,hIo heat inst now. Moreover. whether true
mr. false il is unqucstionably believed DE
lorpe number Of persons who are cspeciaiH
interested in athletic contests. II IL II wen
fourdcd ,hc fact ought to be known ana the
inst ncnoltv Of exclusion from intcrcolie"ia'e
co,nnetitions inflicted. II II Is SANDER, II ~
, ncculiorlv crcvo,ls one. and those who cifct-
,,,o II orp ccnsurablc But the suggested III
o,,iry should not be confined to single ihst'"-
tion Similar accusations are continually pro-
claimed or insnuacd against other cohegcS'
and il is time that they were sifted by process
which will end all doubt about the matter FOR
II l. not light fault which is charged. but
serious one 1t is practically an ihdi''hien' VI
cnIlccc students for dishonesty Of a slngulariy
mean type and of college authorities I"r co"'
nivance 1t dsscminatcs suspicion. suggests ~.
prlsals and tends ID discrcdit rivalry WHICH
is detcsiablc If it Is not fair and generous
Tho present discussion Of college SPORTS
aroused bv the disgraceful features OF the ih'e
Harvard football game at Springfeih. Ought ~
he productive Of good in various ways pu' !,
will have less valuable results than II might IL
:, d.y,ncratcs mic a parade Of reckless epthets
and irrational assertions. The tribune haS
condemned with quite rs much severity IA me
,,s. ronulr,d ire specific brutalitics OF me
Springfield combat. AMI the general evils OF
which II was , vivid and revolving demonstra-
,io, W., have said nothing on the subJecf
which we need or wish 10 wl1hdra"' ""' WV
have little sympathy with those WHO are "i'
parrntly producing m unfortunate r'He"on VI
college and public sentiment by acchsa'io"s
which are dcmonslrlbly false ana coinih'h'S
which are both ridiculous and Irritating. IL II
moi true that The prevalent ana intense III
t,r.st I'm athletics has lowered the sian'laiu oi
scholarship and character In American colleges
The fact l. that during The last twenty years
within which period this great development '"r
co,d or bad has taken place the tone ~ college
lif. has UNNECESSARILY improved. That 'hiS
T. u,t -, case ~ cause and effect may possibly
be- true: but Il is certainly true that many 81
,bo>. Who's. opinion * entitled to respect conn
d.ufly believe that not In spite ~ hut largely
h..,-,u.. of the. influence eXrrtcd by athletics
cl.,,. students I'm general are far less tolerant
Than rh,y used io be- ~ dissipation. Incidence
cruelty and vulsariiy. II j. Illogical Ia say The
least If IT, tu argue that period when mas
Witnessed he virtual extinction of hazlhg IL
4 custom and diversion by colies" sentiment
not by college laws Is Il period which mas ais"
Witnessed the general cultivation OF brutal III
stinc,~ Ina academic communities.
The. fundamental dangers. both physlcai anu
moral. ~ The modern game Of football are Oh
yinus and We confess that We ar" rather scrp
teal ~. ro III. possibility Of converting them
into a mean. ~ spiritual discipline and grace
on a seal. commensurate with thr RISK bn' u
il nothing less than Il groir>quc ind"r'n'y u"
f,I,ify facis In order to support position
which j. inirinscallv strong. Thcr" j. great
deal ~ cvdrnc. aud testimony which tends
:, confirm the prevalent conviction that The
interest In hysical development aud outdoor
sports which has spread from the colleges 4"
the. country l. blessing Ia ~" country anu
the colleges.