Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-12-12
ArnLEuCs IN COLLEGES.

! Al N III 4 It's ~ NNhiHLhLNs
In tho discussion now going on nhou,
athletics IN colleges % 10 clntended by
one eide that tue physicll training 10
n1colaary Tor The development Of an in'
tolleotually strong falc auI that con.
stqleuIly 900 one ought to hui fault
with tue neok.breaklng games Of the
present time. This does not, however
touch the real question At Issue Tie
prolos, IL not hg,inaI athle.loi as such,
but agains. au apparently oyor.in.
orca'ing tendency to give prominence
TO the physical development Ut the ex.
pcuse Of Intellectual pursuits.
II has always been recognized 40
necessary that students VINO apply
themselves Tor hours at time To
mental labors should have an Oppor.
tunlty Of proper bodily exercise, and
the daily attendance OF the gymnasium
because ono VI She dulles Of the college
or uniyors.ly. but at thc Same time, II
used 10 bo supposed that young men,
on entering college, did 20 mainly iot
the purpose VI wrestling with mental
problems. They wore expected to AZ
ply their energy 10 the study OF maih.
malics, physics, theology, etc., while
proficiency iu athletic gamss was n
secondary consideration only. These
were indeed regarded quite
as necessary TO the health
OF the body as ea,lng AMI drinking, hut
Ia the earlier history OF institutes Of
leaning it had no. ye, occurred 10 the
public that the chief purpose Of
college was to furnish sport Tor IL
students any more than 10 provide Tor
an abundant table; mUutal culture
wue asked for 90 tho chief thing.
This idea Of the purpose of a college
10 now fairly la danger Of becoming
anliquatod. The complaint IL Just
~ male that n school now.a-
days 10 draw must olcr great
chances 10 IT, students TO gain
glory in the varlous games, no matter
what no facilities for learning are. 10
II has come 70 this that the youth
dosl leo the ccnters Of learning whore
the wisdom and the thought " this ages
10 communicated through pro dclent
teachers, aud flock 10 places which arc
ntllo better than club houses for boat
ing, baseball aud football crews, then
there IL a deviation from the straight
path, which all interested ia the future
OF this nation must depioro anu cry
out against. References 10 tho ancient
nations m this connection Is not cal
culaled to inspire clundonos ia mod.
orn methods. There came a time when
both the Gfeoian states and the Roman
empire went down Notwithstanding
their attention 10 physical culture. AZ
long AS there was intellect enough TO
guide aud virtue enough TO infuanco
the physical forces, those ancient
states remained secure. but a time
came when brute force was insunl Client
because encountered by sun
stronger force OF the same nature. In-
telllgeuce and virtue after Nil rpnaiu
the strength Of nation.
The necessity OF the hour, then,
with regard 10 our c9llrgcs ~ to give
athletics tho proper place ~ help to
maintaining bodily strength and ylgor.
ln 80 doing 81 viii be- proper TO exclude
all exercises OF doubtful nature.
Gymuaslios, properly guided, win de.
velop every muscle OF tho systcm Ia
harmony with the otheu. Military
exercises OF various kinds, particularly
In youth, are among tho host 10 givo TO
the body Ito proper carriage aud de-
yelop moral qualities. Bu, when II
comss to football games aud similar
puuuils, the benefits derived are more
than doubtful Football. even at It,
beet, IL rough exercise which cannot
but be- detrimental 90 the requirement
OF that ggntlemauly refinement which
used to characterize an educated man.
In its professional development, It Il a
hitting Introduction 10 the prize ring. /
Itit must be q factor Ia college train.
ing II should be reformed; u u admits |
OF no rumodellng II woulI better be- lon |
to those whose taste iot "manly" exer. |
cIles Is easily satisfied.
And the intercollegiate exhibitions |
are certainly not necessary 10 the train.
ingloi the American youth. AZ at pres.
ont conducted, betting, drinking and |
oarouslug go with them. The student |
10 brought In contact with lllo In some |
OF iia communicating features at time
when resistance TO temptation gontr.
ally is not very strong. Broken l0gs
aud Injured bodies are bad enough IN
OF contests Tor glory, but
worse tlIll are the demorslIzIug mGu.
rnces which often leave an iudelible
Impression on tho young mind.
Against such things thoughtful men OF
this tine protest, ana It is hoped the
war against "barbaucs" will bring
good rosul,H.