St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-22
POPULAat SPORTS.

The season of summer sports has ar
rived Cnce more, and preparations are
completed for events of far more than
the usual interest. And although the
churches decry the passion that exists
i'll the majority of mankind for Witness
ing horse races, billiard Journeys. ball,
contests and regattas, the prediction.
cannot be overcome. Even the most.
sedate and deyout deacon and elder will
occasionally let 1.-THE Old Adam" get the 9
upper hand and lure him to the race
track or the ball arena; and he will
sometimes be found with cue in his
hand, eSSaying the maSSe, the cushion
carrom or the draw. Indeed, this is not
to be wondered at or to be reprobated,
for there is much In athletic sports to
edify and improve tie mental, as well
as the physical man. A man of puny
or sickly physique cannot be, expected
to enjoy robust mentality. Some of
our most distinguished clergymen have
been devoted to athletics. Henry Ward
Beecher was an expert boxer, and it is
said was never overcome except by
Senator Roscoe Conkling, who was the
more agile of the two. A distinguished
Chicago divine is also a champion
Sprinter, and not few of our most emf
nent preachers are noted in the tennis
field, and can play an excellent game of
billiards.
These sports may he called frivolities
unbecoming the Wearer of the cloth or
devout Christian. But SO is ind uI-
gence in most of the iuxuries of the
tabla, social intercourse In many of its
phases. horsemanship and pedestrian
exercise. But no one can deny that
they are beneficial not only to the phys
ical, but to the mental powers. A man
cannot enter into close communion
with his fellow man if he keeps aloof
from the social gathering ami the sports
that form SO large part of an ordinary
life. The apostle Paul drew some of
the most Apostle illustrations in his
epistles from the popular sports of his
day, and sought to impress upon the
minds of all the necessity of emulation
and strife for superiority in the Chris
tan life by references to thu foot race
and the chariot race. The thorn in the
flesh" which Was constant source Of
modification to him was a physic |
inirmity that prevented him from join
ing in the sports of his fellows. Mus
cular Christianity is not to be decried.
but rather to be admired.
1t is not i'll opposing, but in directing
manly sports that the duty of the
church lies. There is nothing inhe-
rently denoralizing in horse race,
n far
scenes than field of spirited animals,
trained to the limit OF perfection in
speed, as eager for contest for superb
GRITTY as are their riders, as quick to see
an advantage to be gained, and strain
ing every nerve and muscle to its
utmost tension to maintain an advan-
tage or gain point. No one who has
ever seen horse race can doubt that
the sport is as keenly enjoyed by the
animals as by their drivers or the spec
tatorS, and when a race Is won no
human being is prouder than is the
equine conquerer; no spectator is more
humiliated than the brute who comes in
at the end of the string. 1t is the
associations of the race track that have
made the sport Observation-Disclosures gam
bling that is permitted both on the
track and in the po0i-rooms.
And there is no more healthful or
gentlemanly diversion than the game of
billiards. 10 be good billiardIst re-
quires quick perception. cool nerve,
mathematical eye. The man who
easily falls into passion can never be
a success as a billiardist. He must
keep cool, learn to control his muscles
with the greatest nicely, and exercise
the most careful Judgment. In no
occupation is self-eontrol more impera-
tive, the necessity of system more
apparent. This game, too. has been
invested with baneful surroundings
those of the saloon. 1t should be the
aim of intelligent Christians to rescue
t from these Surroundings, not to
destroy it.
And so we might go through the en-.
tire list. The popular sports of the day
all have their uses, and may be made to
contribute to the enjoyment and benefit
of mankind. What they need is proper
regulation and direction. They should
he taken out of the hands of the gam
biers and the saloonkerpers. and 81
regulated as to assist in the work of
physical and mental development in
stead Of serving as instruments Of deg