The Washington times., 1894-12-03
FOOTBALL SURELY DOOMED
That Is if 1t Continues to Be Played
in Its Present Fashion.
ONLY A BRUTAL EXHIBITION
Prof. joyce Saw the Thanksgiving Day Game
and Left Thoroughly Disgusted- Rev.
Joseph 7. Kelly Ashamed of the Excesses
and Commends the Stand of THE Times. d"

The unfortunate results of the Thanksgiv-
ing Day game of football between George
town College and the Columbia Athletic Club
elevens have undoubtedly produced revul-
sion against the sport in local circles Of all
kinds. 1t Is also equally manifest that the
results. and the manner in which they were
brought about, have induced a great deal of
feeling which is, however. undercurrent.
This is fairly to be inferred from the fact that
there is a decided Discrimination among the
citizens both in Washington and Georgetown
TO discuss the matter between the colleges.
With q view of determining what was
thought about the question at issue between
the college and the club, and the further opin-
ion locally about the character Of football as
commonly and recently played, an effort was
made yesterday to collect opinions on these
subjects.
President Richards, of Georgetown Uni
versity, was called upon and was asked ii he
had anything TO say about the game between
the Columbias and his college boys. and also
what effect the occurrences in that game
would have on the future indulgence in the
game at the college. He replied that he did
not care TO discuss these questions at all, and
he would prefer that no expressions Of opin-
ion should be obtained or asked from the
students. lie did not care to say anything that
would imply or provoke a controversy.
President Richards spoke very tenderly OF
young Bahen, whom. he sa d, was an excellent
student and deyoutly inclined, having gone
TO communion on the morning of ThanksgiY-
ing Day. His condition was quite serious.
The physicians in charge noted a slight
change for the better in his condition Satur-
40. ,Fvry Er1t hp
haps month, before anything positive as to
his condition could be stated. Bahen body
below the point OF injury was paralyzed. The
others who were injured areimproying. The
instructor in athletics at the college also de-
clined TO say anything on the subject.
Prof. Joyce, instructor in athletics at Car
roll Institute, was asked for his opinion. He
said that he would prefer not to talk further
than that he was present at the game and re-
garded II as a very brutal exhibition. He
was so "disgusted' with what he saw that he
left the grounds
The Rev. Joseph T. Kelley. Of the Fourth
Presbyterian Church. spoke quite freely on
The game as now practised. He prefaced his
remarks with a few words about The TINES
Il have noticed he said, 1.-The position
TIE TINES has assumed in this matter. and it
gives me great pleasure TO commend it. / am
pleased with the high moral ground it takes
on this and other subjects, and l particu-
larly reier 10 Its recent editorial on
club life as demoralizing home life and
the editorial this morning on the brutality Of
football as now played. TEE TINES, as l said
ought to be commended for the way in which
il deals with these living issues"
Now, as to football. / speak as a lover of
athletic games. At Princeton l was a foot
ball man, a baseball man. and a gymnast: but
all that was before the practice of the present
rough game OF football. We then had the
old association game. 1 played in the matches
between Princeton and Rutgers College. but
there were no brutal features in those con-
tests. Our games had all the features of ex-
ercise, pleasure. and amusement. They pro-
duced only generous rivalry between the
colleges and gave full play 10 all that can be
claimed for football without any Of the un-
pleasantness and serious accidents that now
mar the sport.
IL heartily indorse all the structures THE
TIMES has made against the game as now
played. ] have been ashamed of the phases
OF the game that have been condemned and
Ibeleve unless there is a radical reform the
game Is doomed. As | look at it, football
nowadays fosters the worst and most brutal
passions. and this. think. is fully borne out
latest games. / do not know that l recall
the fact accurately but l believe that the
statement was made in an official report pro-
hibiting football games betW cen the Naval
Academy and West Point Academy that the
casualties in football were greater in proper
ton 10 the numbers engaged than on the
hattle-helds. l don't think there is much
hope Cor the removal of the unpleasantness
OF the game except by its discoutinuance, at
least as it is the fashion to play it in these
days"