The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-13
AN ELOQUENT VICTORY.

As rule in contests between ''teams'' of
young men engaged in athletics the win
ming elements are found in a wise selection
of men and in the intelligence with which
they have been trained. To what extent
these factors may have operated in the
victory of the University of California ath-
letes over the Princeton men there is no
means of ascertaining, but the estimate on
that score becomes worthless in view of
other considerations.
California sent eleven men across the con-
tinent, and in a strange and unsympathetic
atmosphere, in climate totally different
from that to which they had been accus-
toned, and without being given time even
for rest, let alone training, these eleven men
were pitted against twenty-five fresh men
who were playing on their own soil and
under the inspiration of the cheering of
their friends, and in spite of these ire
mendous disadvantages the California lads
scored one of the most overwhelming VIC
tories to be found in the sporting annals of
the country.
Boosting on the score of this victory
would be easy and cheap, but if it has an
Interior significance there might be profit
apart from demonstration can be found for
expecting that the young men of California
should excel in those more vigorous quail
ties, it is our duty to seek it and study its
meaning.
Is it not reasonable to suppose that an
environment which requires no expeadi-
ture of energy to secure comfort must bear
an important relation to physical develop
ment? We are not sufficiently old to pro-
duce vital statistics which can prove any,
thing on the score of longevity, although
we do have records of many Mexicans and
Indians who have passed their centennial.
AS yet the actuaries of the insurance COM
panies require US to pay premiums
based on tables made up in communities
which are troubled with distressing and
injurious physical conditions that are
totally lacking here. But it is clear to
reason that absence of malaria, of cpl
denies, of endemic disorders and of a
struggle to secure physical comfort must
make tremendous difference in the vigor
of people.
If, with the absence of these drawbacks,
we should find climatic conditions induc-
ing Incidence and shiftlessness, as in the
tropical regions, we should discover suf-
ficient to offset the good which immunity
from the discomforts of harsh climate
might create. But this is not the condi-
ton here. On the contrary, the air is re-
markedly stimulating. 1t conduces to
restlessness and the finding of means
for exercising the vigor which the climate
implants. There is not more restless
or energetic people in the world than these
in California; and with this tendency are
found clear brain and an eagerness to
achieve beneficial results. Evidence of
this is found conspicuous in the fine de-
velopment to which rural occupations have
attained. 1t breaks Kansas farmers
heart to observe what he regards as the
UNNECESSARILY superior intelligence with
which fruit-growing is conducted in Cali
fornia.
Hence, if dissipation is avoided, we
should expect well-trained young men
born in California to be superior to their
Eastern bro hers in vigorous manhood and
that mental alertness which makes it
potent The victory of the Berkeley lads
at Princeton, therefore, means vastly more
than a triumph of one 'team" of boys over