The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-09-19
ATHLETICS AND CHARACTER.
No Proof That Outdoor Sports Make a
Nation of Heroes.

80 N''b' Ft''Ah' manu- ~
Nation of Heroes.
One would like to know, if it were
possible to find out, what tho precise
effect of their devotion to gymnas-
tics was upon the Hellenic people.
1t may be reasonably doubted
whether it enlarged their mental
powers, for ali Greece shared in
this passion, and tho triunlphs of
Greek thought and art are almost
confined to Attica. One does not
even w intellectual gratitude to
Spartans or Bnotians. 1t did not
make them exceptionally heroic, for
the Macedonians, who conquered
them and the world, were not sue.
cially devoted 10 sport and were. we
fancy, till the time of Philip at all
events, excluded from the contests
at Olympia. 1t did not save the ma
ton, for Greece was utterly subdued
by the Romans, who gained their
physical prOwess in another way,
and it did not keep them alive, for
although the Greek may fairly be
held to have survived the Roman,
whom he indeed in a way absorbed,
the jew, who abhorrcd and still alb
hOrs gymnastic training, survived
both Roman and Greek.
Except an extraordinary feeling
for form we cannot trace any result
from the games upon the Greek
character, and it is doubtful wheth-
er this was universal ~ confined to
Il few llch citizens in Grc1Cc gCncr-
ally and the 40, eco Shareholders Of
Attica, who for most purposes are
to modern Europeans "the Greeks.
That question Of the influence Of
these games on character has some
importance for the modern world,
for the passion for competitive ath-
letics has caught hold Of it, and ey-
eryWhere, especially in England,
France, the United. States and the
great colonies, they begin to play a
more important part in life. Fifty
thousand tngli>hmcn go at Il time
to SEQ n football match, criCkcters |
are watched as carefully rs states
men, and an international running
match eXcites almost the interest of
a battle. The papers are every
where crammcd with the reports Of
athletics, and a ma who can make
a "record' Is as much honorod
among the younger generation as
ever he was in Greece,
It is probable as prosperity in
Creases and the workers gain more
leisure that the passion will develop
further, and we shall be curious to
see what influence it has upon the
national sentiment. 1t need not be
a bad one, for we suspect that a GER
tain harbariciSm = we want that
word greatly as distinguished from
barbariSm-is essential to the vital
ity and fighting prOwess of any race
that dWells in cities, but we can see
no reason for believing that it will
be specially good. Ono can hardly
affirm that the games preserved the
manliness of the Greeks, and they
certainly did not preserve them from
inccssant, internal war.
international athletics, we see in
newspapers, are to furnish "new
bonds to bind together the nations"
bat If they are only bound as the
Greek states WerC the advantage
Will not be conspicuous. The prob
ability is that Olympic games, an
cient and modern, had and Will have
the effect Of games mercly-thut is,
of distractions, innocent or other
wise according to circumstances,
from the poremptOry work of tho
world. They are not worse than
other amusemonts, and being cnjOv-
ed i'll the open air and under thou
sands of eyes they are probably
better than some Of them. Rather
IA population of football players than
a population devoted, like the Chi
nose. to cards or, like the Bengalese,
to gossip But that is about as much
as it is as yet UNSUITABLE to say
London Spectator.