The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-13
rrrE ATHr.ErTcIsM.

The athletic clubs OF this city are genuine
institutions for the physical development
OF Young men and the prornotion OF
healthy ard wholesome pastimes- They
have nothing In common with those .nsu-
tufions which use the term athletic as
respectable cover for the brutalitles OK
professional smuggling matches, and seek 70
hide under the pretsnse OF scientific box
ing a fierce. feature-srnszhiEg fight, with
SIS vulgar and dishoEorsbls tricks for
making rnoney out OF fools who are
tiokled with the temporary idea Of being
considered ''sports."
Some Of the most capable business men
and professional men Of the city are MEM
bers OF one or other OF tho local clubs.
and membership IN them Is regarded win
pride. This high standard should not be
lowered. II should rot De permitted max
men who compete in their arenas be class
ed VITA cheap prlzehghiers and petty
gamblers. True athleticism eievates the
man; competitions OF sklll and strength.
alertness and dexterity. quicken the men
tai faculties as fully as they develop ths
physical capacity. There was time. not
so far remote. when tendency TO active
exercises was regarded as equivalent TO
a laek OF fitness for serious or sedentary
occupations. Depew said not long since
that fifty years ago a man who was dis
tlngulshea as a boxer, wrestler, run
ner, an oarsman or a fine specimen OF all
round muscular development was regard
ed with distrust in business circles, was
deemed unreliable In the professions, and
even suspected OF an inability TO grasp
spiritual truths in the churches.
This, II may be presumed. was due far
less to prejudice against athletic exercises
IN themselves than to the evil associa-
tions by which they were voluntarily sur
rounded. AS a aere matter OF physical
advantage. to say nothing Of the psychical
results. a game OF shIttles or bowls played
in an atmosphere OF tobacco smoke in an
Ll-ventilated cellar. with the true muscu-
lar strength artifcIally stimulated. is far
less beneficial than IN an airy hall, at an
invigorating temperature, followed by a
rundown under tepid shower bath or
There Is no justification for the belief
that the power OF physical endurance is
not needed In the professions. Lord Rus
sell OF Kiuoween, the English 5urist. in
his address before the American bar re-
Gently, said that no man could hope to
practice successfully to an advantage who
was not endowed with physical strength.
and he referred to notable instances Of
the premature exhaustion OF brilliant
minds under the strain OF an exacting pro-
fession.
In Seattle. physical culture has been ex-
allied by the sanction and participation
OF olergymen. physicians. lawyers and
professors; the local clubs have become
highly reputable and much valued resorts
for the best Of her men and the gentest
OF her women. and Il would be fatal TO
them tainted by the dlssgreeabls practices
OF mock athletieism which has nothing
ennobling about IL. There is nothing
squeamish about this; It is a healthy re-
pugnanee 10 mere brute contests, to the
odors OF the sawdust ring and the gross
display OF blood and bruises as indica-
lions OF relative ability. There is a wide
chasm between manly competition and
exhibitions which appeal TO the worst
phases Of human nature, soon tire and
leave q sense or shame and demera!lza-
tlon.