The Portland daily press., 1897-12-31

Oaom before the game to spur them II
sHelr efforts to win. One day last fal
was on the train between Rockland an6
Dath and the Rockland High school foot
jail players were also on board. I men.
oion this not that think the Rockland
poys are different from others, including
'nose from Portland, but to illustrate my
position. OF the Rockland team, allsbut
TWO We're in the smoking car, smoking
Ihese things at home; very likely they
40. and perhaps these things are not
harmful in themselves, but 1 do not be-
ileYe boys, not man, of the age of those
IN our secondary schools, are old enough
ana strong enough to play the game in
'nls way. I am opposed to it on that
ground and also because of its moral and
| educational effect. I believe that !, boys
enter school to play football. l have
| heard of boys who spent as many as six
years in getting through school and they
played football every year. I believe that
the majority Of the football players are
not among the leaders in scholarship,
jSoAeis vi SOoi5Cs uLSEO dI6 C4CcDblODS.
recall one such case where the student
was major Of the schoolsbattallion, full
Dack on the football eleven, first violin
IN the school orchestra and do not know
what else, and he was medal scholar.
My advice to school principles is not
TO let the boys run the game. It means
| Jhe contraction of debts by irresponsible
parties and leaving some of the creditors
TO growl. 1t cost, I understand, an
average of $l400 year for five years, to
run the Portland team. Last year, under
school management, this amount was re-
| ouced 500. We came out in debt, to be
sure, but 1t was because OF two days when
important games were played and when
| the rain SO diminished the attendance
| that there was only about enough money
TO pay the expenses of the visiting teams.
we now have theggame under the man
agement of a school athletic association
which Is controlled by the school authori
ties. To join the team candidate must
havetthe consent of his parents, and even
then the school authorities can refuse the
necessary permission If they think neces-
sary. This year the University of Penn
sylvania took 800, 600 in gate receipts. In
Portland, :. including the past season, our
expenses for coaches and incidentals,
have averaged $1,000 year. That pays
the salary of a Maine teacher. I ask you,
is 1t worth it? Who does this come out
OFF, AS my brother has said, it is CON
tributed by individuals. Is it for the good
Of the schools Isn't it better to do as we
did when we were boys and played
among ourselves, without any expense
and in gentlemanly manner, Isn't it
bettor chan this modern way which often
leaves boy so that he will not look pret-
ty when he goes to the evening reception
given by the young ladies?''
Mr.. Chase's remarks were delivered in
humorous vein which led to the in-
pzsss.on that he would not have all he
said about some features of the game talk
en- too literally. Still there was plenty
of food for thought and discussion and
a lively debate followed.
Rev. B. p. Snow asked for an express
sion of opinion on the matter, and told
of the young man he often sees who has
his nose broken in as mark of his
heroism on the football field.
Principal Fl. e. Cole of Bath, said it
seemed to him that the question resolved
itself into this. Football is in the schools
to stay. Shall we oppose it or control it,?
When the University of Pennsylvania
clears $4,000 from football, when the
papers print columns of news in regard
to it, it Is evident that we cannot stop it,
but perhaps we can eliminate the brutal
features, the. pipe. smoking and the brutal
| coach who comes often from the college.
Mr. A. B. Hoag Of Bates college, came
to the defence Of football. He had PLAYED
himself on school and college teams and
believed the game was not the kind that
had been insinuated. He thought the
newspapers responsible for much of the
misunderstanding about the game. They
knew what people liked to read and
printed it. College and school honor was
purifying the game. Every year there
is less of the roughness in the games.
Mr.. Chase-I have been telling our ex-
perience Of the past year, and it is not SO
in our case
Mr.. Hoag said that the energies of the
society should be excited to remove the
evils rather than put down the game
He claimed that it made boys an and
taught them self restraint
Mr.. Marsh asked what could be done
by the society.
A visitor, the superintendent of schools
in Everett, Mass, said that in his city
1t had been found possible to have the
game played in gentlemanly way un-
der the management of the school. and
more than that, the club was successful.
Principal Babb of the Portland Manual
Training school, mentioned the list of
fatalities, among footabll players men,
toned in the papers and Mr.. Cole retorted
| by calling attention to accidents to sports.
men, bicyclists, etc.
| The discussion was then closed.
| ADMISSION TO COLLEGE.
| OF almost equal interest to the football
| ion +lo