The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-14
The FIGHT ON FOOTBALL.
Nr. BarkSdale'S Bill Was RaVOrably Re-
ported to the Senate.
TIE MEASURE FULLY CONSIDERED.
eeveral Ladies' appeared and by ihe'r
Presence Cheered the Advocates or tho
Opponents. ofthe Proposed Les'sia-
fion--Thc Vote was Fiyeto Four.

roE-aiessrs. Barksdale, Barnes, Kane.
ncssie and steele.
AGAINsT-Mcssrs. Mushbach, Flood,
Lctchcr and Lowry.
g'he scnate Committee on General Laws
Yesterday reported favorabiy Mr.. Barks-
Gales bin 10 prohibit football IN Virginia
Thero was contest Of great interest
In ,he FIRST half Of the game Mr.. Mush-
bach mage a touch down. but Senator
Flood failed 70 kick the goal Score
TO
n vas I'm the second half that the anti
soo.-bnlnsts got IN their work. Senator
narksdaie kicked goal from tho heid.
Score. TO 4. ,,,,
Tho committee met at 10 o'clock with
senator wushbach presiding in the place
OF senator Sands. who was absent.
Many ladies' we're present, including n
delegation OF lovely young women VINO
were friendly 90 football They were SIS
,ers and swecthearts OF students o. hlch-
inond Collcgo.
MRS. ROBINSON APPEARS.
Mr. Virginia Morgan Roginson ano
friend were the first ladies TO arrive. being
escorted into the committee room by SEN
ator Barksdale. Soon delegations from
various organizations. favorable 70 me
rarkedale bill. arrived. followed by tne
ladies' who came TO encourage, Dy thclI
presence. the opponents OF me measure,
Ae soon as the committee had been cali
cd fo order Mr. Barksdale's hill was taken
vn aud road. AT Senator Floods sug-
resfion the measure was amended Dy auu
Ing "a section providing that the aCV
should be in force from its passage
Senator Barlsdalc stated 10 the 'pih-
,oi,toe that there was q lady present VINO
was very much Interested IN the DILL he
vvouid read n letter from her. ,,.
lie fnsn read letter from Mrs virginia
NJ Robinson. whose son was SO seso' Sa, 80 =, =
hurt last year. and who has since peeh al
invalid. This letter Is rs follows:
MRS ROBOINSON' S LETTER.
11g south Third street.
Richmond Va, Dec. IL. 1877.
Senator W. T.. Barksdale' Au'hor -A'''i-
Oot-Bal Bill:
NJ, Dear Sir.-As T have been urged 20
Give nv reasons FOR obiecting 10 ioo'-
hou before nv son was injured IN the
came + conclude 20 write YOU as 'he
author of the anti-foot-hal bill.
Some years ago my attention was AZ
tracted 20 the game solely as q lacto' III
,,bve,coi development / viii say / con-
rfnNF UmN nfHlIM "a
session than what IS called book learning
That is 7 conceive n well developed con-
siitutlon 70 be tho lest basis for moral
character and mental ability. The ques-
tion Wondered constantly was: Does
football secure high standard OF physi-
cal deveioprcnt?" Finally. decided that
% docs uof--a decisicn ] arrived az Two
years before my son was hurt.
The game IS too violent. When twenty
C20 accidents. however trivial. occur In a
plav Of two hours. then there Is something
radically wrong I'm the play. A sprain. a
strain. a dislocation may be called by
football advocates mere nothings.' But
As this phvslcal culture? And these mere
nothings often remain in the permanent
form Of rheumatic pains or weak leaders
Of the limbs Proper physical training
strengthens and preserves and never
voakens or dislocates muscle or bone.
The hard blows. the severe falls. the
striking head the wrenched hOdy-al
common occurrences in every game
must leave lasting injuries. Physicians
NAV theorlze. repair and aid nature, but
We know that the most intricate work
ings ~ the heart and the wondrous me-
chanlsm Of the brain are virtually be-
vond their ken They arc the creation or
but one hand. We further know that the
heart and brain Of every football player
IS involved IN fearful risks a northern
athlete said 10 me: Really you know
we football players arc knocked up in
about five years" II this unhtness for
plav comes IN such a short time-and this
is n question Of deepest import-then the
game carries its own ban.
Very far-reaching questions are involved
I'm q game which appeals 30 young men or
the purest morals and finest mental abiii-
tv. II IS an interesting study TO- the
moralist 10 search out just why such su-
perior characters yield 20 the insidtous
attraction OF what IS now everywhere
pronounced q brutal game
But another phase equally serious ar
fects the spectator Of the game. what
mental condition IS manifested when
men and gentlcwomcn look on with IN
difference while a human being Is carried
on unconscious and biecdngF The spec
.ators exclaim: "Oh. it's nothing" or
wen soon have a substitute" Not
drop of the milk OF human kindness"
IS given 20 that unconscious hoy. The
crowd forgets him and shouts for more
sport. Is this a Roman holiday In
miniature? But l leave this phase OF in
difference 20 human suffering for the eX-
position of the psychologist
While l advocate the abolition 81 foot
ball am not iconoclastic. Here arc three
modes Of exercise which. while preserving
"a good constitution intact would insure
y encouraged by colleges. a community
OF splendidly developed men.
These exercises are fencing. pedestrian
ism and military training. Fencing Is
again attracting much attention In GER
tain quarters The bulging muscles and
avordupois OF football can never COM
note with this elegant accomplishment.
pedcgtrianism !nvlgorates heart lungs
md brain. and the boy who cultivates II
would be fitted physically equally well
Tor the fields Of the farmer or the halls
of the LEGISLATURE Perhaps greatest ot
all ~ military training. II every college
I'm the states would secure a United States
military attache and encourage exercise
in the manual with frequent target prac-
fi-e our boys would grow up with superb
physiques Military training means elias
,e limbs. precision OF eye. accuracy OF
detail and manly bearing. II also bears
one of the greatest seeds Of morality
that Of obedience TO superior authority.
This obedience 10 authority would pro-
mote an ethical tendency that would be
felt In every department OF college. The
very last inclination OF the average boy
Is Difference 90 authority. And the liz
cense given 20 this spirit is running
American youth. which Is the finest
Youthful manlness in the world.
Certainly football can never develop
the fine physique. moral excellence and
gentlemanly bearing 50 easily obtained
ia these three great exercises.
Wi'h the hope that my opinions may