Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-21
SPIRIT OF COLLEGE CANES
Paul ], Dashiel on the Sport the Students
Adore Above ALI others.
NEW GAME COMPARED WITH THE OLD
Renewal of Perp1exitics mt Yale
Proper Scoring for Corbett-Col-
Ieginte Pug's Hard Hit-Letter
that Almost Killed Father.

There have been columns and columns for
and against the great intercollegiate game Of
foot ball published within the past year. In
the west generally, perhaps, more has been
written against the game than in favor of it.
Most of this criticism and defense appears
insignificant and almost inane in comparison
with the mastery address on the subject Of
"College Spirit and College Games" delivered
at New York City the other evening by
Paul ]. Dashiel. 1t was at a banquet rendered
that distinguished scholar and professor, as
well as that noble example of the American
collegiate athlete, by the Lehigh university
club OF New York.
Among other things Mr.. Dashiel said
THE sport most loved by college men Is
foot ball. There Is more college enthusiasm
called forth over II than over all other forms
OF athletics combined The game has many
bitter enemies and many enthusiastic cham
pions. | will not go into a hackneyed dis
cussion OF its faults and meriss, but to my
mind 1t requires and develops certain traits
in mans character as no other pastime
can-quickness Of thought determination,
strength, self-control, self-subservence to a
common cause, courage in the face of diff
Culties; II brings men together from all con-
ditons In college upon a common footing;
it brings together in manly contest
tho various colleges. 1t is the only game
left to uc which gentlemen play better than
professionals. The game must be kept up.
The teams of our colleges, partially by ex-
Cellence of play, but more largely by their
personnel, bearing, pluck and sportsmanlike
conduct in play and in management, are
rightly taken representative of the spirit
of the colleges. AS representative before the
public OF the tone of their alma mater how
important is 1t for college captains and man
ayers to keep their methods above reproach!
"rhere is SO much that Is inspiring in the
nd in int tn that II
Is encouraging to feel that at last foot ball
seems to be on firm and lasting basis, and
by careful legislation and manly cooperation
from players the chief sources of criticism of
1t as a game have been largely done away
with.
I'm ingenuity and excellence of play 1t has
developed wonderfully in its short history,
and changes in its regulation along common
- sense lines have improved it from year to
year. | remember having been a witness OF
a game-not at Lehigh-when player by
rough tactics infurated crowd
of college spectators, who set on
him and beat him-some said with
sticks. In those old days a man
for roughness and many players seemed to
think 1t their duty to- take ample advantage
of the opportunity afforded. Such things are
impossible now-the game has so improved
in play that the player knows he has no time
for deliberate roughness If he is to play his
game. It is frowned on by the better spirit
of college men, and today 1t is the exception
when intentional roughing is committed.
Danger of injury there is still and always
will be until the time comes when athletic
contests may be settled by arbitration.
Foot ball is not ladies' game 1t should be
played only by men who are sound and in
good physical condition and player should
go into 1t with his eyes open to the risks.
In my mind there is no doubt that there are
fewer serious accidents from foot ball, consid-
ering the numbers who play it, than in any
other recognized out-of-door sport"
There have been several kinds Of Interrupt
tion to the smoothness of athletic matters at
Yale university during the past week The
freshmen and the sophomores have been for
hidden to play their annual game OF base ball
this spring account OF little m1X-up
after a snow ball fight When the snow was
all used up stones and rocks of assorted sizes
were called into the game, and that's why
there will not be any undercass base ball
game this spring.
But the sensation of the week was the
trouble caused by a number of prominent
juniors including son of eX-Secrstary Of the
Navy Whitney, who sent a Yale flag and a
letter to Corbett telling him that all Yale
was with him and wished him success. Now
1t appears that there are number OF Yale
lads whose sympathes are with F!tzsimmons,
and then there are others who don't believe
in patronizing such sports at all. When the
letter became public there was all kinds
of trouble. The college papers denounced
the act that had brought the name OF Yale
SO close to the ring, and the notoriety-seek-
ing juniors were all called before Dean
Wright of the faculty and compelled to
apologize.
The text of the letter that caused the
trouble and the names OF the gay young
juniors follow:
Dear Sir: We, of the junior class Of Yale
university. desire to express to you our
heartiest wishes for your success In the
battle on st. Patrck's day. Ever since your
visit to New Haven last fall and your ap-
pearance on our foot ball field the college at
- large has felt the deepest interest and hope
for your triumph. Here at Yale we realize
how much brain and science count in all
athletic contests. We regard you as the
highest exponent Of the hrainy boxer; hence
our implicit faith and confidence in the out
come of the battle. We learn of your
splendid physical condition and can see only
one finish for this fight. Now, jim, we hope
that you will hang this Yale flag in your
training quarters and in your corner at the
ringside and remember that 1t waves to you
a message of Yale luck and pluck. Go in
and win and delight the hearts of all true
Yale men"
j. NJ. Wadsworth, jr. Washington.
Bruce Clark, Chicago.
X L. Y. Mclaughlin. Cleveland.
Forsyth Wickers New York.
Frederick Kernochan, New York
Moresu Delano, New York.
II. w. Sheehan, New York
Robert j. Trembull, jr., Morristown, N. j.
Payne Whitney, New York.
John s. Rogers, New York.
Dallas C. Byers, Pttsburg.
G. Morris, Nav York.
+. II. Simmons. New York.
Accompanying this letter OF good wishes
from the college was silken banner bearing
the college color. This emblem Is twenty
four inches long, eighteen inches wide and
bears the word yale In letters four inches
high. The banner proper is of fine, heavy
twilled silk with the edges carefully hsmmed
by hand. The color Is the dark navy blue.
~ am going to put this flag in my corner"
said Corbett, "and am very glad, indeed to
have tho good wishes of lot OF brainy young
college fellows, who take interest in athletics
and who have sense enough to appreciate the
difference between mere fighting brute and
a student In scientific boxing. The encourage
ment of these young fellows Is very pleasant