The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-11
s17O,73O,OOo

But even these enormous sums are
by no means the whole of the budget.
The same writer estimates that courS-
ing costs, in investment, $2,600,000, and
in yearly expenditures 81, 5S7 900; coach
ing, 81, 451 $50 in investment and $1,l88,-
975 in yearly expenditure; polo costs it's
votaries $685. 900 in invested capital and
$552,500 in annual expenditure; golf
(there are some TOO golf links in Great
Britain now, $2,625, 900 invested in lay
ing out OF links, building of clubhouses,
purchase of clubs, bags, ETC., and $685.
$50 annual expenditures for labor, keep
ing up clubhouses, caddies, professional
salaries, golf balls and the other neces-
sary expenses, including travelling; row.
ing, invested, 81 ,420, 900, annual eXpendi-
ture $2,871, 500; football and cricket, in
vested, $53,S 1000, annual expenditure,
$5S, 100000. AS these figures have not
been seriously questioned among the
spOrtSmen of Great Britain we may in
fer that some 1888, 066,25 are invested
permanently and $223,S87,725 spent an
nually for sport. When the aggregate
expenditures in any one direction reach
such proportions as these we may be
sure that the people who tax them
selves thus heavily have, at any rate
the great majority Of them, satisfied
themselves that there is an equivalent
of some kind that justifies the expendi-
ture- These two amounts combined
only fall short of eQualing the total
value Of our exports to Great Britain
and her dependencies for the year 1897
by less than $50, 200, 900.
Perhaps an EngliShman would say
that these expenditures had had a good
deal to do with the fact that Great
Britain has now supreme lordShip over
eleven million square miles of the
earth's surface, inhabited by popula-
ton equaling in the aggregate probably
one-fourth Of the total population Of
the earth. But whatever explanation
is offered the fact remains the same,
and this particular fact looms so large,
not only in Great Britain, but in
America, that it is worth considering
How has it come about that we are now
willing to give so much time, money
and attention to sport? What returns
do we get for our money? What does
sport teach us Of such great value that
our cousins across the water are will
ing to pay this new pedagogue so Brod-
dingnagian salary?
We may answer these questions, and
find our explanation of the present ap-
parently exaggerated position ofsport-
if such explanation exists at abby
grouping the benefits to be derived
from sport under their two main heads,
namely, the benefit to be derived from
training and the benefit to be derived
from diversion. Not only are muscles
and sinews strengthened and hardened,
but the temper and the will are trained
as well. The man who learns to spar,
for example, not only schools his eye,
his hands and his feet to respond
quickly when called upon, but he learns
also, and what is far more important,
to keep his temper under control and
to take a rounding cheerfully; and If
a man can translate these lessons to
serve in the larger affairs Of life, where
temper is often tempted, and where
poundingS are melted out to all of us
with pretty even impartiality, he has
learned a valua BILE lesson.
But every sport has also the valuable
effect of diverting both mind and body.
A sharp gallop a round Of golf, a
weeks yachting, changes the current
of ones thoughts, and rests the mind
as well as the body. Every sport, in
short, offers it's votaries training and
diversion; all the benefits to be had
these two heads. The lad at his row.
tennis, needs the training more than
the diversion, while his father riding,
shooting, golfing or yachting, needs the
diversion more than the training. But
both the boy and the man get both
necessary training and necessary d.
version from their pastimes, whatever
they are.
If, however, training and diversion
are all sport has to offer. can such ben
efits as these account for the huge ex-
penditures or for the honorable posi-
ton of the best class of advocates of
sport? The answer must be Yes
But the answer Is willingly YES" If
we stop to consider the value Of train