The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-11
INTER ESTING STATISTICS AND
FACTS.

The University Record Quarterly, of
the University of North Carolina for
January has reached us. From it we
learn that in 1888, when the largest
attendance of students prior to the war
was present, 461, the per centage was
a. NOW, with quite 500 students, over
20 per cent. are natives of this state.
1t says that this is "a larger percentage.
according to the government statistics,
than is shown by any other state uni
versity. The university is thus fulfill
ing it's mission to it's own state" Much
space is given to a plea in behalf Of
football, and the statement is made
That THE time devoted to this refined
and elegant game does not cause "a
lower grade of scholarship" Wonder
ful! We have long suspected it was
a powerful educator. One of the fore
most northern physicians not long ago
in giving his opinion of the noble game
said he did not allow his son to en-
gage in it, and gave his reasons, but
perhaps he overlooked the fine educa-
Tiona1 feature. The record for the last
season in this country brings out in
bright colors the extreme humanity
and mercy of the lauded game. The
completed statistics recently published
for last seasons games, reveal that
eight players lost their lives, seven
teen were injured for life, and $50
manned in var rs ways. These statis-
6ios show up he favorable for the
game A New Qrk paper reported
mine kiHed TIL, Atistics may COM
pare f~avorably W. n Spanish bull fight
ing we take for granted. At any rate,
we are quite satisfied that they are not
more than ten or twenty times greater
that the national amusement of the
greatly advanced Spaniards Of the
last quarter of this century. The At
2anta Journal of a recent date said
h i of the great perils of the game
AS shown in the last published statis-
tics:
+Tlhey show that it caused more
deaths and injuries in three months
last year than are attributable to base
oaA for ten years, though there are
fifty baseball players to one football
player in this country and a hundred
games of baseball to n of football.
-%This lowest published estimate of
football fatalities and casualties for a
single season is far greater than that
for the prize ring in the whole history
OF the country. 1t would take many
years for the sport of bull fighting to
Dile up such a record of deaths, life
time injuries and more or less serious
Wounds for its human participants
1t is a fact not to be questioned that
'Ehe most aggressive and eager advo-
Gates of this charming sport are the
universities IF their contention for
She game is correct. and who will be
so very bold as to gainsay their wis
dom and consensus of Judgment, it is
OF the highest use and Importance in
modern education. We do not hear so
much said of it's high moral influence
and educational uplifting as we met
with a few years back. But the argu-
Inent is pressed in it's behalf, and no
great school would be we'll equipped
without the noble game played with
aSl Of it's scientific dangers and brutali-
ties. The manned at our university
Are not many and Killings do not oc-
cur. The University Record says this:
THAT the games roughness may re-
suit in serious if not fatal injury is a
risk which the authorities face with a
deep feeling Of their responsibility.
How does the wise parent face the
- same responsibility? His son may be
killed while hunting, drowned while
bathfng, famed by faTiingt from a tree
he has climbed, injured lin a railway