New-York tribune., 1901-06-30


The question Of athletics is certainly great
one for the athletic DEVELOPMENT of civilized peo-
ples is one OF the supreme facts and FACTORS OF
modern life. Physical training is becoming a per
nnanent fashion, and is calling 10 It's aiu lii'
scholarship and wisdom of Europe and America
In some form other, are told, II Is now pro-
,yt5ed in nearly three hundred American COLLEGES
and by more than four hundred Young Men
Christian Associations. Several hundred cues
have made II a part of the public school system
The Germans in country have estaohsheo
hundreds OF gymnasums while athletic news ms
more columns in the great city journals than the
debates Congress.
meet men past middle age who are almost
stupefed by the widespread athletic interest III our
country Some of them college men who gained
their exercise saving wood shovelling snow
moving lawns doing other chores some OF
these very worthy sigh for ''the good oio
times" when football and tennis. baseball ana
golf. bicycling and boating were never thought of
as a part OF the college life. To me one of the
saddest sights is a middle sged or old man who
has never learned TO play who has no resources or
relaxation who cares little for any exercise in the
outer world that is not directly and narrowly use
full I have known grand men who have broken
down utterly and become nervous wrecks large
ly because the play element in human nature had
never been fostered in themselves.
UNDER CAREFUL SUPERVISION.
One thing must be said in defence of college
athletics against much hasty criticism and that is
this that physical training is under careful super
vision in all best colleges. Men who have
made thorough study OF the anatomy of the
human body and women who have given
years OF special investigation OF the problems of
health. supervise and direct the physical life OF
the young people committed TO their charge. Be
fore athletic contests possible the young peo-
pie OF our colleges must be thoroughly examined.
and over all the physical training. various and
% useful which is provided there is wise and
careful oversight.
wish first OF all speak Of the moral advan-
tages OF college athletics. A great preacher. who
IS also educator said IN my hearing recently
that the greatest power Of morals in the modern
college is the gymnasium. He said this deliberate
~. having had wide experience with young men
and knowing the special temptations 10 which they
are exposed President Eliot wrote that no Amer
lean college, wherever situated, possesses any
method OF discipline which avails for the suppress
Fion exclusion OF vice. The vicious student
find all means OF indulgence in the smallest VII
lage. and the worst vices are the stillest. 1t is a
distinct advantage Of the German university meth
ID that 1t does not pretend 10 maintain any
parental or monastic discipline its students
but frankly tells them they must govern them
Telves. The moral purposes Of universitys policy
should be 10 train to self-control and self
reliance through liberty" There is a large measure
OF truth in this expression Of opinion, but 1 fear
that II the gymnasium and the athletic field
taken out Of the modern college, we should not
be able 10 say, with President Eliot that an active
anu interesting university rs the safest place IN
The world for young men who have anything in
them-far safer than the counting room. shop, fac
tory. farm barrack. forecastle ranch'
A MORAL SAFEGUARD.
believe that 1t is the general testimony Of care
ful observers and especially Of teachers of physical
culture. that the athletic life is a moral safeguard
for young men, IT gives them an outlet for their
energies in the most earnest temptable and com
bative period Of physical manhood it helps 10 send
pure blood TO the brain; it keeps the mind from
zhen Tontb s TnCs} ei+, nedFt "a Ine perlod
promotes an an around healthfulness.
advantage 10 women as well 10 men, and the
new American woman has physical yigor and
torttude which give promise of a better and
stronger race. From the observations which I
ana widening interest in college athletics' I am
persuaded that the advantages are great and PER
words later are subordinate and temporary
man aiwSgs WAYS mink 6ar6 OF John Milton in his youth as
courage. He was a fencer, and one who loved the
ana I'll Penseroso' alv-avs fSin- or W7asI55jn,
Ton as an outdoor man. in whom there was an al
moral qualities. Gladstone was a great walker
ana could WELD the axe with vigor and skill
Charles Kingsley was outdoor man. one who
Cambridge and notes the English st,an1e G14ro ana
aay must oe delighted with their fresh complex
well grooned appearance. Few specimens of Young
ma, msn2ooo equal to them can be found elsewhere.
The German university students appear fabby and
weak IN comparison In the German army we
5ss fse G1hceIs who are more like the OF the
dnellng German student does not satisfy the lover
d physlca strength and symmetry.
THE BASIS OF SUCCESS.
One cannot reach the age of fifty and see much
OF human life without the conviction that the
physical after all the basis Of success in life in
business, IN the professions in everything else
HOW many dyspeptic sleepless. anxious-minded
professional men early disabled and laid aside
because they have not early learned 20 take care
Of he OnfG
sports, some Of them very simple, by which human
NE and energy are prolonged.
Ihe Kidened and growing enthusiasm for the
game OF golf which IS fitted 10 men and women OF
sixty and seventy well as 10 the boys ana girls
OF sixteen. is TO OF the encouraging signs OF
me times ! know a banker in Chicago whose pre-
him into frequent fts OF depression who has been
o1naS5S ysgIS rggeheratea on the golf links He has
which takes him out OF himself and out into Gods
Use Of The driver caus As snd ana 1uaq eq a16 an e1Ts l
saved many minister. lawyer and business man
We are told that the spirit OF professionalism ia
sn ms e SGeee athIetcs ana there is some truth
eminent athletes miss the best results OF
eager and oversmbo3s But II gusf be
~ t tlost eollege athletes are modest, temperate
tod me a few years ago that he would rather his
son had years training in football than 10 give
~, I'm a year az an Eastern university. He thought
NJ s0n Noula gam more help in the battle OF life
ne habit OF quick decision and the habit OF obe,
e,snee than ne could gain in any other way Such
,sible 70 those who have made no study in these
"ies' but there is a measure OF truth IN them.
SOME OF THE EVILS
Some OF the evils OF college athletics are begin
ming to be aiarmingly apparent Too much time
is taken in the training OF contestants for inter
collegiate honors. The competition has become TOO
sharp and strong. Permissions are given by l,ni
versity authorities for such long and frequent
journeys that the work Of the student is often
seriously interfered with Furthermore men are
SxaS1nSa enrolItnent IN some colleges whose almost