The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-11

Already there have been serious acct
dents on the football field, and conserv-
atlve people have made these the text
Of arguments against the game II is mn
doubtedly necessary to guard with the
utmost strictness against any form, of
foul play which can cause such acct
dents. and if the players keep their self
control and refrain from "sIugging.
there Is. after all. comparatively Iitfre
danger IN the game. 1t has done Z. great
service 10 the modern college hoy in
bringing his effervescent spirits and
surplus strength into some sort Of dis
Cpline- for ccolness. strength, and bray
cry. and well-ueveIoped sense Of fair
play. are the absolute essentials of foot
ball
The main objection 20 the game in the
minds of most of its opponents is IFS
danger. But il must b. remembered
that without athletic sports in some
form there is great danger Of weak
nesses which later result in disease. and
II Is no worse to break a bone on the
football field than to become a dyspep-
Tic for want Of exercise OF course. il
may be argued that people should take
exercise enough to keep them well
without the incentive Of sport. but The
ia'i remains that people DO not.
Another objection made to football is
That II takes Up time and thought which
should be given 20 studies. In answer
10 this It may be safely said that the
young men who devote most u their
time TO sport would not study. in any
case. any more than they do now. Those
students who want 20 study have lust
As much opportunity TO do so as they
ever had. and il individual students are
On the sIidiron when they ought 10 be
in their rooms digging OIt Latin trans
lauons or problems in geometry. that
Is matter for them, and their fathers
ana their professors. TO settle. The gen
eTal public has no business with it, II
football were a thing likely TO prove
Injurious 20 the majority Of the stu
dents, mentally. morally, or physically
II would be- different The objection 10
EazIuE which was defended ON rnu,t
the same grounds as athletic sports is
that IL inculCates wrong ideas Of caur-
age and fair play and that fl is an ut
terly irresponsible performance, with no
rules and no limits. save those made b.
the students who haTpen 10 be engaged
IN d. Any recognized game is under
strict rules, and The participants IN il
are in the public eye and Obliged 10 be-
have themselves according ,o law.
u is e. significant fact that there is an
increasin@eDprovaI football and Other
games among The faculty Of nearly sv-
cry college ia the land. and surely the
men Nh" have charge OF the students
dag after day. and who are responsible
FOR thr reputation OF their college,
ought 10 now whether athiotics ar.
doing ham. or not II is also Co be- IT,.
memberei CHAT the curriculum oI the
college has changed materially duliua
the last hundred years. The amount Of
knowledge which the graduate Of IsJ.
had would not tax the brain If the ay-
erege freshman today. 4 hundred
years ago the boy entered college Al
fourteen; now he goes 10 the high slhoo.
at that age. is graduated at eighteen.
and enters college al an age when mis-
greats grandfather was nearly OF quite
ready to begin the world There is
more and harder studying done in the
college Of today than ever in the days
o. knee-brcech-s and cooked hats.
though the early graduates Of Har-
ward and Yale did use Latin at their