The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-04-18

sometimes unwisely argued in the face
Of apparent opposition. And yet Is
even a little unwise zeal as bad.as n
good deal Of proud Indifference?
Il don't feel able to talk about II to-
day." said Edward. as he closed his
eyes and pretended to be in need of
rest.
Pardon me-" said Wheaton quick.
ly. Let me pray for you. Blake.
want 10 see you Il Christian"
Edward did not reply to him. and he
sat quietly reading the rest OF the
time, until Mrs. Blake came In again.
and then went away Edward had q
little twinge of remorse afterward as
he went over the interview. He had
been unnecessarily short In his replies
to Wheaton. At the same time his
moral standard seemed sufficient to
him. His thought of Wheaton, how
ever, was necessarily more just and
there was n respect for him that might
on better acquaintance possibly deepen
into friendship Of certain kind. The
only difficulty in that was the strong
prejudice that Edward still held to-.
ward Wheaton's habit of speaking so
often about his Christian faith. And
yet, why not, Edward Blake? Is II
a thing to rouse your anger or the
scorn Of half the smart set in college
when a student talks as much about
his Christian faith. and life as you
talk about football and war and
amusements? Are these things more
important as conversation than the
subjects Mr. Wheaton finds worth
while? May it not be possible that the
judgment of eternity will reverse your
Judgment of the man who wanted to
talk so much about the other world?
When college opened again in the
fall, Edward had fairly recovered, al
though he was still weak and wholly
unable to go on the football team.
This was a great disappointment to
him, because matters were getting into
better shape from an athletic point of
view, and he was, in spite Of all draw
backs, q great lover of the sport, and
had planned to enter into it under new
conditions.
His enforced withdrawal from the
football practice and play started his
mind in another direction, and he be-
gan to ask himself if there was not
some plan Of general athletic training
that would include practically the
whole college.
The president stopped one day as
he was passing through the hall and
had little chat with Edward. That
was a few days after the fall term
opened, and Edward was feeling rath-
err blue over the prospect and still
somewhat depressed owing to his phys
ical weakness.
well, you're getting on all right,
Blake, now? Sorry l was away all
summer. You had n severe illness"
"Yes, sir. I'm getting on as fast rs
/ could expect. l am not able to do
much in athletics this year."
"Tell you what, Blake. There is a
chance for some good honest work to
be done along the line Of general re-
vival of athletics for the average stu
dent. Now, football does not engage
more than two dozen men for small
part of the year, and they are the rug
gedest, stockiest men of all. Baseball
takes few more, perhaps, but after
we have counted out the football and
baseball men the great majority of the
students have no regular incentive to
do average athletic work. Why can't
you and few others in the junior class
organize something to give the whole
college an interest in physical sports
Arrange field day and get every man
In college to take some part. Have foot
races and jumping and pole vaulting
and things that any average man can
enter into with some enthusiasm. What
the college needs is a general shaking
up on athletics. The average student
who cannot play either football or base
ball has got into the habit of simply
looking on at those who do play, and
consequently he is not developing his
own physical powers as he ought"
"I'll think of it. sir" replied Edward,
with some interest And as the term
went on he became more interested,
and finally. with the help of other
members Of the association, he actual
~ vi Sdili"Sb a. plih VI dthitiiNS tIil
fitted the needs Of the average student
rather than the capacities of the semi
professional athlete. The whole plan.
as it worked out, was n relief to his
own personal disappointment in the
matter of football and worked excel
lent results for the student body.
Meanwhile he was anticipating VIII
lis return with some uneasiness. Dur.
ing the summer he had been ut home
with his mother. Her prediction con-
corning the loss of Willis arm had
come true, and he was wearing an
empty sleeve. The arm had been
amputated on board the hospital ship.
His illness had kept him in San Fran
cisco awhile, and from there his mother
had written Edward. 1t was one OF
several other letters written during the
summer that Edward had not been able
to answer ON account Of his own ILL
ness.
willis fully plans to come back to
college next fail" Mrs. Preston wrote,
''and, Of course, cannot bear to think
of his going In with any one else to
room. Your influence over him has al
ways been good There Is no telling
what you can do for him. am sure
you win do your best. The army life
has not helped Willis any. If any.
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