Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

tIlnity to gain strength and endurance mas
been acquired In the manly sports In whicn
they took part in their youth. Recognizing.
then. the value Of manly sports, The Even
ing Star has sought to foster their exercise
Over twenty years ago, to encourage the
rowing clubs Of the District 1t donated q
silver cup, beautifully carved, solid, costing
$500 to be rowed for annually by four-oared
crews. The Potomac was the scene OF
many a spirited contest, and The Star
handsome trophy spurred many crew TO
utmost exertions. Clubs from other citles
were induced to come, and Washington De-
came the most important rowing place
south of New York. In reporting these
events The Star spared neither space hoi
expense. To use newspaper phrase, they
were fully covered"
The Star trophy for excellence IN Hlsh
School athletics has been an incentive LUZ
years to the different High Schoois oi 'ne
District The cup Is contested LOT e'ei'
spring. The high school winning 1t 'niee
wears becomes its permanent owner. wv
Star cups have already passed into the per
manent possession of a school, ana THRU
,ronhv has been offered. When one OF THESE
Guns Is presented 1t is field DAY Lux III"
fortunate school All the students are gain
cred in the assembly hall. representative
of The Evening Star Company Is there "
mako the presentation. His congratularorS
remarks are greeted with immense enthusi-
asm The response Of the captain OF the
schoors athletes Is vociferously applauoeo'
and the entire occasion Is one that lives
long in the memory Of all those VINO are
there The healthy competition that IL
aroused develops the ability of the District
athletes to such a degree that they rise 10
the front rank in national scholastic con-
tests 1t was only two years ago that
team from the Central High School won the
site contest at Philadelphia. ana
ALWAYS the Washington representatives
have carried themselves creditably. The
Star has given prizes for swimming races
and various other contests.
A year ago The Star offered silver cup
to be competed for by the golf clubs of the
District, to become the property OF the ciuo
winning 1t three times. The matches for
The Star trophy have aroused universal IN
terest among the numerous golfers of the
District and Star cup day brings out
large gathering to the links
Recently The Star Company offered tro-
ply consisting Of a valuable gold padse
for craftsmanship open to all commissioned
officers and enlisted men of the D1strlct Oh
Columbia National Guard who have not
previously won any match. The distances
to be shot are 200. 300, 500 and GOO yards,
five rounds at each distance 1t Is believed
that this will materially Improve the marks
manship of the local soldiery. 1t will bar
out those who have proved their excellence
and whose participation would have de-
TERED many an indifferent or timid marks
man from competing.
Prizes for Indoor Contests.
The Star has not confined It's fostering in
terest to out-of-door contests. A number
of years ago 1t donated a silver cup to the
Bowling League of the District When the
cold weather has come and chill winds blow
across the deserted base ball diamond there
are many young athletes who make their
way to the bowling alleys of their respective
club houses and pass the long evenings in
spirited contests at cooked hat and ten pins.
1t Is a wholesome recreation and The Star
has endeavored to encourage 1t. An hour
on the alleys means night free from dis
sipation. 1t means strengthened manhood.
1t means the making of good citizen. And
while The Star has no intention to preach
when It donates its trophies for excellence
In sports. the action is taken with the belief
that the exertion melted by such donations
will result in better citizenship.
Generous Reports Of Sports.
It has given It's space. which is worth
commercially far more than the trophies 1t
has donated. with the conviction that a gen
erous rivalry will contribute to the making
Of better citizens. With this feeling It has
Loyalty supported those organizations that
have represented Washington in the ath-
letlc field, Borrowing with the defeated and
rejoicing with the successful. It has striyen
to teach the gospel OF good nature, to re-
frain from nagging those who failed and
putting responsibility for the failure on
others.
The Star has not confined It's interest to
the "grown-ups." It has encouraged the
little fellows to send in their reports Of
their contests, which always find place in
its columns. At times the youngsters will
send in contradictory reports concerning the
same game. each side sending In It's own
version and claiming victory. OF course, q
newspaper cannot be expected to arbitrate
such momentous disputes. and both accounts
go into the waste basket. Still, such cases
are exceptions. The reports are welcomed
and almost always printed. The boys are
encouraged to persevere, to improve and to
excel. AS they grow older and their games
become more important they know that
more space viii be given them.
The practice of The Star has been in re-
porting events in the sporting world to as
sign the different subjects to members of
It's staff best able to cover them. Thus
base ball was given to one. cycling to an
other, golf to another, tennis to another
rowing to another and foot ball to another
Then, too, writers have been engaged cut
side of the staff to attend to certain sub
jects. An expert has charge OF the whist
column while a skilful chess player edits
I'm Chess Circles" which appears in the
Saturday issue. OF course, the matter goes
through the hands of one person before APP
pear!ng in the paper, but It Is believed 10 be
better to apportion the subjects rather than
to have one person attempt to write on all
sports. in some Of which he may be not