The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-01

written for The sunday Republic by
George v. Lyons Of Georgetown, Va,
and ~. Francis Navier's New York
Holder of Southern Collegiate Rec
ord for IIalf-MiIe RUM
James Grant Gichrist of the University OF
Iowa. IN recent article. has been quoted
as saying that college athletics were moral.
ly and physically injurious; in fact, ruinous
to the American youth who takes part in
them.
feel that such a sensational arraignment
of the supposed evils Of college athletics
should not be allowed to pass without some
comment. although the article itself mus;
have appeared to any fair-minded reader,
whether he be an athletic enthusiast or not
as one replete with gross Congregations and
startling inaccuracies. 1t may be that the
learned professor has placed before the pub
lie the state of affairs athletic as they exist
at the University of Iowa. and that it was
through this medium that he viewed the
American college athletic situation.
1t is very queer logic which would make
every egg in a crate rotten because the first
one picked out proved TO be so-and that is
very queer logic which would make athletics
in every university, college or school in this
country rotten because they have been
.
From the gentleman's own statement we
learn that he had considerable opportuni-
ty To become acquainted with the evils of
college athletics. Whether this .considera-
bic opportunity was the result of personal
experience as college athlete, or just from
mere observation. we are not informed One
thing We do know from the article. and
that is that the writer OF il has been at
Iowa since 1852. So that the deduction l
nave already drawn, that the existing state
OF athleuc affairs at the Iowa University
n hn NH gS IT,, ,,,Gs,-
ION, quite fair and reasonable one
however. let us examine into the article
on me Silpposlticn that the writer may have
had some material on hand other than the
1,a,e OF affairs as they evidently exist in
iowa CITY to help him compose his sweep
Ing ana merciless Indictment The article
me devo:ee of college athletics is DOOM
co 10 a premature death: he must fall be-
hind IN his studies or else work under such
strain that mental. as well as physical
ruin is imminent; his own moral character
as well as that OF his nonathletic associ-
ate. must suffer. The moral and inteller-
tual tone of his college must be lowered, or
at least seriously imperiled by college ath-
writer does not Substantial one of them
with even an attempt at argument. How
IS II that the devotee of college athletics is
doomed 10 premature death? There is a
slight attempt at proving this proposition
further on in the art;cle-but why then is
II That so many. whose names | can very
visited by this dread visitor as vet prema-
rurely? Men who were most loyal devotees
OF college athletics in their younger days.
and who to-day insist firmly on their sons
taxing part i'll the various branches of ath-
letic sports.
To be a college athlete it does not follow
mat one must fan behind in his studies,
or else work under such strain that men
tai as well as physical ruin is imminent"
The Intercollegiate Associatiot of American
Athletics, the controlling body of college
athletics in this country, in defining a col
iegians eligibility 10 represent his alma
mater at the big intercollegiate meet,
arong IT'S rules has one which makes IL i'm
possible FOR him to represent his university
II he snail have fallen below a certain
stsndard In his studies. As for the other
part of Doctor Chemists statement l
would beg leave to inform the gentleman
that In most OF the large Eastern universe
ones. the athletic trainer will not be allow
ed TO permit any student to undergo reg
ular course of training whom the medical
10 stand the strain of regular training.
This rule, know, is being rigidly enforced
at Yale, Harvard: Cornell. Columbia, Uni
versity Of Pennsylvania, Princeton. GEORGE
town. Michigan. Chicago. Wisconsin, Lee
land Stanford. California and many others.
bsides the principal Eastern and Western
high schools
A few weeks ago while In New York I
had a chat with Mr.. NJ T. Sweeney holder
OF the worlds high jump record, and at
present physical director at one of the
N~'-DD''
courTe OF our conversation Mr.. Sweeney
Told me of the success that had attended
INC schools football team. having lost but
one game. and that to the Lawrenceville
eleven, the strongest school eleven in the
East. Last spring an epidemic of typhoid
broke out at the HUI School, and as re-
suit but three of the regular players were
on the team that faced Lawrenceville. The
otheT members of the Hill School team were
plav !e s aife ,s lines besEing to be allowed 70
not sufficiently recovered from the effects
O! the typhoid to be allowed to play and
a All. ne knew that his. school would
WIN with them in the game. he preferred to
lose rather than submit them TO the strain
OF the game, even though they seemed in
me eyes OF many others at the school, TO
halves. VI '''e
This is not one isolated case can cite
many other instances where a college man.
s.seningly certain of winning a point at
the big intercollegiate meet. was not per-
mitted by the medical director of the uni
Nerslty TO so through the training prepare
Doctor Gilchrist in his article goes on to
say II man intends to devote his life
70 annette pursuits and keeps up his train
me as nc must. he will damage himself be-
yomd repair. Ii is true. but the catastrophe
VIII he somewhat delayed He will have
acquired a large heart. and blood vessels
10 say nothing of Jumps out OF proportion
10 ANY legitimate use of his body Sooner
or later, ancurism, valvular diseases of the
,heart' pulmonary diseases of various kinds.
aIe sure 70 appear. and his death in ali re-
spccts VIII be n premature one"
~ makes one shudder to think of the
Gneadfui fate in store for the unfortunate,
why. according to Doctor Gilchrist intends
10 devote his life 10 athletic pursuits n in
geou; mere Is ANYBODY with such foolish in
IN o ana there is no one quite SO fool
ism; sheres not enough money IN II.
, III might not be out of Mace to mention
here mat tho statistics gathered bv a Ger
. as.a a,5rNard professor show that the aver
age college graduate of to-ttnv IL ,ieyelonr,l
bcth physically and mentally 10 n Ear
Greater extent than the graduate of ten or
twenty years ago. The increase is directly
attributed TO the enthusiastic interest taken
by the American college man OF to-day in
athieucs. and the same authority though
py no means an ardent adnirer OF college
epes ss =, neverthsiess admits that the in.
10 result directly from the increase in phys
ical development.
Professor Gilchrist holds that n co,I.-o
atniete is not an amateur. because of the
hiring OF coaches. the period of training
ana the taking of gate money AT the
games Whenever an individual or a num-
her OF individuals start out to attain some
goat no matter In what walk of life. the
natural impulse is TO look upon some one
Win more experience than the rest. to act
this the case when they themselves are
eltner ignorant OF the various stems To he
taken. or have not sufficient confidence in
their own ability to lead the way So the
college athletic team whether II be track.
baseball or football, must have its leader
Its director; and because athletic directors
Will, or the students gratitude they must
receive more substantial, reconpense
ana therefore we have our professional
sional builders. architects. doctors, surgeons.
college professors. etc. -.
The fact that admissions are charged at
hut Il is an evil tha; hardly sdmits Of a
remedy There Is considerable experse