The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-22
COLLEGE FOOTBALL.


Things wise and otherwise continu,
to be said on the subject OF colleg,
football. which is not surprising wher
the widely different points OF view
from which II is contemplated arr
| taken into account. At present the
critics who think that nearly every
feature of the game is repulsive seem
TO be In the ascendant, as they usually
are just after the season has ended;
but ii is doubtful II their undiscrimi-
mating hostility will advance the cause
(which they have at heart, DR.. Draper
superintendent OF education in New
York, thought he made some asser-
| tions last week 10 Massachusetts teach
ers from which we ventured to dis
sent. came pretty near TO true di-
agnosis of the case which so many
disagreeing doctors have volunteered
10 treat. He thinks that the game is
well worth saving. and that IL can be
saved without much difficulty II the
college authorities will firmly exercise
their power. in reliance on the best
graduate and undergraduate senti-
ment.
OF the various evils which are so
fiercely assailed some are grossly ex-
aggerated. and some. we believe, are
imaginary No incident is too rare or
too remotely related to the sport to
serve the purpose Of wholesale indict-
ment and we confidently expect that
the death Of the venerable DIR. Paxton
of Princeton, from a stroke OF apoplexy
due. II is said, to his becoming over
excited at the recent game with Yale
will be hailed as striking example
OF the perils which environ football.
One Of the latest discoveries solemn
ly, and perhaps gratefully. accepted
as authentic is that Of a trainer who
announces that the game commonly
produces a species OF insane delusion
in the minds Of the players. Doubtless
hard blow on the head may have
serious consequences whether the re-
cipient was playing football at the
time or chasing butterflies. and we do
not deny that there are too many such
mishaps on the gridiron; but We have
no reason to believe that the propor-
tion Of lunatics In embryo is abnor-
mally large among football players
though we have sometimes thought II
might be in the granjstand.
One thing which we believe to be
true, not only Of football, but OF Amer
lean college sports in general. is that
students who go for athletics do so.
as rule, not for the sake of the pleas
ure and benefit to be derived from ply
sical exercise, but in the hope OF win
ming distinction among their fellows
and being ultimately crowned with in
tercollegiate laurels. 1t is highly prob
able, for example. that a university
crew, whose burdens are considered
heavy and whose hour of supreme ef-
fort is long delayed, would promptly
disband If it were to receiev a con-
vincing revelation that 1t was destined
to be beaten. In England, on the con-
trary, the daily delight In rowing is
a sufficient reward. The oarsmen hope
to win OF course, and victory is prec-
ious: but, win or lose, they feel that
thew have been amply repaid. Every
competent observer has remarked this
difference. English university ath-
letes who have visited this country
have been greatly impressed by 1t, and
one of the Rhodes scholars at oxford
has recently written an interesting let
ter on the subject to The Boston Tran
script" 1t is nearly true to say that
in our colleges nothing but victory Is
thought to justify the toll of prepara-
tion. In the English universities the
pleasure of preparation far outweighs
the pain Of defeat. This Is the right
spirit, and until 1t has become the pre-
vailing spirit here American college
sports will not fully serve their es-
sential purpose.