New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-07
NOT A PETTY CUSTOM.

The placid surface of intercollegiate athletics
has been ruffed by a breeze blowing out or
| Cambridge. At the beginning of the seventh
inning of the Harvard Princeton ball game
week ago last Saturday Harvard looked like a
sure winner, but when the game ended frlnce-
ton had plucked the flower safety out of the net
tie danger and the score stood to against
! the visitors 1t was an unlocked for. out not
an unprecedented, rally Princeton had done
that sort OF thing before. notably at the Polo
| Grounds a year ago. in the deciding game with
! Yale when at the very last she blighted the
! we'll founded hopes of the young men from
! New-Hayen in a painful manner but II
appears that Harvard having suffered a SINH
| lar experience Is disposed to complain That
the bowling of the assembled multitude at
critical moments, rather than the prowess OF
the Princeton players. turned defeat into VIC
tory To this the spokesman of Princeton reply
that there was nothing cruel or unusual about
the vociferous cheering with which the Prince
ton nine was encouraged to do its uttermost,
that displays of desperate enthusiasm attend
all college contests, and that Princeton would
doubtless have had as much reason to complain
of Harvard if the recent game mad occurred at
Cambridge and the situation had been otherwise
reversed. The facts so far as they are known
appear to us to support this judgment, and I'M
less the Harvard critics are prepared to submit
substantial evidence TO the contrary they would
do we'll TO withdraw their remonstrance
On the general subject, however, there is
something to he said. Organized cheering at
college sports has come into vogue within
comparatively short time. Its avOwed object
is to inspire the performers. Each side hopes
TO kindle in the breasts of its champions that
supernatural flame of battle which never burns
in vain" Nor is there anything unfair about
1t so far the opposing forces are concerned
even when TO the hope Of encouraging their
own men the cheerers add secret longing to
unnerve the adversary; for all concerned nave
practically consented in advance TO such tactlcs'
and are ready to adopt them as occasion may
suggest. But 1t is not pretty sight TO specta-
tors whose blood is not at fever heat, especially
when, as not infrequenuy happens, the chief
effect If not the conscious purpose, OF tumult-
uous demonstration artifcially produced is to
disconcert the other side. AS matter of fact,
we fully believe that this organized cheering,
in preparation for which a great deal OF time
and zeal IS expended is regarded as dread
full nuisance by nearly everybody except the
undergraduates and the youngest alumni. IL u.s.
perhaps. peculiarly irritating at baseball games,
because it browns the voice Of the umpire and
dstracts attention from fine points of play.
The general feeling Of undergraduates may
be that an intercollegiate contest is primarily
their affair, and that IL doesn't MUCH matter
what others think. But such position is haru-
" tenable Their athletic organizations would
quickly go into bankruptcy If tens OF thou-
sands Of persons graduates and rank out
siders," did not pay pretty stiff prices for uck-
cts to their games. The great majority nave
rights which they have no means or MAINTAIN
ing. but in which they ought 10 be protected by
the good sense Of the minority. Enthusiasm Is
delightful and contagious when it Is sponta-
neous, but it is a dismal thing when 1t is manu-
factured-especially when 1t is manufactured
for a purpose which, though tolerated by college
oninion Is essentially unspOrtsmanlike.