Los Angeles herald., 1905-03-20
HEALTHY GROWTH
OF ATHLETICS
INTEREST IN AMATEUR SPORT
RAPIDLY INCREASING
Every institution Of Learning
Throughout the Country Reeos-
nizes the Necessity Of Phys
leal Culture

The growth in interest in college ath-
letics in the last twenty-five years has
been remarkable. The amount of time
devoted to physical culture at the diff
ferent institutions of learning Is stead
lily increasing. A review Of the condi-
tions of a quarter of century ago and
today will show that no department of
college education has undergone such
changes and enlargement as the field
of athletics. A generation ago the en-
| tire equipment devoted to the physical
man consisted of a barn-like place
called by courtesy, gym" while to-
day every college of any prominence
pays particular attention TO its gym
nasium and the training therein OBJ
tanned. In not a few instances the
equipment includes swimming pool
and running track. Twenty years ago
it was practically impossible to per-
suade the faculties of the different uni
versities to give a few hundred dollars
for athletics, while today thousands of
dollars are being subscribed without
| soicita ton.
A generation ago it was optional
with the student whether or not he
would take gymnasium exercise. Now
it is compulsory. Every student must
include a few hours of gymnasium
work each week in his course. The op-
position on the part of some to ply
IL IA
| appearing. The need of athletics is
| conceded without argument and ad-
vances are being made along this line
as fast as possible.
Appropriation of thousands and
thousands of dollars have been made
for the improvement of gymnasium fa-
cilities of all of the eastern universities,
and now the western institutions are
straining their resources to increase
their equipment along this line. Ex-
ercise of the body is conceded to be
quite as necessary to educational adj
vancement as exercise of the mind, and
by fitting out their gymnasiums we'll
and adding to their attractiveness of
exercise generally the colleges are in
creasing the desire among their Students
to take up physical culture.
College athletics are the purest form
of amateur sport and have become an
important part of American life. Mol
better evidence of this is necessary
than the immense crowds that attend
football games all over the country.
Throngs of 10000 persons saw several
of the big contests in the east last sea-
son and the important western games
were considered unsuccessful If 10000
were not in attendance. Interest in
football is of course greater than in
any other department of college sport, |
but baseball, track athletics and other
departments are attracting more and
more attention each year.
Violate Amateur Spirit
That the average youth in deciding
what college he shall attend gives deep
consideration to a comparison of the l.
athletic standings of the different in
stitutions may be a matter to deplore, |
but it is nevertheless a fact. Often the |
athletic prowess of a college is the one |
thing upon which the selection is based. |
Whether a boy be interested enough in
athletics to take active part or whether
he desires only to be spectator, he
takes the utmost pride in the victories
of his alma mater II is this spirit that
has made competition in college ath-
letics so keen.
tharp IA cot 4
little done, regarding a better govern
ment of college athletics, and the
problem is really a very great one
Competition is increasing to such an
extent that hint of professiona aIism
has crept into college athletics The in
tense desire of the alumni the student
bodies and even the faculties to de-
veop teams stronger than their rivals
has not made them any too particular
as to the manner they get their ath-
letes. 1t is no uncommon thing for a
college to secure an athletes patronage
by practically agreeing to pay his col
lege expenses. This is done in an in
direct sort of way in order that the
letter of the law of amateur athletics
may not be violated, even If the spirit
is. For instance, the athlete upon ar
riving at college will be given a Job of
some sort which requires little or no
work, but which yields a good enough
salary to pay his living expenses. It
is job, really, In name only. However.
this is only one of the methods resorted
to-
A number of colleges are making a
effort to stamp out this
evil. as evil it is. The rules OF amateur
ism cannot be too stringent.
TO CURE A COUGH IN CNE DAY
Use Adams Irish Moss Cough BaIsam
Prescribed by the hest physicians for
Coughs, Colds. HoarseneSa Rroncbiffs and |