Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-05

and courage and fortitude The Grecian
games developed manly and soldierly
qualities without brutalizing the spirits.
Games in Rome
The Romans were less agile. versatile,
emotional and artistic, but more seri-
Gus, determined, persistent and stronger
physically than the Greeks For sew
eral hundred years al er the founding
of Rome games were not conspicuously
indulged in unless historical records are
incomplete. The Romans were too busy
in war to give much time to amuse-
ments For 700 years the temple of
Janus was not closed, as during all
that time Rome was in continual war
At first Roman games were in con-
nection with religious observances, but
they changed in character as time ad-
vanced. War was sufficient for develop
ing the strength of body and spirit that
enabled the Romans to make conquest
of the world. They had little spare
time in which to cultivate aesthetics
or ethics, but they were better organ
izers than the Greeks and had more
national sentiment , nd pride. Fine art
by the Romans was ueemed light and
frivolous.
When games became common and
popular in Rome they were sanguinary
engendered in centuries of -yar, much
of the time with African and Asiatic
barbarians To elevated minds moth
| ing could have been more horrifying
| than the ehibitions in the amphitheater
and circus. The combats between wild
| beasts were doubtless borr, wed from
| the Phoenicians. as it was the most
prominent of their amusements; while
| the high born or patricians did not en-
| i
! bloody contests IN the arena they pur-
| chased condemned criminals aid hired
| gladiators, whose lot or profession was
| to fight wild beasts or to butcher each
| other Criminals and gladiators were
| leased by the high in position % those
who made profit from the barbarous
| exhibitions thr ~ admission fees to
the depraved of the city Fortunes
were thus made by men of high stand
ing in political and social circles, and
politicians gave exhibitions to gain sup
port of the rabble. Even Cicero con-
| graduated his friend Atticus on having
made profitable investment in a band
of criminals and gladiators.
In the West
Rome became the most depraved of
| cities, and whether more largely from
| the influence of her laundering wars
| OF tolerance 9nQ announcement OF ner
brutal games is a question that dis
eliminating students of history must
| solve each for himself The Spanish
| bull fight, the modern duello and prize
| fight are survivals of the Roman games
and of the barbarous spirit they de-
VelOped
The settlement and physical conquest
of the western hemisphere within the
| continental limits Cf the United States
| was an arduous undertaking by a seri-
Gus and indorlitable people. The pas
sion for amusement was not permitted
| very much to interfere with the stern
work in hand. Athletic games We're
hardly necessary to he promotion of
and Intellectual perceptions i.ere de-
veloped in the performance of the work
that has so distinguished the American
people. The life they led made the
pioneers strong, wiry, r. >sourceful, and
contributed to health, longevity, moral
ity and peaceful habits.
The sportive disposition is partieu-
| larly characteristic of people who have
little TO do, who are exempt from the
necessity to struggle or the means TO
| support existence IN other words who
have no important objects 10 accom-
plish, no great obstacles TO overcome.
Growth in United States
The growth of the passion for games
of late in this country raises the ques-
tion whether the American people are
not becoming frivolous or less serious