The Washington times., 1907-02-24

plea is not for their abolition.
My plea is that they shall be got into
the right focus in the eyes of college
men; that the relative importance Of
the different groups shall be understood
when compared with the infinitely
greater life Of the college as q whole.
Let each man have his special asso-
ciatcs. his special interests. his special
studies and pursuits. but let him re
member that he cannot get the fun
benefit of life in college if he does moth
Ing but specialize; AMI that. what is
even more important. he cannot do his
full duty by the college unless his first
and greatest interest is in the college
Itself, in his associates taken as a mass.
aud not in any small group.
One reason why / so thoroughly
believe in the athletic spirit at
Harvard is because the athletic
spirit is essentially democratic.
Would Encourage College Sport.
Our chief interest should not lie in
the great champions in sport On the
contrary our concern should be most Of
all 70 widen the base. the foundation ia
athletic sports, to encourage in every
TO the largest possible number OF STU
dents the chance 10 take part I'm VigOT-
GUS outdoor games. 1t is of far more
Importance that man shall play some
thing himself, even if he plays it badly
than that he shall go with hundreds Of
companions TO see some one else play
we'll, and IL is not healthy for either
students or athletes if the terms are
mutually exclusive.
But even having this aim espe-
cially in view, it seems TO me we
can best attain ii by giving proper
encouragement to. the champions in
the sports, and this can only be
done by encouraging intercollegiate
sport.
As l emphaticaHy disbelieVe in
seeing Harvard or any other college
turn out mOIlycOddles instead of
vigorous men, 1 may add that / do
not In the least object to n sport
because il is rough.
Rowing, baseball Ia crosse. track
and field games. hockey. football are all
OF them good Moreover, II IS TO my
mind simple nonsense, a mere confess
sion Of weakness, to desire 10 abolish
a game because tendencies show them
selves. or practices grow UP. which
prove that the game ought TO be re-
formed
No Excuse for AbOlishing Football
Take football, for instance. The
preparatory schools are able TO keep
football clean and to develop the
right spirit in the players without
the slightest necessity ever arising
10 so much as consider the question
Of abOlishing IL. There is no excuse
whatever for colleges failing to
show the same capacity, and there
Is no real need for considering the
question Of the abolition Of the
game.
II necessary. let the college authorities
interfere to stop any excess Of perver-
sion. making their interference as little
oficious as possible and yet as rigorous
as is necessary 10 achieve the end. But
there Is no justification for stopping a
thoroughly manly sport because it is
sometimes abused. when the experience
OF every. good preparatory school shows
that the abuse is in no shape necessarily
attendant upon the game.
We cannot afford to turn out of college
men who shrink from physical effort or
from a little physical pain. In any re-
public courage is a prime necessity for
the average citizen if he is 10 be n good
citizen; and he needs physical courage
no less than moral courage. the courage
that dares as well as the courage that
endures. the courage that will fight
valiantly alike against the foes of the
soul and the foes OF the body Athletics
arc good, especially in their rougher
forms. because they tend TO develop such
courage They are good also because
they encourage a true democratic spirit;
for in the athletic field the man must
be judged not with reference 10 outside
and accidental attributes, but to that
combination Of bodily vigor and moral
quality which go TO make up prowess.
1 trust / need not add that IN de-
Tending athletics / would not for one
moment be understood as eNcusing that
pcrversion of athletics which would
make II the end of life instead of
merely a means in life. II is frst-class
dcalthful play. and is useful as such.
But play is not business, and it is very
poor business indeed. for college man
10 learn nothing but sport There are
exceptional cases which I do not need
TO consider: but disregarding these.
cannot with sufficient emphasis say
that when you get through college you
VIII do badly unless you turn your at
tontion TO the serious work OF life with
devotion which win render x impossi-
BILE FOR yoJ 70 pay much heed 70 sDor1
in the way in which It Is perfectly
proper for you 10 pay heed while ir
college. Play while you play and worh
while you work; and though play is
mighty good thing, remember thai
you had better never play at all thar
TO get in a condition of mind where
You regard play as the serious business
Of life, or where you permit it to nam