The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-06-05
AMERICAN SPORT.


One who has made some study of
the case says that $5,O00.0O0 was
taken in as gate money by the base
ball clubs of the United States last
season, that 100000 was paid in
salaries to the players in two. ,ehss
salaries to players in two big leagues,
and that $2.0O0,000 additional was
paid in salaries to players in some
thirty-one smaller leagues in the
country. These figures would in1i-
cate something of the popularity of
baseball, even If one never saw a
game, or never looked at the pictures
which are printed in the papers, Civ
ing a view of the grounds on the oc-
casion of a big game, when the ex-
preston "a sea OF faces" is admira-
bly, illustrated by the reproduction Of
a photograph of a section Of grand
stand or "bleachers."
Baseball, however. IS but one of a
large number of sports which appeal
strongly to the American people. The
schools of various grades afford a ba-
sis for many competitions. Not a
week Of the springtime is allowed to
pass without a track meet of some
sort. Each of the prominent institu-
tons has it's interscholastic meet, to
which the schoolboy athletes are at
tracted by the offer of prizes in the
shape of banners and individual tro-
piles for the winner These outdoor
contests are preceded by winter in
door competitions at which the pros
poets for the spring meetings are
forecast. The latter are hardly finish
ed before thoughts are turned to the
football of the autumn. In this way
the athletic interests of the schools
are kept in the foreground during
much Of the calendar year.
These high school ''meets" are
nothing but preparatory stages for
the college contests. They are used
by the college authorities for the pur-
pose of attracting future students. To
get large company of high school
boys within the campus limits and
see that they have a good time Is the
ultimate object. Once in college the
round goes on Just the same. There
are contests with the east and with
the west. There are indoor "meets'
and outdoor competitions, ali look
ing toward athletic supremacy, and
all helping TO develop a great com
pany Of enthusiasts who follow the
varying sports as the seasons change.
The interest does not seem to wane
when college days are past. Athletic
clubs in the cities with well equipped
headquarters and country clubs with
superior attractions for outdoor
sport are to be found everywhere.
Golf, tennis, rowing. swimming, polo
playing. bowling, horse racing, speed
contests, with automobiles and motor
boats. boxing, and many minor forms
of sport appeal each TO its particular
company of enthusiasts. When all
these companies are joined the result
is that a large proportion of the peo-
pie seem to be included. The newspa-
pers recognize this fact by the space
they allot to sport.
The literature of sport is increas-
ing at rapid rate, books of rules,
suggestions, and descriptions Of de-
tails being available in many different
lines. Where one or two manufacture
ers once led the van in supplying
uniforms and materials for the
games. now there are hundreds of
dealers who find in this field a lucra-
tive income. The great advantage of
It all is that nearly every one of the
sports has substantial reason for ex-
istence in the Improvement Of the
physical well-being OF its patrons. If
the Americans seem increasingly de-
voteI to sport, they can show for II
an increasing number Of athletic
youth. Englands position as leader
in outdoor sports is threatened by
the American activity In this direc-
Chicago Tribune.