The Washington herald., 1907-03-07
FOOTBALLS FIERCE"
Eliot Says No Gentleman
Should Play the Game.
REPLIES TO THE PRESIDENT
Head of Harvard University De-
cIares New Rules Are Inadequate,
Hockey ia the same CIRsE-State-
ments In His Annual Report.

Boston. March 6.-President Charles W.
Eliot OF Harvard University takes
another fall out of football in the annual
report which he has just submitted to the
universitys board Of Overseers. Presi-
dent Eliot asserts that the new rules have
not vet made football desirable game
for gentlemen" He also places basket
ball and hockey in the same class.
In his report Dr. Eliot says:
The game of football was somewhat
improved by the new rules, eXtorted last
year from its creators and managers by
the pressure Of public opinion. Under
the new rules, the game is iivelier and
therefore. more interesting 10 watch. II
gives appropriate opportunities to several
kinds of natural athletes, and It affords
fewer opportunities for foul play and
brutality, whether deliberate and planned
or sudden and accidental. than the game
under the former rules afforded
Puzzle opinion also compelled the en-
ployment Of better kind of official al
though in respect to the number of Of
fclals the new rules were violated at most
of the principal games by consent of the
coaches and captains.
same Injuries Result.
The injuries inflicted on the Harvard
players we're Of the same character as
We're suffered under the former rules, but
they were much fewer in number. The
spirit Of the game, however, remains es-
sentiaIly the same. II therefore remains
an undesirable game for gentlemen to
play or for mUlutudes of spectators TO
watch.
NO game is fit for college uses in
which men are often 50 knocked or t9ush-
cd into insensibility or immobility that It
is a question whether by the application
Of water and Stimulants they can be
brought TO and ena bled 10 go on playing.
No game is ut for college uses In which
|reckIessuess In causing or suffering
serious bodily injuries promotes efficiency
and so is taught and held up for admira-
ton An extreme reckIessness remains a
grave objection TO the game of football
and It also makes basketball and hockey
as developed in recent years undesirable
games.
Football is properly described by the
adjective '6erce'-a term which is COM
monty applied 20 the game by its advo-
Gates
"Thc gross exaggeration OF all competi-
tive sports is now working inCaiculable
harm 10 schools. colleges. aud universe
ties
Waste of Money.
As to the waste of money involved in
. intercollegiate sports. DT. Eliot says:
The fact that IL is not the university s
money which is wasted does not. how
ever, invaHdate the statement that the
exaggeration of athletic sports leads 20
a great waste Of money"
The report concludes. Tt is high time
that the whole profession of teaching ia
school. college, and university unite to
protest against the present eXaggeratou
of athletic sports during the whole period
Of education. and especially to bring com
petitive sports between schools and be-
tween colleges within reasonable limits.
and establish the supremacy OF intellec-
tual and moral interests over physical in
/ terests in all institutions of education