The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-23

Gus as is necessary to achieve the end
but there is no justification for stop
ping a thoroughly manly sport because
IL is sometimes abused. when the ex-
| perience of every good preparatory
school shows that the abuse is in nc
| shape necessarily attendant upon the
game.
Courage Necessity
We can not afford to turn out of col
lege men who shrink from physical eff
fort or from little physical pain. In
any republic courage Is a prime neces-
slty for the average citizen if he is to
De a good citizen; and he needs physi-
cal courage no less than moral cour-
age the courage that dares as we'll as
| the courage that endures, the courage
| mat will fight valiantly alike against
| the foes of the soul and the foes of the
body. Athletics are 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 to outside and ac-
cldental attributes, but to that combi
| nation of bodily Vigor and moral
quality which go to make up proves.
l trust I need not add that in de-
Tending athletics I would not for one
moment be understood as excusing
| that perversion of athletics which
or merely means in life. 1t is first
class healthful play, and is useful as
such. But play is not business and it
| is very poor business indeed for a
college man to learn nothing but sport.
There are exceptional cases which 1
do not need to consider; but disre-
gard1ng these, 1 can not with sufficient
emphasis say that when you get
through college you will do badly I'M
less you turn your attention to the
serious work of life with a devotion
which will render it impossible for you
10 pay much heed to sport in the way
h fo1o fr
TO pay heed while in college. Play
while you play and work while you
work; and though play is a mighty
good thing, remember that you had
better never play at all than to get
INTO a condition of mind where you
regard play as the serious business of
Ire, or where you permit it to hamper
and interfere with your doing your
full duty in the real work of the world
A word also to the students Ath-
letics are good; study is even better;
and best of all is the DEVELOPMENT of
the type of character for the lack of
which, in an individual as in a nation.
no amount of brilliancy of mind or of
strength of body will atone. Harvard
must do more than produce students:
yet. after all. she will fall fnmeasur-
ably short of her duty and her oppor-
tunlty unless she produces a great
NUMBER OF true students, of true
scholars. Moreover. let the students
remember that in the long run in the
field of study judgment must be rem
dered upon the equality of first class
work produced in the way of produc-
tive scholarship, and that no amount |
of second class work can atone for
failure in the college to produce this
hrst class work. A course of study is
OF niue worth If 1t tends to deaden in
d1vidual initiative and cramp scholars
so that they only work in the ruts
worn deep by many predecessors
American scholarship will be judged, |
nos by the quantity of routine work
produced by routine workers but by /
the small amount of first class outnut |
OF tnose who, in whatever branch |
stand in the first rank. No. industry |
In compilation and in combination
Will ever take the place of this fret
hand original work this produetive
and creative work. whether in science
IN art, in literature. The greatest
special function of a college. as dis
from its general function
Of producing good citizenship sboi,id
be so to shape conditions as to put.-a
premium upon the development OIL
productive scholarship of the creative
mind in any form Of intellectual
lies with the work of the student in
study, should bear this fact ever he
Tore them.
A Word TO All College Men.
50 much for what 1 have TO say to
you purely as Harvard men. Now, a
,
applies to all college men, to all men
IN this country who have received the
DEMENT'S of a college education; and
mat have to say on this topic can
properly be said under the auspices
of your Political club. You here when
you graduate will take UP many diff
terent Kinds of work; but there is one
work in which all of you should take
part SIMPLY as good American citizens, {
md that IS the work of self-govern- !
nent- Rememb in the first pIace ,
nat 10 take part in the work of gov T
'rnment does not in the least mean of
necessity to hold office. 1t means to 6
axe an intelligent, disinterested and '
If the average citizen, of the citizen .
Who is not a faddist or a doctrinaire !
,ut who abhors corruption and dis
lkes 1nefhc1ency; who wishes to see
With genuine equality of opportunity
or all men so far a s it can be brought | {
bout; and who wishes. as far as for :
ign matters are concerned to see this '
latfon treat all other nations great G
nd small. with respect and if need be
With generosity. and at the same time
how herself able to protect herself
" her own might from any wrong at r
he hands of any outside power. t
Each man here should feel that he ;
las no excuse, as a citizen in a demo- :
ratio republic like ours. if he fails to
10 his part in the government 1t is
lot only his right so to do, but his
uty: his duty both to the nation and I
0 himself. Each should feel that, if 7
e fails in this. ne is not only failing I'm |
is duty but is showing himself in a : :
light A man may neg ,
act his political duties because he Is
r too timid but whatever the reason v
nay be it is certainly an unworthy
eason, and it shows either a weakness
r worse than weakness in the mans
zNz A Arxx~ all