The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-06
What becomes OF the athleles?

derful feats of muscular strength,
endurance or skill, good health after
years Of prize winning effort, or do
they pay for fame by shortened lives?
The season OF athletics is opening,
aud never has the interest in athletic
contests been 50 intense and so
Widespread. Multitudes filling the
tbleacheries applaud the star perform
er as his trained muscles place him
ahead of his striving competitors.
He is the hero of the hour and it
is no wonder that many are inspired
ny the thrilling sight of his achieve
ment to wish to emulate g..
The athletic spirit" Is abroad in
the land, and must be reckoncd with
for the future. Is it to make a
stronger American people? Is It to
work injury by causing injudicious
physical training, building muscle at
the expeLse of heart and brain?
This question of athletics and the
snect of athletic training Is OF espe-
cial interest in New York. In the
public schools OF the city hundreds
of thousands of boys are competing
in athletic games and are systemat-
ically trained for these contests.
Their teachers are sure that. the ef-
feet OF this physical exercise and
training, conducted under their su-
pervision, is good. They like It also
because il makes the boys more in
terested in their schools, thus maxi
ing of "play" a feature OF school
s'work." And during the succeeding
years of their school life thousands
of these young competitors in ath-
letic sports-those at least who
have won some distinction in the
contests-will work with eager striv.
ing to develop their strength and
skill to surpass their fellows in such
feats as the multitude applaud in the
trained athlete.
These boys their parents and their
teachers are interested in what be-
comes OF the athletes. Few of the
boys will devote their lives to win.
ming fame and money as professional
sprinters or baseball players or
weight throwers. The small lad who
sees the gymnast at the circus
dreams of himself doing the same
daring feats to the plaudits of the
multitude his career Is differ
ent
The professional gymnast, the
great weight litter, the professional
rstrong man" exhibiting his muscu-
lar marvcls daily, are notoriously
short lived. At the other extreme IS
the man who has grown up without
physical training, whose lungs are
weak, and whose whole body Is frail
from lack OF muscular development.
lie illustrates what Gen. George
w. Wlngate, president of the New
York Public Schools Athletic League,
meant when he said in an address to
schoolboys "You cannot expect In
he successful In life, however well
you may be educated unless you
have sound body. You win a's0
need those mental qualities of quick
ness, determination and nerve which
athletics develop You can only
acquire these by practice in your
youth"
Midway between the extreme oI
the professional gymnast OF athlete
who continuously strains heart and
muscle TO their utmost limit OF en-
durance, and the man who has neg
lected his muscular development, Lies
the class that has lived in the way
to gain bodily health and efficiency
In this class, according TO the best au
thorlties, are many great athletes.
'Bernie' Wefers, one of the great
est sprinters OF whom there Is any
record, who ran the hundred in 3 A.
and the 220 in 21 1-5 and who Il
now training the Irish 4AmerlCar
Aethletic Clubs track team, declare
that athletics lead to a long ant
happy life. "Why. look at Franl
Garvin, the present Assistant Dlstrlc
attorney" says Mr.. Wefers HI
used TO run the quarter in 40 sec
onds. He's healthy.
Tommy Conner, who did the mil
in 4 4.15 3-5 in 1895, is now in tn
army. He's healthy.
'AUdIMlt iNllhpdlllNhs NNp lhl
the half-mile in / ,53 2-5 in 1895, /
now selling sporting goods in Chi
cago. He used to weigh l5O pounds
He now weighs 22O. He's healthy
{" Tommy Burke, the erstwhil
1iO pounder. now weighs 200 He
prominent lawyer in Boston. He
healthy.
"AIaxey Long, who has game
thirty pounds in the last ten year
Is in business here in New YOr
City He's healthy.
+Maxey long. who has game
thirty pounds in the last ten year
is In business here in New Yor
CITY He's healthy.
jerome Buck, the former 10
hurdle champion, Is the proprieto
of hotel in Jersey City. He
healthy.
HJohn Flanagan has been compe
ing for nineteen years. He is health