Evening journal., 1909-08-24
Tuesday, August "a. 1909
A SPORT LOVING PEOPLE.

IT HAT Americans are great sport loving
4 people is shown by the intense interest
taken in all sorts of games During the sum
mcr season the outdoor life is the life for many
a young man and woman, and there is scarcely
a person that is net devoted to some kind OF
game And the concern manifested in such
sports seems to be greater than it is in anything
else in life. We are on the so during the sea-
son, and who is winning in this or that game
is the question.
Baseball, of course, holds its place as the pop
ular national diversion. The interest in it never
seems to decrease. Young and old watch the
progress of the games. No matter whether Will
rnington has club or not our devotion to base
ball is unabatcd If we have no club of our own,
we have our favorites in the big leagues. There
is much interest in the local games played by
amateurs Some people prefer this kind OF base
ball II does seem that another season will not
be permitted to pass without club OF one oi
the leagues being located in Wilmington. There
is certainly enough local interest in the national
sport to have a nine in Wilmington The trou-
bic has been that we have been unfortunate IN
not getting clubs that maintain fair per
centage of games won. There have been rumors
OF late that a club will be established in VIII
nlngton during the next season. Whether there
is anything tangible in these rumors, we arc
not prepared at this time to say, but certain i
is that among managers of clubs Wilmington
has been looked upon as an inviting field.
If we have been backward in not having
not been behind in some other branches of out
door, nerve helping and health producing sports.
Our Country Club is one of the best We have
some crack golf players and experts at tennis.
in fact, the Country Club during this time OF
the year is a center of social and athletic life Of
the community
And there arc our matinee races. Few cities
have a better matinee club or better horses, or
more enthusiastic horsemen. They are known
far and wide. The interest IN racing does not
- he l,xr
horses have been able to win prizes in other
cities and our horsemen are opponents of clean
racing Many man is indebted TO them for an
afternoon OF pleasure.
AS the years so by athletics rather gain than
lose in prestige. This development has been
within the last few years. Sports have been
placed on a different plane
Rowing and horse racing-old time amuse
ments-have been supplemented by other kinds
OF sports Football as at present played is de
velopment of the last decade. The game has
firm grip on thousands of people The season
coming as it does after the baseball, furnishes
recreation for the multitude.
Lawn Tennis has had its ups and downs, but
lately it seems TO have re-established itself il
favor and it will always engage the attention
OF a considerable number
Golf is increasing in popularity and the day
is not far distant when it will probably be taker
up by the masses as well as by the limited few
The bicycle appears TO have had its day, ahc
lis place mas been taken to a large extent by
the automobile, although it would not be surpris
ing to see revival of cycling. Then again, oui
field sports { few years ago were limited to tn,
colleges and schools and few athletic clubs il
the larger cities, but the popularity OF helC
sports is growing, as evidenced by the grea
interest IN Marathon races, a sport borrowe,
from the revived Olympads. Polo still is tn
sport of the rich. and it is not likely to becom
popular. Following the hounds is more tha
holding its own among society folk Aquati
sports of all kinds gaining in popularity
helped along by the universal vacation hab
Cricket does not seem to be suited to American
and is not likely to gain more favor than ii ha
enjoyed in the past. Cross country running an
pedestrianism, both very healthful are goin
forward in favor among the young
Altogether we devoting much more tim
to outdoor life than did our forefathers and tn
United States is the great athletic nation of ti
world. We are surely going on the theory tn;
work without play makes us dull. We ought
be producing fine specimens of young manhoo
and young womanhood and statistics show tn;
we are doing so. For even if all do not pc
sonally engage in the sports, there IS recreatio
and benefit in watching them. But no one shou
permit devotion TO sport to become the supren