The Washington herald., 1910-10-30
Athletics and Scholarship.

- eAAAS-s-o anu 0NAASANsA
In very sweeping condemnation OF
athletics. President Lowell, Of Harvard
seeks to prove by the evidence Of ex-
pressed contempt for study and high
scholarship contained in college slang and
epithets among students that athletic
contests initiate very grievously against
the chief purpose for which American
youths attend universities. He complains
for instance, that the students often cite
the failure Of the men who graduate at
tile top of the class or who achieve
marked distinction in course 10 attain to
anything approaching the same position
in after life in the professions or the
business Of the world for which college
course is intended TO equip them.
While severely deprecating the appliea-
tion OF this argument, however true, 20
justify neglect OF lectures, inattention TO
very plain and highly important duties
which students owe to themselves and
their friends. one cannot help but remark
that the experience Of nearly every one
win readily supply a number of cases
where men who were very brilliant in
university classes have not made good 10
any conspicuous extent in their suhse-
quent careers. II would appear that very
many of these are possessed Of an abb
normal precocity or tntultive perception
of things that make the acquisition of
knowledge comparatively easy TO them.
and do not call forth those qualities Of
close application and perseverance which
are the great essentials TO a successful,
though often slow, upbuilding OF future
eruinence and enduring success. In other
words. the very qualities of mind which
often enable a man to shine pre-emInently
IN his university course among his plod
ding but less talented classmates too
often induce in him wrong estimate of
his own capacity and false ideas Of the
efforts that are necessary to win and re-
tain a correspondingly high place in the
larger world Of competitive activities.
There are too many Sidney Cartons in
the world who somehow are forced into
the position OF the iackal TO very in
ferior lions; for such is TOO often the
fate Of the men whose names stand high
in the college calendars and who have
a store OF gold medals. honor diplomas,
and other insignia OF brilliant scholar
ship
The point upon which such men often
fail is in not realizing that the world
requires the great qualities of perse-
verance. diligence. and sustained and re-
liable effort. which in the sum total Of
the later years Of life and activity far
outshine the intermittent flashes of bril-
liancy and genius which may at times
startle, inspire. or entertain the world.
bur seldom bring the permanent and rich
rewards that usually accrue TO the man
who got in the classroom whatever OF
scholarship he has acquired by the ex-
ertion of far greater effort. the utmost
perseverance. and conscientious appll-
cation of perhaps mediocre mental en-
dowments.
There are all around US many instances
Of apparent failure TO take as high a
place In life as the brilliant start in col
lege would lead us to expect from many
men. And in the aggregate the obvious
effect Of such failures is TO lead one to
expect greater things in the long run
from the man who finds 1t hard work 10
maintain place about the middle OF his
class
II it be true that the tendency Of col
lege athletics is to interfere with the
development Of these essential qualities
/ in our young men in college. nothing
that President Lowell can say or do 10
/ restore the proper balance should be
longer left unsaid or undone
When we quit dlluting business with