The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-17

BY JOHN pLrRErH WATKINS.

D.
Football--whose season now is dawn
ing-like war, promises Its heroes GER
tain advantages for public career.
The gridiron is mighty coarse sieve
and 1t is only the very biggest chunkt
OF grit that can stay in-grit of the
hard kind that scratches deepest or
history's lasting monuments Built OF
such stun to begin with, and the kind
of body that gives a broad and safe
foundation for weighty things to be
packed into the convolutions of the
upper story. your gridiron hero has the
further magnificent advantage of be-
ginning post-collegiate life with tre-
mendous assets of publicity prerequisite
to public career, but ordinarily ac-
CURED in later life
Conspicuous in Congress. the judici-
airy and the diplomatic service, high in
the Neutrality-suspicious. State and
municipal--and in the front rank of
Iolltical forces striving to remold the
wearers OF the moleskin and FOUNDERS
OF the pigskin.
From Gridiron to senate.
The most recent of these acquisitions
to our public life is the new senator
from Rhode Island. Henry Frederick
Lippitt. successor of the famed and
potent Aldrich. In his freshman year
at Brown he was made captain of the
'arRity football eleven. and during his
entire four years at the Rhode island
University. until his graduation in
1878. was Its star gridiron hero.
Another of our pisskin heroes. after
having, as Secretary OF State, served
as premier of the Cabinet. is now our
Ambassador Ia France. and upon him
thus ruminates Walter Camp. director
OF athletics at Yale and the celebrated
authority on all things football.
Il can remember very we'll the way in
winch regarded Robert Bacon. captain
OF the Harvard team in the fall of 10.
"Handnome an Adonis."
Handsome as an Adonis. big, power
ful and fast. he seemed the ideal hero
OF the gridiron"
Rhode Island and the present amhas-
sador to France grid!ron captains at
one and tho same time. Lippitt after
ward going in for the manufacture OF
"ooIens and Bacon joining the power
ful firm of j. p. Morgan g. Company.
Ut would be satisfaction further
opined Walter Camp. 10 see those pow
erful men of long ago grouped with
the more recent heroes upon some huge
gridiron-each player at his ripest and
best ase--and then pick one eleven at
ter another. as would n coach. from tho
entire squad.
BUT such r wish is vain, for how
might one Imagine the respected treas
urer of the United States. once tho
halfback McClung. appearing on the
gr'diron In moleskins o-day, although
he could probably still carry off the
part He did II at the time OF tho
oicentennial at New Haven, in game
against the second varsity eleven. with
Dr.
to-day upon the tennis courts he is q
Dangerous competitor for the younger
men to engage.
For long time at New Haven the
belief prevailed that Lee Mcclung's
team was the best that Yale ever pro-
duced"
And Mr. Camp added that this team
OF the present Treasurer of the United
States stands probably unequaled in
individual brilliancy. individual indie
pendence and H'football initiative"
What largely made McClung's vic
torious team Of 81 famous was its
favorite "twenty-thirty" play, with Me
Chung carrying the ball. and In sue
cession OF seven or eight plays his ac-
tual average was nineteen and a frac-
ZION yards to the run, while his pos
eible average was nearer twenty-four
yards, for two OF these runs carried the
Was Never Scored Upon.
And have 1t on the authority of
Mr., Camp that McClung's team was
never scored upon by any opponent,
and ran up isS points in thirteen
games--an average Of thirty-six 10 tn.
game"
While only freshman at Yale Nc
Chung made the star play in the Fam
Gus fale-Harvard game of 81, in which
on the Harvard side played Lake, az
terward lieutenant governor of Con.
necticut
can Ideal Centre"
The new Assistant Attorney General
OF the United States. William H.
Lewis, whose recent appointment was
OF interest because he is partly OF
negro decent. played three years as cen
tire rush at Amherst, where he became
captain of the varsity eleven, and
later played two years in the same
position at Harvard, becoming the most
noted centre rush that university ever