New-York tribune., 1911-11-13
WARMLY DEFENDS LACROSSE
Old Player Declares 1t a Health
full, Manly Game.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir. NV attention has been called to an
article on lacrosse in your issue OF OCTOBER
q. copied from "The Columbia Spectator
which makes an entirely uncalled Tor at
tack on that game. 1t is plain to be seen
from the tone of the article referred to that
the writer of il knows very little about Ia
crosse or its earlier history, else he would
not have indulged in such fiippant remarks
about that game Fools rush In where
angels fear to tread" and this old proverb
was never better illustrated than in the
present instance.
If "The Spectators" writer will take the
trouble to read Catln's History of the
North American Indians" he will learn
from 1t that lacrosse was played in this
country long before any other American
game was ever heard of. When he states
that it is not game for the American of
to-day, no doubt he has in mind his own
physical shortcomings and untitness for a
sport which requires a real man TO play II
properly.
II is true that Columbia made a poor
showing in lacrosse i'm recent years, but
that was not the fault of the game nor
was il altogether due TO lack of material
Had the athletic management provided a
proper professional lacrosse coach, such as
the other college teams use, there would
have been stronger incentive to the men
to come out and a very different result
might have been attained. but the game
was left to shift for itself. and the play
ers without any one 10 intelligently direct
and teach them, naturally failed to make
coed. No other result could have been eX-
pected under those circumstances.
Lacrosse calls for endurance, speed, cour-
age and brains Possibly these features OF
It may not have appealed personally to the
writer I'm The Spectator" but they GER
tainly will TO any American who has red
blood In his veins. There is no other game
ir the world so full of action yet so easily
understood by the looker-on. Lacrosse has
no favored positions and every player has
equal opportunities to distinguish himself.
1t is true that the game so far has not
gained the popularity II merits, but IL takes
time to learn it and trained athlete to
play properly. while there are no individual
prizes FOR the winners, as in track and
field athletics.
The Spectators writer admits that Ia
crosse was never money-making sport at
columbia. but I'm this II has had lots OF
company at that institution. Perhaps, If 1t
had been a financial success. he might have
regarded 1t differently. However, his opin-
ION Is OF very little value, so II does not
matter what he thinks about the game-it
Will be alive and hourishing long after he
has been forgotten.
Some years ago DR.. Sargent medical di-
rector at Harvard University, In an article
In "Harper's Magazine" wrote In the high
est terms OF lacrosse as a manly and
heaIthful sport. | will leave II to your
readers to decide which Is the better au-
thorlty on lacrosse, Or. Sargent. who has
made athletics a lifelong study. or the writ
er In The Spectator" who probably could
not make "A place on Coumbia's lacrosse
team even when its material was at the
lowest ebb
AN OLD LACROSSE PLAYER.
New York, Nov. s. 1911.