The Washington herald., 1911-11-12


to deliver it in person. the knowledge of it to be the
most sacred Of secrets between himself and those
who have the honor of Yale in their keeping. He
wanted to demonstrate it himself, and hence ii was
that after convincing himself of its efficacy. he made
his hurried trip counting travel and the ircon-
venience to himself and his business as nothing
He had something which he believed might be .. use
to his college and, counting cost. he responded
to the call OF old associations.
And there will be Journeys by other men as far
away Shevlin and as busy. to Yale and Har-
ward and to Princeton-men who through the affec-
tions and friendships begotten of years of comrade-
ship. some founded memories Of victories gained
and others cemented by defeats that imperiousy call
for compensation take as keen interest the great
game Of football they did when they themselves
makers of history the gridiron. Year in and
year out there pgrimaGes made to the campus by
who years ago their letters. that they may
instruct or cheer those who now are filling the places
that once were theirs.
Nor is this all There is in football to-day what un-
questionaby to the greatest army of scouts
enlisted in the interest of any sport 1t is nation
wide in extent of territory There is preparatory
school in the East minor college in the West not
eligible athlete in any amateur club that is
the object desire the part of gradu
ates Baseba-that is. professional baseball-has its
official whose duty is to discover and examine
the promising in the "bush leagues to ferret
for the failure Of by rivals. but who
did not or could not live up to their reputation
these scouts few in number and their field is
sarily limited one.
In college football it is different. Every graduate
Of Yale of Harvard and of Princeton. for example.
is himself in search of material that may
be hammered into perfect machine. These gradu-
ates are growing in numbers and establishing them
selves all the continent There many
Yale men. for example. in the Middle West there
are. almost. in New York-and a Yale is Yale
man whether he is in California or in Michigan in
Maine and football binds him more his college than
does anything else.
This is not. persons profess to believe. that
athletics has superseded the fine arts in the currcu
lum. but because it is the great contet in which
one college ped against its rivals 1t the great
proving ground excellence in bodily agility
vention situations quickness of eye and in ac-
curacy Of anticipation. The faculty for the
tai training and the athletic association suprem
acy in the games. Hence it is that while almost
cursory examination of honor rolls would recall to
the graduate high in the professional and pot-
cal world. there would the readily come to him
memories of the Poes. of Princeton: Herelfnger of
Yale; Newell of Harvard; Stebbins. If Chicago; Cur
tiss. of Michigan; Hare, of Pennsylvania. and others
of equal or greater prominence.
Zeal Led to Excesses.
they had done for the other students the foot
ball teams had done something for the colleges and
for the Notwithstanding which they could never
forget. for it meant months of anxiety and excite
meDt. crowned with a that in exultatiOu or
enthusiasm had had no equal in their college lie.
And hence they into the world with their
eyes open always for a promising athlete in some
minor college or in some preparatory school.
There years when this enthusiasm led to ex-
cesses that frequently threatened. and sometimes
actually caused scandals that filled with peril
to the game. In 1889 charges professionalism by
Harvard against PrncetOn-charges that were not
even veiled-ruptured the relations between the two
universities. These the days when a middle
weight boxer of Chicago actually played end for
Princeton. That scandal 1t supposed by many,
was the actual why the great Snake" Ames
the titular captain of the Tigers that year.
One of the facetiOus critics of the game said the
marvel really that the boxer had not been en-
tered a special student in the theological depart
ment. This. however, was an extreme case. though
it was believed to be not unusual thing at all for
a who showed aptitude in athletics to have had
by reason of some special qualification In certain
lines. opportunity open to him to pursue
in one Of the great universities.
Nor was this IN those days looked upcu with a Sc
verely disappearing eye. The had to matriculate
and make his classes More Jften otherwise he
was diligent student. and long he made his
classes and long he merely used his special skill
to aid him why should the college himself reject
the opportunity: No legal and moral
talnly, but there the ethical mayhap the
sutant OF the long ago when wealth, earned inher
lteo made of universities schools only for those who
were the pOssessors the recipients of that wealth
There never examination to how, for ex-
ample In the arts course student came by his fees
ana his living He might borrow the money and 1t was
al rgnt- BE might in some instances earn it while
ne was going through his course. But when it came
10 atnencs there seemed be some objection There
was none In reality but the craze after smonpure
mAnoeo' or seemed to demand. higher ideal than
was In tue arts and what could be done in
way = @-ON-et - ~ SH'' eHO-'