The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-11-19
AMERICAN ENTHUSIASM.

DR.. Hirschmann, the Austrian envoy
sent 10 the United States to study
athletic methods for the benefit OF the
subjects OF Francis Joseph, expresses
amazcmeut at the enthusiasm for ath'
Ietics existing among the young men
of this country. Had tho Austrian
gentleman been sent as an expert 10
investigate business, industry or almost
any other realm of human endeavor ne
would have discovered that the Amerl'
can takes into his work as well as into
his PLAY this same inspiring clement
Enthusiasm usually is the necessary
accompaniment of youth and health,
and great things are accomplished IN
this country by youth and health. I'm
fortunately the American does not
carry his health any farther on the
Journey of life than does the European,
and the dav comes when bis enthusiasm
is nj low ebb. And wher that evil day
befsls the American is liable to be
thrust aside for those who can still
capitalize their health and enthusiasm.
The brilliant success OF old men In
this country, however, is lesson to the
pessimistic. It is not always tho fault
Of the employer that the old are dis
n llnvy
himself TO fall into the scar and yel-
low leaf before his time. He turns
his back upon enthusiasms and they
die o. disuse. He grows weary of his
work and performs IT in perfunctory
fashion. He dies on his feet.
The words of DR.. IIirschmann should
emphasize one Of our most valuable
characteristics. In the domain of ath'
letcs IL has helped MS to lead i'll all
the Olympic contests. Ia the domain
Of business it has enabled our labor TO
develop such efficiency that American
manufacturers. in spite of--indeed, as
a result of-high wages can compete
successfully against The world.
a dozen years ago the European ma
tions sent commissioners to this coun-
try to study the elements that made
American labor so efficient. In their
Investigations they, too, discovered
that the American liked his work and
was enthusiastic in DONG t. That was
at time preceding the blatancy of the
/. ". w and the doctrine Of sabotage
the doctrine that would have a man
abandon enthusiasm and ''sodicr OF
the Job il he imagines that he is moi
getting all that he deserves from hi:
employer. That is doctrine OF ma
tional death. Ii means that the pro
duccrs OF wealth shall cease 10 stor'
up vast surplus for humankind anc
shall let the world worry along OF
meager fare. 1t is the forerunner ol
Industrial famine and decay.
Side by side with enthusiasm il
another wealth giving clement-organi
zation. American organization in al
lines Of endeavor, from harvesting
crops TO labor unions is superior TO tn,
organization of most European races
mc7cial life. 1t was commented upo:
with regret by the defeated English
men in the last Olympic games The,
iuduleed in the impotent criticism tha
Americans made a business Of athletics
whereas the Englishman kept il in il
place as sport; but the Englisl
critics failed To arouse a sympntheti
response from the continent. All stu
dents Of history knew that the Amer
can athletes were carrying out on
larger scale the ideas of the ancien
Greeks who contested IN the origina
Olympic games.
There Is more money and there ar
more men 10 accomplish the result
that the ancients strove for, an
American athletes should surpass eve
the highest ideals OF the Greeks and th
Romans, but they can do il only b
retaining their enthusiasm and by q,
Ing the best that is in them TO gai
and hold the highest efficiency.