Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-07-29

penalty that may attach to another'l
error or misplay
II Surely here are good ethics for lifA
We hear much OF the doctrine OF the
other fellow" How frequent that
word is used, "altruism.'' 10 It not
here In the practice OF playr Here 10
losing OF life to find II, and winning
tho pre-eminence by being most In tho
midst 40 one who serves, Never was
there louder call for such ethics In the
world OF work. II 10 laudable ambi-
ton to aim to do ones work I bit bet
ter than the other fellow. But after
All the star player" OF life 10 the one
who renders greatest service to HIS
fellows. Life needs it's assists" rcnd-
cred. that the effort OF the weak may
be conserved by that OF the strong;
backing up" that the unfortunate
may not be put down and out by an
error or misplay; sacrifice hits" that
another may get ahead even At ones
own expense. This is raising the level
OF ones own life while helping the
common veal OF man.
Sport and Sportsman.
BE . true SPORT" There IL another
modern expression of play. It really
carries with It a healthy distinction.
For 1t Is not an exhortation to be like
unto the pimple faced, red eyed and
complexioned creature, with cigarAt
aslant his mouth and derby askew his
head, whose microscopical modicum OF
gray matter Is added with the idea
that Swagger, high colored vest and
tie, loud pants and louder breath and
mouth lead the general public to con-
fuse, an undesirable sport" with tho
real sportsman"
President Vincent OF Minnesota
State university, makes this distinction
plain. | quote from his letter on my
desk.
In playing the game there IL
marked difference between the sports
man and the sport The sportsman
makes no idle boast before the game,
Is content with saying he means to do
his best. The sport" loudly proclaims
In advance the marvellous deeds he
will do. The game over and lost, the
sportsman has no apologies to offer
and no complaint to make But the
sport" laments loudly, says he was
not In good form" and declares that
the umpire was unfair After victory
the sportsman rejoices, but he does
not gloat over defeated rival. He
never forgets to be gentleman, to
show consideration for others, to keep
his own qualification within bounds.
The victorious sport" however.
seems to get quite as much salts.
faction in exulting over his defeated
opponent as In the triumph itself. The
sportsman plays within the spirit as
well as within the letter Of the rules.
He is anxious to win, but he cares for
one thing more. and that 1t. to play
with scrupulous fairness. Not so tho
sport" to him the victory is every
thing. Often 1t seems as though he pre-
ferred to win by cunning and deceit
rather than by superior skill and
power. Once more. the sportsman plays
for the team. He subordinates him
self to the group. He does not play TO-
the grandstand, but IL glad to make
sacrifice hit" The sport" on the
other hand, IL an individualist. He
mas himself always in mind. He aims
at personal glory The sportsman plays
for the Joy Of playing. He loses him
self in the game. He cares nothing for
material rewards. Mere zest In play
Ing, sense OF disinterested loyo " to
his team, scrupulous self-respect--
are the things uppermost In his mind.
TO the sport" too often, the chief
satisfaction Is in pelf and publicity.
Here are the ethics more and more
obtaining in the ideals Of play Are
they not ethics for life In the large?
In point OF fact, IL not the call Of the
times to the modern man to this EFT
fect--that he play the game OF life
with scrupulous fairness, that he strive
within the spirit as we'll as letter OF
the rules, that he subordinate himself
to the success of the group? What
better in work or play, than to lcse
ones self In the sheer Joy OF lies
! game, finding this his reward rather
than material pelf OF publicity. In
play this Is the good sportsman. The
ethics of play need taking over into
work. even as work must be courted
by the one who would excel In the
games.
I must conclude this discussion.
have pointed out an athletic tendency
of the age, but also ethical insistence
allaying apprehension. Big things are
required of men and women OF TO-DAY,
bigger than at any time in the worlds
history. But that Is our glory. chai
llenge to the heroic In us.
! II takes strong man to stand the
stress and strain OF the times And
never was that word strong" so In.
elusive, In play head work is fully as
/ Important as bodily effort. In highly
ethical way, heart and soul'' enter in.
The whole man 10 In action. The
worlds truly strong man is becoming
the symmetrical man. And here per-
ceive a creative intention OF sublime
team play body, mind. soul. each
playing proportionate part. Each
calls for development to the full but
never one at expense Of the other. All
together unite to make the fully en-.
lowed man, man with likings Tor play,
work and worship. Now abideth these
! three. body, mind and soul. but the
greatest after all IL soul. For It Is the
developed soul that gives direction.
poise, discipline and scope to the other
two. BY II man Claims his divinity %
! strong son Of God, whose Strength
lis as the strength Of ten because his
heart is pure"